Raw talent work in progress as coach assesses first game
By Anendra Singh Hawkes Bay Today
The need to grow the knowledge base and a lack of physicality were the two things that stuck out like sore thumbs to basketball coach Theo Tait.
"We have a lot of work to do," was Tait's assessment after his Hawke's Bay side beat Waikato 74-66 in Hastings on Saturday.
It was the first game of the SAS Sport-sponsored Central North Island second division CBL competition held at the Hastings Sports Centre.
The CBL is designed to offer a decent competition to regions that do not have an NBL team as well as expose promising youngsters in NBL sides to more court time.
Tait, who was Tab Baldwin's assistant in the NBL, said his players were predominantly schoolboys compared with Waikato's under-23-heavy side.
Bay captain Ravi Mani is the oldest at 21 and Matt Bird, holidaying in Australia for a fortnight, is the only other non-schoolboy.
Former Hawks point guard Aidan Daly didn't play on Saturday because he was laid up after pushing himself too hard at training, but Tait said they would field him whenever he was available.
"Ravi and Matt Bird need to be in shape because they are not match fit," the coach said, after the Bay trailed 25-21 in the first quarter before bouncing back 20-13 in the second to lead 41-38 at halftime.
The hosts maintained that pressure into the third spell (17-12) but Waikato came back to level 16-16 in the final quarter.
Tait said just because a couple of his players trained with the Hawks didn't mean they were fit.
In fact, when he injected teenagers, who are training and playing for their Bay school competition, they showed more fitness.
"It's a good opportunity for them [Hawks squad members] to put in some off-court work."
Guard Harris Solomon, 16, of Hastings Boys' High School, impressed Tait, who knows little of his players.
"I had heard rumours he was a bit of a hothead and this and that.
"Harris needed some matches but he distributed the ball well and his defence was good," he said but he felt, like others, he had a long way to go.
Mani and Bird top-scored with 17 points while the latter had a double-double with 11 rebounds.
Wilfred Dickson scored 13 points and Jackson Macfarlane added 10.
For the visitors, Tamaki Courtney and Kirk Rangiwha-Green scored 17 each while Eru McCullough added 16.
Tait also noted the raw talent of Andrew Wilson, 16.
"HBHS are dominant here so this competition is now a stepping stone for them."
He said schoolboys, who were "superstars" in their schoolyards were often despondent to gain no game time in making the Hawks squad.
While Matt Wilson would return for the away game against Gisborne on August 2, Tait said Matiu Spooner held his ground on Saturday.
The Bay will play Tauranga at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale, in their next home game on August 16 before hosting Gisborne at the Centennial Hall the next day.
1st Qtr HB 21 Waikato 25
2nd HB 20 – 13
3rd – HB 17 -12
4th HB 16 -16
...
The Scorers were
Hawkes Bay
Ravi Mani 17 pts
Mathew Bird 17 - 11 rebounds
Wilfred Dickinson 13
Jackson Macfarlane 10
Waikato
Tamaki Courtney 17
Kirk Rangianha 17
Eru McCullough 16
The CBL competition is designed to give provide a top level competition for regions who do not have an NBL team and to give young players in NBL teams who have played limited minutes an opportunity to play.
This competition is seen as an essential part of the player development pathway to help bridge the gap between school and NBL in the region. Over the years some top players such as Rangi Kennedy and Czebarlos Smiler have left the game during their apprentice stage getting frustrated with playing few minutes while on the an NBL team bench. The SAS Sport CBL league will give these players the opportunity to get good game time against other players striving to break into NBL teams.
We have been fortunate to secure the services of Theo Tait the current Assistant Coach of the IMS Payroll Hawks and he is supported by Jackson Macfarlane the 2013 assistant Hawks coach.
Aidan Daly the former Hawks and Saints point guard will be an on-court coach and mentor for the young team and his experience will be a key to the success of the team.
The team is:
Head Coach. Theo Tait
Assistant Coach Jackson Macfarlane
Aidan Daly
Ravi Mani
Mathew Wilson
Wilfred Dickson
Jaxson Macfarlane
Matiu Spooner
Andrew Wilson
Harrison Mcquire
Joshua Anderson
Harris Solomon
Mateaus Marsh
Geoff Heather
Mathew Bird
CBL Draw 2014
Date Home team Away team Venue Time
26-Jul Hawkes Bay Waikato Pistons Hastings Sports centre 4 pm
2-Aug Gisborne Hawkes Bay
9-Aug Tauranga Hawkes Bay
16-Aug Gisborne Waikato Pistons
16-Aug Hawkes Bay Tauranga Pettigrew Green Arena 3:00 p.m.
17-Aug Hawkes Bay Gisborne Centennial Hall 4:00 p.m.
7-Sep Hawkes Bay Waikato SJC Hastings Sports Centre 3:00 p.m.
Semi Finals
17-Sep 1st 4th Semi 1 Venue to be advised
2nd 3rd Semi 2
Finals
20-Sep Winner Semi 1 Winner Semi 2 1st and 2nd
Loser semi 2 Loser Semi 1 3rd and 4th
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