THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED BY THE NAPIER AND HASTINGS MAIL ON 20 JUNE 2012 – THANK YOU
Two Hawke's Bay basketballers who lit up the courts, at the national women's under-17-championships held in Tauranga earlier this... month have be recognised by being named -: the team of the tournament.
Basketballers Aaliyah Smiler-Ah Kiong and Hynda Tong both 16, helped steer Hawkes Bay all the way to the final of the tournament, in which they we: down by 10 points to champions Harbour, 67-57.
Playing at point guard, Ah Kiong almost carried her team single-handedly, scoring 24 points in the decider.
Despite her disappointment Ah Kiong took consolation from being named. MVP of the tournament, in which she averaged 19 points a game.
"I've been playing in Basketball Hawke's Bay rep teams for about six years, and I really wanted to win a championship. We didn't, but I was still proud of the way the girls: played," said Ah Kiong, who captained the side; coached by her mother, Cheleme — herself a national junior development player.
Based on her stand out performance, Ah Kiong, who is in year 11 at Hastings Girls' High, was not only named in the tournament team, but was also named in the national under-17 women's team squad to contest the Oceania champs in Australia later this year.
Last year Ah Kiong was a member of the national under-16 girls' side that finished a best- ever fourth at last year's Oceania’s.
While Ah Kiong comes from a proven basketball pedigree, Hynda Tonga, - from William Colenso College in Napier, was the surprise packet of the representative season.
Tonga, also a junior netball rep player, had only started playing basketball in recent years and had to be persuaded to try out for this year's Hawke's Bay team.
"I'm glad I did," said the six-foot tall Tonga, who .played forward at the championships. "Making the tournament team is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me," she said.
Basketball Hawke's Bay regional development officer Ben Valentine was full of praise for the youngsters. "I could not be prouder of how the -girls played, and how our little region battled above our weight amongst the major basketball regions," he said.
"To be the second best under-17 women's team is a major accomplishment, and thoroughly deserved.
Coach Cheleme Smiler-Ah Kiong did an amazing job," he said,

The Hawkes Bay Under 17 Mens and Womens teams are playing in the National finals in Tauranga from Friday 1st to Monday 4 June. Results will be published as they happen.

The girls lost the final 67 to 57 after being down by as much as 17 in the third quarter. The team just could not get their shots to drop but still managed to get the down to 7 but just could not quite bridge the gap.

Aaliyah Ah Kiong scored 24 points, Shevanna Sullivan 9 and Hynda Tonga 7 pts and 6 rebounds.

Aaliyah Ah Kiong was named tournament MVP and in the Tournament team along with Hynda Tonga

HB U17 Men lost to Otago 67 - 64 for 8th

Men's Under 17 lost to Waikato 67 to 57 and North Harbour 71 to 60 in their quarter final game a go to the 5th to 8th playoff.

Day One results to date:
Mens U17 defeated Otago by 79 to 41
Mens U17 defeated Auckland78 to 65
Womens U17 defeated Auckland 101 to 24
Womens U17 defeated Tauranga 64 to 45

See the draw and teams below.

 Under 17 Men

Wilfred Dickson, Andrew Wilson, Jacob Cowan, Jonathan Dornbusch, Bodie Smiler, Soul Sadler, Kaleb Edwards, Lexus Greening, Matt Bird, Jonathon Riley, Harris Solomon, and Mataeus Marsh.

Head Coach: Marj Smiler. Assistant Coach: Regan Spooner

Under 17 Women

Madison King, Hynda Tonga, Aaliyah Ah Kiong, Maesey Smiler, Kimiora Poi, Demi Forshaw, Shevanna Sullivan, Kaleel Spooner, Maia Wati-Cooper and Shenade Southon.

Head Coach: Cheleme Smiler-Ah Kiong. Assistant Coach: Ben Valentine

2012-U17-National-Championship-Tournament-Draw-as-at-23-May-12.pdf