NZ Under 16 teams ready for battle

It’s a brave coach that heads across the Tasman, confident of success at an Australian national age group tournament, so Aik Ho is wisely guarded about the prospects of his NZ U16 Women.

“We’re excited,” he says. “Quietly confident … not over confident.”

“We’ve probably had one of the best build-ups an age group team has ever had for one of these trips. We’ve put a lot of time and energy into it … we certainly couldn’t have asked for more.”

His modest goal is to better New Zealand’s 12th-place finish at the same event last year.

But last week, Ho and his assistant – former Harbour Breeze coach Brett Goebel – guided these youngsters to a 2-3 record, including wins over Hutt Valley and Waikato Cougars, at the Women’s Basketball Championship opening round in New Plymouth.

They arrived in Brisbane early for the Australian U16 Championships, and will have well and truly acclimatized by the time they face defending champions Victoria Metro in their tournament opener on Saturday.

After a bye on Day Two, the Kiwis then face 2009 runners-up South Australian Country …

“You couldn’t ask for a better draw,” observes Ho dryly. “But playing in the WBC was good preparation for this.

“These girls have got an exciting future. We’re trying to put in a new culture for women’s basketball in New Zealand and this team will be the start of it.”

Ho is depending on forwards Penina Davidson (Waitakere) and Deena Franklin (North Harbour) for double doubles to keep their team in contention.

“In the guards, Stella Beck from Hutt Valley is someone who probably wasn’t in our sights when we started this campaign, but has just this week earned promotion to the starting five with her hustle play.”

Meanwhile, NZ U16 Men’s coach Seth Weakley has a chance to build up the sixth placing achieved by him and his team last year. They open against wooden spooners Northern Territory and also draw the bye on Sunday.

Both Kiwi teams are at the start of an extended build-up towards the 2011 U17 Oceania Championships, a world championship qualifying series against the Australians.

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Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland 

Date	NZ	Opponent	Time	Score
Saturday, 3rd July 2010	NZ U16 Women	Victoria Metro	1pm	L 67-76
Saturday, 3rd July 2010	NZ U16 Men	Northern Territory	3pm	W 91-35
Monday, 5th July 2010	NZ U16 Women	South Australia Country	9am	W 57-41
Monday, 5th July 2010	NZ U16 Women	West Australia Metro	5pm	W 55-53
Monday, 5th July 2010	NZ U16 Men	West Australia Metro	11:30am	W 97-88
Tuesday, 6th July 2010	NZ U16 Women	Queensland North	3pm	W 71-70
Tuesday, 6th July 2010	NZ U16 Men	South Australia Country	9am	W 74-59
Tuesday, 6th July 2010	NZ U16 Men	Victoria Country	5pm	W 80-65
Wednesday, 7th July 2010	NZ U16 Women	Northern Territory	1:30pm	W 76-21
Wednesday, 7th July 2010	NZ U16 Men	Queensland South	3pm	L 55-65
Thursday, 8th July 2010	NZ U16 Women	New South Wales Country	9am	L 47-62
Thursday, 8th July 2010	NZ U16 Men	New South Wales Metro	11am	L 70-84
Friday, 9th July 2010	NZ U16 Women	NSW Metro (P7th/8th)	8:30pm	W 71-69
Friday, 9th July 2010	NZ U16 Men	ACT (P5th/6th)	2:30pm	W 62-53

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Kiwis Threaten Upset

Waitakere forward Penina Davidson compiled an impressive double double as New Zealand nearly upset women’s titleholders Victoria Metro in their opening game of the Australian U16 Championships at Logan, finally losing 67-76.

Davidson, a tournament team selection at the recent NZ U17 Championships, scored 17 points (8/14 FG, 1/6 FT) and snatched 16 rebounds against the champions, adding two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

The Kiwis led by two points at halftime and were only a point adrift entering the final period, but lost that quarter 13-21.

They enjoyed a comfortable rebounding advantage, including 20 offensive boards (seven to Davidson), but also committed 35 turnovers and shot atrociously (6/25) from the free-throw line.

New Zealand have a bye on Sunday, before facing last year’s runners-up South Australian Country, losers to Queensland North in their first outing.

