There are plenty of outstanding performances to report in our weekly look at how current and former Harbour players are getting on in international and national league basketball.

With a number of regulars stepping aside the Tall Blacks named a young inexperienced team for the Asia Cup in Indonesia.

Not too many players have scored 21 points on their senior international debuts but Sam Mennenga did just that in Indonesia. Sam put together an impressive shooting performance making 7 from 10 from the field as well as converting all five free-throws in the 100-47 demolition of India.

Taine Murray (13 points) and Kruz Perrott-Hunt (10 points) were also in the thick of the action against India. 

The Kiwis came unstuck against Lebanon losing 86-72 – Kruz again in double figures with 10 points.

It was a third straight double digit outing for Kruz (12 points on 5 from 8 shooting) in the 92-75 win against the Philippines. Taine made 4 from 9 three-pointers in his 16 points while Sam may have only made 2 points he had a game high 14 rebounds and an athletic block.

A shout-out also to the Tall Blacks doctor at the Asia Cup. Dr Logan Poloai is a former Westlake Boys and Harbour rep player.

Syria are the next opponents for the Tall Blacks - games are being broadcast on Maori TV.

Meanwhile the U17 Women’s National Team have concluded their World Cup campaign in Hungary finishing 11^th in the 16 team tournament.Harbour’s Amy Pateman had top scored for New Zealand with 9 points – her 3 from 5 shooting number standing out like a beacon - in the Kiwis 68-35 to Germany in the opening game.

Back home the two northern rivals went head to head for the first time in the GJ Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa at Eventfinda Stadium last Wednesday night with Northern Kāhu defeating Whai 79-67.

Micaela Cocks, returning to the court she played a lot of her junior basketball on, put together a commanding performance for the home fans. The Kāhu skipper scored a game high 29 points making 7 from 12 (58%) from the field and 13 of 15 (87%) at the foul line.

In the second game in 48 hours at Eventfinda, Kāhu defeated a Southern Hoiho 81-76. Micaela again top scored with 22 points while Ash Kelman-Poto had her best game of the season tallying 13 points and 6 rebounds.

Tiarna Clarke’s three-point shooting performance is unlikely to be bettered in Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa in the near future. The Whai shooting guard made ELEVEN triples from 20 attempts in the 99-69 defeat of Mainland Pouākai at Cowles Stadium on Sunday. Her haul of 34 points is a career best and the most points by a Kiwi in Tauihi this season.

It is believed that the eleven made 3-pointers is a record in a New Zealand women’s professional basketball game.

Kāhu and Whai will meet again on Tuesday in Tauranga.

Good wishes to both Tiarna and Ella Fotu, members of the New Zealand 3X3 team, who leave for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this week.