Shot At Redemption
Tagged in: BBNZ News
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One thing has driven Curves Harbour Breeze and especially coach Brett Goebel during their unbeaten run through the Womenís Basketball League northern conference Ö they want the last laugh.
In his first year north of the bridge, Goebel steered the Harbour women faultlessly through the conference last season, only to fall by one point to archrivals Auckland in the national final.
It is a memory he literally carries around with him every day in the form of BBNZ’s website report on that title game, printed out and lovingly preserved in a plastic cover.
ìWhen I get up at 5.30am to open the gym for shooting practice, thatís what Iím thinking about,î he says. ìItís the only reason Iím coaching girls this year.
ìLast year, we lost one game by one point and missed 18 free throws. We shouldnít have lost, but we did.
ìAt the end of the day, this season is about unfinished business.î
In some ways, the Breeze have already had the last laugh. Auckland could not qualify out of the conference, finishing third behind Harbour and Waikato Lady Titans, so will not defend their title when finals weekend tips off at the Northcote AUT campus tomorrow on Friday.
Instead, the home team are preparing for a semi against a Wellington Swish team of which very little is known. They lost just one game in the central conference, their opener against Hutt Valley, and feature a smattering of former national age group reps.
Goebel isnít taking any chances and has even gone to the lengths of obtaining video footage of their conference outings.
ìWellington are dangerous,î he says. ëI expect them to be tougher than the final.
ìWith the other two teams, we pretty much know what their players are capable of. The stats show three players do most of Wellingtonís scoring, but any of their other girls may have a breakout game.
ìThe fact they have some big girls who will really crash the boards may trouble us. I think it will be a very physical match Ö we brought out the rugby pads at practice last night and were really hitting them in preparation.î
The other semifinal will see Waikato face Otago Goldrush, but there is little doubt Harbour have the most talented roster at the playoffs, ranging from Tall Ferns Noni Wharemate, Natalie Purcell and Karlene Kingi, veteran international Jody Tini, American guard Jenny Lingor and several youngsters from the associationís successful age group programme.
ìThe season has been a bit disrupted with players coming and going in terms of overseas players and Tall Fern commitments,î says Goebel.
ìBut the core of this teamís success has been no matter who turns up to practice, whether it is six, 10 or 12 players, everyone there has worked hard.î
The loss of injured Fern Charmian Purcell will certainly be felt. She is probably the countryís best all-round womenís player outside of Tall Fern captain Donna Wilkins, and led the north in rebounding (12.8) and steals (4.5), while contributing 17.7points (53.4% FG).
But Goebel is now expecting big things from Lingor, who has had some experience in the WNBA and Europe, and is hoping to earn a contract with the Christchurch-based Australian WNBL franchise. She has averaged 17.0 points in her four outings, hitting 43.5% 3pt. grabbing 6.5 rebounds and dishing 4.0 assists.
ìThe first couple of games, Jenny was really finding her feet, but now itís money time of the season and I think she will break out this weekend.
ìShe can play hard-nosed defence, she is one of the most consistent three-point shooters Iíve seen and can also break you down and take you to the hoop.î
Women’s Basketball League Finals
Northcote AUT, June 8/9
Friday, June 8
Semifinals
Curves Harbour Breeze v Wellington Swish, 6pm
Waikato Lady Titans v Otago Goldrush, 8pm
Saturday, June 9
Consolation Final, 10am
Final, 1pm