Meanwhile, the NZ men opened their account with a comfortable 91-35 win over 2009 wooden spooners Northern Territory, leading by 12 points after one quarter and never allowing their rivals in the contest.

Mark Kelly of Western Bay of Plenty amassed 18 points/19 rebound, while North Harbour’s Sesilili Palei led all scorers with 20 points (9/11 FG, 2/4 FT)

They also draw the bye on Sunday.

Australian U16 Championships

Logan, Queensland
Saturday, July 3
Men
New Zealand 91 (Sesilili Palei 20, Mark Kelly 18, Nico Buckrell 10, Ben Crombie 10) Northern Territory 35
Q1 19-7
HT 47-16 (28-9)
Q3 65-27 (18-11)
FT 91-35 (26-8)

Women
Victoria Metro 76 New Zealand 67 (Penina Davidson 17, Veshae Asaua-Wilkinson 11, Deena Franklin 10, Idaho Purcell 10)
Q1 12-13
HT 26-28 (14-15)
Q3 55-54 (29-26)
FT 76-67 (21-13)

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Kiwi teams keep hopes alive

Both Kiwi teams kept their title dreams alive, but the women watched their hopes teeter in the balance as they barely took out the second leg of a double-header at the Australian U16 State Championships at Logan, Queensland.

Harbour guard Tai Webster scored 17 points (7/15 FG, 1/2 3pt, 2/3 FT) led the NZ men to a 97-88 win over West Australia Metro and are now unbeaten after two games.

The Kiwis seized control of an otherwise even game with a 36-24 second quarter, out-rebounding their opponents under their own boards, outscoring them by 28 points in the paint and shooting 48% FG.

But West Australia stayed in contention by forcing 26 turnovers and out-shooting New Zealand from the free throw line, despite fewer chances.

Waikato’s Delroy Heu contributed a double double of 10 points/11 rebounds as seven NZ players scored in double figures.

On Tuesday, they face an early encounter with winless South Australia Country, then return to meet unbeaten Victoria Country, runners-up last year.

Having their lost their tournament opener to defending champions Victoria Metro, the NZ women must probably win their remaining pool games to qualify for the semifinals.

They stayed on course with by overcoming 2009 runners-up South Australia Country 57-41 on Tuesday morning, snatching the lead with 11 offensive boards in a 16-11 second quarter, then scoring 16 consecutive points either side of the halftime break.

Only Hutt Valley’s Stella Beck scored in double figures – 11 points (3/6 FG, 5/6 FT) – as Waitakere forward Penina Davidson grabbed 10 rebounds (eight OR).

The young women seemed well in command of their evening match-up against West Australia when they unleashed an early 20-point run and held a 17-point halftime advantage.

But that lead evaporated over the second half and with 26 seconds remaining, the score was tied at 51-51. Davidson put her team clear with a decisive three-point play and the Kiwis ultimately survived a shot on the buzzer that could have sent the contest into overtime.

Davidson led the way with a double double of 26 points/14 rebounds, while Harbour forward Deena Franklin emulated that feat with 14 points/11 boards.

They survived despite conceding 13 turnovers in the third quarter alone (36 for the game), and could again thank their aggression around the offensive glass – 20 OR, 36-24 in the paint and 17-5 made free throws.

New Zealand face Queensland North (1-1) on Tuesday.

Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland
Monday, July 5
Men
New Zealand 97 (Tai Webster 17, Sesilili Palei 12, Kurt Heatherley 11, Mark Kelly 11, Nico Buckrell 10, Brandon Gleeves 10, Delroi Heu 10) West Australia Metro 88
Q1 19-23
HT 55-47 (36-24)
Q3 78-69 (23-22)
FT 97-88 (19-19)

Women
New Zealand 57 (Stella Beck 11) South Australia Country 41
Q1 9-11
HT 25-22 (16-11)
Q3 43-31 (18-9)
FT 57-41 (14-10)

New Zealand 55 (Penina Davidson 26, Deena Franklin 14, Stella Beck 10) West Australia Metro 53
Q1 12-9
HT 35-18 (23-9)
Q3 45-36 (10-18)
FT 55-53 (10-17)

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Kiwis Run Continues

Harbour guard Tai Webster scored 31 points as the NZ Men maintained their unbeaten run through the Australian U16 State Championships at Logan with an 80-65 win over last year’s beaten finalists, Victoria Country.

