Our three Harbour representatives Penina Davidson, Akiene-Tera Reed and Tayla Dalton played major roles to help carry the Tall Ferns to their first ever top four finish at a FIBA Asia Cup with the achievement also giving them an invitation to an Olympic qualification event in February 2024.

Penina is one of the premier New Zealand players in the game as she exhibited at the Asia Cup in Sydney where she was named to the All-Star 5. Averaging a near double-double of 13.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game she was the second leading rebounder at the tournament and sixth highest scorer.

Tera averaged 8.5 points and 6.2 rebounds – her 23 points against the Philippines a career high in the New Zealand singlet.

Tayla missed the bronze medal play-off loss against Australia due to injury but in the five games prior to that was a real spark off the bench playing over 20 minutes per game and averaging 4.4 points and 3 rebounds per game.

The Tall Blacks have named a squad of 21 ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and there are no fewer than eight former Harbour representatives named including two sets of brothers:

Dan and Isaac Fotu

Tai and Corey Webster

Sam Mennenga

Yanni Wetzell

Kruz Perrott-Hunt

Taine Murray

If we add in Tohi Smith-Milner who went to Rosmini College, but played reps for Waitakere West, almost half the squad are local players from the Harbour region.

Having impressed at the Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp in Abu Dhabi early in June Amy Pateman, Rebecca Moors and Julius Halaifionu have been given a major opportunity to impress once more at a prestigious international training camp.

The trio are amongst eight New Zealand athletes that have been selected to attend the 2023 NBA Academy Men’s and Women’s Games in Atlanta, Georgia from July 6-9.

The NBA Academy Games will feature a series of games between four Select Teams comprised of top players from outside the United States, providing a unique opportunity for participants to develop their games under the guidance of NBA Academy coaches and showcase their skills and talents in front of NCAA coaches and WNBA/NBA team scouts.

"Only a select few get invited to these NBA Academy games, so it's an exciting opportunity for these young Kiwi athletes to gain experience against their international peers and to be exposed to a world-class environment that the NBA offers,” said Basketball New Zealand CEO Dillon Boucher.

Dan Fotu has continued the good Sal’s NBL form that has earned him a place in the Tall Blacks initial World Cup Squad.

He scored 21 points as Franklin Bulls walloped Southland Sharks 102-72 in Invercargill on Friday night.

However the Bulls came unstuck in Dunedin 24 hours later against the Otago Nuggets. Both teams are vying for a top two spot but it was the Nuggets that prevailed 86-72; 12 points for Dan in that one.

Auckland Tuatara made it nine straight wins after a high scoring encounter in New Plymouth defeating the Taranaki Airs 108-94. Rob Loe, the leading candidate for League MVP honours, had 23 points and 10 rebounds while Charlie Dalton scored 8.

Scott Telfer was prominent for the Airs scoring 11 points.

The Tuatara wrapped up the regular season title (with two games to play) by defeating fourth placed Canterbury Rams 104-81 at Eventfinda Stadium on Sunday evening – Rob Loe posting 23 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Charlie Dalton was also close to double-double territory with 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Kruz Perrott-Hunt added 7 points.

Corey Webster, back in familiar surrounds on the North Shore scored 13 points for the Rams. 

Congratulations  to James Moors who, having graduated from Colorado State University earlier in the year, has taken up his first pro contract with Brisbane Capitals in Australia’s NBL1 North competition.

James recently produced a double-double of 24 points and 16 rebounds in a 100-98 victory over RIP City. The former Westlake Boys High and Harbour standout is averaging 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in his first 9 appearances for the Capitals. 

His good form has seen him signed by Dutch club Leeuwarden for the 2023-24 European season.