Our weekly look at how current and former Harbour players are getting on in international and national league basketball has to begin with the Tall Blacks.

Congratulations to the three Harbour representatives that were part of the Tall Blacks bronze medal winning team at the FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia that concluded on Sunday. 

Kruz Perrott-Hunt started in most of the seven games at the tournament – defensively very solid he averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Taine Murray also played all 7 games and averaged very similar numbers to Kruz – 8.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Sam Mennenga, as we reported last week, scored 21 points on debut against India but due to illness had his tournament restricted to 4 appearances during which he averaged 9.8 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Former Rosmini College standout Tohi Smith-Milner, the Tall Blacks captain, was named to the All-Star Five. In the bronze medal game he scored a game high 25 points – making 7 from 10 from the 3-point line in an inspirational display.

Kruz, Taine and Sam headed back to their respective American colleges the night after the tournament concluded to prepare for the 2022-23 NCAA season beginning in a couple of months.

The Commonwealth Games gets underway later this week. Good wishes go to both Tiarna Clarke and Ella Fotu, members of the New Zealand 3X3 team, along with coach Justine Reed.

Back home the two northern rivals went head to head in the Sal’s NBL on Sunday with Auckland Tuatara defeating Franklin Bulls 89-68 in Pukekohe to confirm a top six play-off berth.

For the Tuatara, Harbour old boy Rob Loe led all scorers with 25 points while U19 rep Tom Beattie scored 5 points off the bench.

Another ex Harbour man Corey Webster top scored for the Tuatara with 17 points while Denhym Brooke corralled 9 rebounds to accompany 7 points.

The Bulls (7-8), with three games remaining probably have to win two of those games to make the six. 

Also play-off bound are Northern Kāhu boasting an unbeaten 7-0 record in GJ Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa.

The Kāhu are at home tonight (Tuesday) at Eventfinda Stadium taking on Southern Hoiho.

In their previous outing Kāhu defeated Mainland Pouākai 83-75 in Christchurch on Saturday evening. Micaela Cocks had a fine all-round game adding 5 rebounds and 6 assists to 13 points while Tera Reed contributed 8 points and 7 rebounds.