Totara Towers Over All
Tagged in: Associations, Athletes
The Central Pacific under-15 boys team created a New Zealand first last month during Pacific Basketball’s tour to Australia – claiming a first-ever title in Port Macquarie.
Known as New Zealand Totara, the Central Pacific squad, made up from athletes in the lower half of the North Island, went an unbeaten 12-0 on their Tour of Oz, winning both the Sydney Cup in Penrith and the Pacific Coast Slam in Port Macquarie in back-to-back weeks.
Captain Stanley Williams led the way, averaging 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 steals as the mighty Totara rolled to seven straight wins at the Slam tournament, including a convincing 86-72 win over Queensland South in the title game.
Williams top-scored with 21 points (7/18 FG, 6/13 3pt, 1/2 FT) with seven boards and four steals in the final, while Phillip Baldwin produced a double-double with 20 points (9/20 FG, 2/5 FT) and 10 rebounds, and Lachie Fenwick 13 points and eight boards.
Williams was deadly from the land-of-three all week, netting 57 of his 93 total points from long range.
Five other players averaged double-figures in Port Mac, Jordan Dykes going for 12.7 points per game, Jamie Lynch and Lachie Fenwick 12.4, Baldwin 10.9 and Alexander Dent 10.0.
Fenwick was the team’s leading rebounder, hauling in 8.1 rebounds per game, along with 5.3 steals, while Jack Stirling pulling down 7.3 boards and Baldwin 6.4 per game.
Coach Fata Letoa believed one of the reasons the team played so well was that they trusted in each other and in the game plan. He saw the boys grow as individuals and became leaders rather than followers both on and off the court.
“This was a true team effort which saw all 10 players fully contributing to their 12-0 record,” Letoa said.
“I was immensely proud at how, against all expectations, this team learnt how to play against the intense Aussie style of basketball and beat them at their own game, something that is a rare achievement when you look at the history of New Zealand vs Australian teams. They all did themselves proud.”
The Pacific Central (Totara) under-15 boys team featured: Stanley Williams, Phillip Baldwin, Lachlan Fenwick, Jack Stirling, Jamie Lynch, Alexander Dent, Andrew Quinlvan, Jordan Dykes, Benjamin Morgan, Kyle Shaddox, coached by Fata Letoa and managed by Kevin Fenwick.
Pacific Basketball is an associate member of Basketball New Zealand, a combination of mostly North Island associations.
Pacific’s other teams struggled at the Pacific Coast Slam, with the next best team record the under-17 Rata boys at 3-3 to finish third, and the under-17 Rata girls at 3-4 to end sixth, behind the 2-5 Rimu squad.