The Kiwis, playing their second game of the day, jumped on their previously undefeated opponents with an eight point run at the end of the opening period and stretched their advantage out to 21 points as they cruised to their fourth victory of the tournament.

Webster shot 12/20 FG, 4/8 3pt, 3/6 FT to lead all scorers. New Zealand scored 22 points more in the paint and shot 52% FG.

Earlier, they had rallied from 10 points down at halftime to roll South Australia Country 74-59.

Immediately on the restart, they produced a 13-0 run that carried them past their rivals. By the end of the quarter, the Kiwis were seven points up and gone.

Waikato’s Kurt Heatherley led his team with 18 points/11 rebounds. Winless SAC actually created more scoring opportunities, but shot just 29% FG and NZ controlled their defensive boards and enjoyed a 50-32 scoring advantage in the paint.

On Wednesday, they take on Queensland South (2-2), before facing New South Wales Metro (4-0) in their final pool game on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Kiwi women, who barely survived a scare against West Australia Metro on Monday night, had to dig deep to overcome Queensland North 71-70.

They conceded 13 straight points just before halftime and trailed 27-44 at the break, but clawed their way back over the game’s dying stages.

Harbour forward Deena Franklin scored with 41s remaining to finally snatch the lead, QN tied it up with a free throw, but Waitakere forward Penina Davidson responded in kind with 16s left.

She missed her second attempt from the line, but Stella Beck grabbed the offensive board and the Kiwis played out the clock.

Davidson, who had come up the crucial three-point play the previous night, recorded another double double with 18 points/12 rebounds, while Franklin also had 18 points (9/16 FG).

New Zealand made their comeback even tougher than it should have been with an anemic 6/22 (27%) return from the charity stripe, but battled hard to create chances elsewhere.

They also have two more games in pool play, against Northern Territory (0-4) on Wednesday and New South Wales Country (2-2) Thursday.

Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland
Tuesday, July 6
Men
New Zealand 74 (Kurt Heatherley 18, Sesilili Palei 14, Tai Webster 12, Delroi Heu 11) South Australia Country 59
Q1 12-15
HT 25-35
Q3 52-45
FT 74-59

New Zealand 80 (Tai Webster 31, Sesilili Palei 13, Logan Poloai 10) Victoria Country 65
Q1 24-13
HT 40-28 (16-15)
Q3 60-44 (20-16)
FT 80-65 (20-21)

Women
New Zealand 71 (Deena Franklin 18, Penina Davidson 18, Stella Beck 17, Veshae Asaua-Wilkinson 10) Queensland North 70
Q1 15-18
HT 27-44 (12-26)
Q3 49-60 (22-16)
FT 71-70 (22-10)

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Under 16 Boys team lose, but both teams still on track

Despite a ferocious final-quarter comeback, the NZ Men suffered their first loss of the Australian U16 State Championships at Logan.

Trailing by 17 points after three periods, the young Kiwis closed to within two with two minutes left, but could not close the deal, eventually falling 55-65 to Queensland South.

Harbour guard Tai Webster again led his team with 16 points (7/19 FG, 2/9 FT) and eight rebounds, but they did not help themselves with a 4/16 (25%) return from the free throw line. Their rivals shot 16/30 FT.

New Zealand are now 4-1 and face unbeaten New South Wales Metro in their final pool game on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the NZ Women extended Northern Territory’s winless streak with an easy 76-21 victory, taking the opportunity to rest some of their leading players.

They ran up an 11-point lead in the opening quarter, held NT to just one field goal in a 22-3 second period and never looking back.

New Plymouth’s Monique Hornby led all scorers with23 points (9/28 FG, 3/15 3pt, 2/2 FT), while Savannah Tafau-Levy of Counties Manukau and Deena Franklin (Harbour) dominated the boards with 17 and 12 rebounds respectively.

