There is plenty of North Harbour success to report from the Tertiary Tournament that concluded at AUT Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon where Victoria University captured the Men’s championship and AUT the Women’s title.

Azure Anderson put in a herculean performance as AUT defeated Victoria University 74-66 to win its first ever Women’s championship. The Harbour Breeze forward finished with a game high 28 points (9/16FG) to accompany 10 rebounds and 5 steals. She was also named to the Women’s All-Tournament Team.

Our 2022 U17 Girls Head Coach Luye Murphy played all 40 minutes for AUT contributing 5 points and a team high equalling 5 assists in the win.

After beginning the tournament in good form Tabitha Leyson unfortunately incurred a leg injury during pool play and had to support her teammates from the bench in the Semi-Final and Grand Final victories. Recover well Tabitha.

Otago University Women claimed the bronze medal after defeating Waikato in the 3^rd-4^th play-off game. Millie Simpson was an outstanding performer for Otago throughout - the former Carmel College and Harbour guard averaging 12.2 points per game.

Former Westlake Boys and Harbour point guard Reuben Natusch amassed 31 points as Victoria University defeated Auckland University 95-90 in the Men’s Grand Final.

The Auckland team was laden with Harbour talent with no less than half a dozen former or current Harbour reps in their lineup.

All six got on the scoreboard despite the team having to settle for a silver medals – Reuben Fitzgerald (22 points), Daniel Powell (20 points), Terence Abdon (11 points), Reimar Cruz (5 points), Joe Wuthrich (4 points) and Matt Drury (3 points) were the contributors.

In the Men’s bronze medal game AUT were defeated 81-68 by Lincoln University – Pita Maxwell-Topia with 6 points for Lincoln.

Shout-out to AUT guard Josh Kooiman who scored 19 points in the game against Lincoln and led all scorers at the tournament averaging 28.4 points per game.

Kooiman, Fitzgerald and Natusch were each named to the Men’s Tournament Team.

New Zealand finished sixth at the 2022 FIBA U18 Asian Championship that concluded in Bengaluru, India, last weekend.

It’s worth reflecting further on the performances of our Harbour representatives at the championship. 

Westlake Girls and Harbour U19 guard Mackenzie Chatfield captained the team with distinction. She led the team in steals, assists and rebounds (5.4rpg). Her 4.6 assists per game ranked her 4^th overall amongst all players in the 8 team tournament.

Forward Flo Dallow played for our U19 team earlier in 2022. Now beginning her freshman year in the States at the University of Portland she averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds per game – 4th highest in points and third in rebounds on the New Zealand team.

It’s also worth highlighting the performance of Takapuna Grammar and Harbour forward Qaizden Stephano who averaged 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 points for the Samoan U18 team that finished 4^th in the B Division of the U18 Asian Championship. That tournament was played simultaneously alongside the A Division.

Finally we wish Tom Abercrombie a speedy recovery with the New Zealand Breakers stalwart reportedly suffering a torn retina in his left eye.

He was caught by a stray arm in the opening seconds of the Breakers loss to the Brisbane Bullets at the NBL Blitz in Darwin on Sunday evening.

All at Harbour Basketball wish one of our favourite sons a speedy recovery.