Twelve current or former Harbour reps were in action in the opening round of the Sal’s National Basketball League at the weekend.

Rob Loe recorded a massive 17 points (on 8 of 9 shooting) and 15 rebounds as the Auckland Tuatara proved too strong for Taranaki Airs winning 92-59. Chris McIntosh scored 10 points and Reuben Fitzgerald 3 points in the win.

 Current Harbour U19 representatives Tom Beattie, Charlie Dalton and Boston Caldwell made their NBL debuts in Saturday night’s win at Eventfinda – Tom scored 9 points and Charlie 4 points.

Scott Telfer scored 9 points, in a losing cause, for the Airs.

Also making his NBL debut was Christian Martin as Franklin Bulls secured a valuable 74-70 road win at Hawkes Bay. Denhym Brooke had 13 points and 5 rebounds with Jett Thompson tallying 5 points. 

Shout out to former Harbour coach Morgan Maskell in gaining his first Sal’s NBL victory.

Brayden Inger, fresh from his season with the Cairns Taipans, scored 14 points and claimed 6 rebounds as Southland Sharks opened their Sal’s NBL campaign with a 117-81 home victory over Wellington Saints. Jaylen Gerrand, on his Sharks debut knocked down both of his three-point attempts for his 6 points.

Congratulations to former Harbour representatives Chris McIntosh, Ben Castle and Denhym Brooke, recently crowned 3x3 Quest Tour Champions.

Playing for Team CB3.0 they beat Lincoln Blue 21-16 in the final played at Eventfinda Stadium. Their reward is a trip to Manila next month to compete at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour.

In non-playing news Sky Sport Breakers GM Simon Edwards has been named Australian National Basketball League Executive of the Year.

A servant of basketball Simon did all his schooling, and basketball playing, on the Shore at Birkdale North Primary, Birkdale Intermediate and Birkenhead College.

He has had a fairy-tale rise through the Breakers ranks from floor wiper and team mascot to the front office and is currently the GM.

Simon has spent the last six months in Australia away from wife Amy and their two young children.

Congratulations Simon on a richly deserved award.

In last week’s post we stated that Dan Fotu was one of 14 Kiwi men to have played 100 or more NCAA games. Eight of the fourteen are former Harbour reps an we asked if you could name the other seven players to have reached this outstanding mark.

Answer:

133 Rob Loe (University of St Louis Billikens, 2010-14)

127 Jack Salt (University of Virginia, 2014-19)

127 Kirk Penney (University of Wisconsin Badgers, 1999-2003)

127 Tai Webster (University of Nebraska Huskers, 2013-17)

126 Dan Fotu (St Mary's College, 2018-22)

118 Sam Waardenburg (University of Miami, 2016-22)

115 Matt Freeman (Oklahoma (2016-19), UCSB (19-20)

101 Rory Fannon (Utah Valley Wolverines, 2007-12)