The Kiwis (4-1) meet New South Wales Country (3-2) in their final pool game on Thursday.

Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland
Wednesday, July 7
Men
Queensland South 65 New Zealand 55 (Tai Webster 16, Nico Buckrell 12, Sesilili Palei 10)
Q1 19-8
HT 30-16 (11-8)
Q3 47-30 (17-14)
FT 65-55 (18-25)

Women
New Zealand 76 (Monique Hornby 23, Keziah Lewis 12, Stella Beck 10, Breana Jones 10) Northern Territory 21
Q1 16-5
HT 38-8 (22-3)
Q3 52-16 (14-8)
FT 76-21 (24-5)

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NZ teams playing off for 5th/6th

Both New Zealand teams ended pool play with losses and will play off for fifth place in the Australia U16 State Championships at Logan.

The women came unstuck early against New South Wales Country, giving up 11 straight points from tipoff and trailing by 15 after the opening quarter.

They hung tough through the rest of the encounter, battling their rivals even over the final three periods. With 4m 31s, the Kiwis were just three points adrift, but could not complete the comeback, finally succumbing 47-62.

Hutt Valley’s Stella Beck led her team with 14 points (5/12 FG, 4/9 FT), while Harbour forward Deena Franklin compiled a double double of 10 points/17 rebounds.

Meanwhile, the men fell off the pace during the second quarter against New South Wales Country, who extended their advantage out to 22 points before prevailing 84-70.

In the final analysis, the Kiwis could not compete with their opponents from the perimeter, shooting just 3/17 (18%) 3pt. NSW Country finished 12/23 (52%) from the arc, including 10/12 (83%) in the first half.

Harbour’s Tai Webster and Western Bay of Plenty’s Mark Kelly scored 12 points each.

Both NZ teams finished pool play with 4-2 records

Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland
Thursday, July 8
Men
New South Wales Metro 84 New Zealand 70 (Mark Kelly 12, Tai Webster 12, Kurt Heatherley 11)
Q1 26-19
HT 55-43 (29-24)
Q3 71-52 (16-9)
FT 84-70 (13-18)

Women
New South Wales Country 62 New Zealand 47 (Stella Beck 14, Penina Davidson 12, Deena Franklin 10)
Q1 21-6
HT 34-19 (13-13)
Q3 43-36 (9-17)
FT 62-47 (19-11)

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Finals Day

Both NZ teams ended their campaigns on a winning note on the final day of the Australian U16 State Championships at Logan.

The men took an early initiatve of their encounter with New South Wales Country with a 10-point run over the first and second quarters, but had to withstand a second-half rally that threatened to rob them of victory.

With 4m remaining, the lead was down to two points, but the Kiwis regained control to ease clear for good for a 62-53 result and fifth place.

They dominated the boards, out-rebounding their rivals under their own basket. In a scrappy display, the teams combined for 55 turnovers, shooting a combined 47/135 (34.8%), 5/29 (17.2%) and 16/43 FT (37.2%).

Harbour guard Tai Webster led all scorers with 15 points (5/23 FG, 1/6 3pt, 4/7 FT), while provincial team-mate Sesilili Palei grabbed 10 rebounds.

Meanwhile, another dominant performance from Waitakere forward Penina Davidson guided the NZ women to a 71-69 win over South Australia Metro and seventh position.

They fell behind during the first quarter, but took a lead in the third period and edged clear over the closing stages. The Kiwis dominated in the paint, enjoying a 40-24 scoring advantage around the basket, but made life hard on themselves with 36 turnovers.

Davidson led all scorers with 25 points, adding 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.

Australian U16 State Championships

Logan, Queensland
Saturday, July 10
Men
Fifth/sixth playoff
New Zealand 62 (Tai Webster 15) New South Wales Country 53
Q1 18-11
HT 31-22 (13-11)
Q3 46-43 (15-21)
FT 62-53 (16-10)

Women
Seventh/eighth playoff
New Zealand 71 (Penina Davidson 25, Monique Hornby 11) South Australia Metro 69
Q1 10-15
HT 26-31 (16-16)
Q3 49-45 (23-14)
FT 71-69 (22-24)