Basketball New Zealand

August 14, 2008

Waikato has qualified five teams and six other associations four teams for Basketball New Zealand’s Oreo Under-15 and Under-13 Basketball National Championships, following zone premierships last weekend.

Waikato claimed three of four zone two titles – under-15 girls and under-13 boys and girls – and finished runners-up in the under-15 boys and fourth in the under-13 boys to qualify the most teams for the national tournaments in Rotorua from October 6-10.

Harbour in zone one, Wellington, Hutt Valley and Hawke’s Bay in zone three and Canterbury and Nelson in zone four qualified teams in all four divisions, while Massey and Waitakere in zone one and North Canterbury in zone four had three teams qualify for nationals.

As nationals host, Rotorua will have four teams in action, after automically qualifying three from the premierships.

Harbour Maroon teams also claimed three zone one championships, beating Massey A 118-79 in the U13 boys final, Waitakere 90-50 in the U13 girls decider and Massey A 85-80 in the U15 boys title game. Waitakere went unbeaten to win the U15 girls honour over Harbour by one game.

In zone two, Waikato Black defeated Counties Manukau 104-40 for the U13 boys crown, Waikato won a three-game tie-breaker to win the U13 girls title at 5-1 and went unbeaten at 6-0 to take the U15 girls. Counties Manukau edged Waikato by one game in the U15 boys.

Wellington lifted three trophies in zone three, the U15 girls and U13 boys going undefeated at 6-0, while the U15 boys defeated Porirua 99-85 in the final. Hawke’s Bay won the U13 girls division by two games.

In the South Island, Nelson defeated Canterbury A 71-35 for the U15 boys championship, while Canterbury A made short work of Nelson A 86-46 in the U13 girls final. Canterbury A got their revenge, rolling Nelson 103-44 in the U13 boys decider, while North Canterbury edged neighbours Canterbury A 57-54 in the U15 girls final.

Qualified teams have until Friday, August 29 to confirm their nationals entries.

Qualified Teams

Oreo Under-15 National Championships

Boys

Zone One
Harbour Maroon
Massey A
Auckland
Whangarei

Zone Two
Counties Manukau
Waikato
Western Bay of Plenty
Rotorua

Zone Three
Wellington A
Porirua
Hawke’s Bay
Hutt Valley

Zone Four
Nelson A
Canterbury A
Otago A
Mid Canterbury

Girls

Zone One
Waitakere City
Harbour Maroon
Massey
Auckland

Zone Two
Waikato
Counties Manukau
Western Bay of Plenty
Rotorua

Zone Three
Wellington
Hutt Valley
New Plymouth
Hawke’s Bay

Zone Four
North Canterbury
Canterbury A
Nelson
Southland

Oreo Under-13 National Championships

Boys

Zone One
Harbour Maroon
Massey A
Waitakere City
Hibiscus Hawks

Zone Two
Waikato Black
Counties Manukau
Rotorua
Waikato Gold

Zone Three
Wellington
Hutt Valley
Hawke’s Bay
New Plymouth

Zone Four
Canterbury A
Nelson
North Canterbury
Otago A

Girls

Zone One
Harbour Maroon
Waitakere
Auckland
Hibiscus Hawks

Zone Two
Waikato
Counties Manukau
Rotorua
Thames Valley

Zone Three
Hawke’s Bay
Hutt Valley
Porirua
Wellington

Zone Four
Nelson A
Canterbury A
North Canterbury
Buller