We begin our Weekly Wrap with a look at our national teams. The Tall Blacks have completed their warm up schedule ahead of FIBA World Cup that begins later this week with the New Zealand team headed to Manila where they will play USA, Greece and Jordan in pool play. 

Playing in China the Tall Blacks beat club side Shenzhen Leopards 77-67 and then went down to Italy 88-81.

Against the Leopards Yanni Wetzell posted 12 points and 8 rebounds while Isaac Fotu scored 8 points. Isaac then had 5 points and 5 rebounds against Italy with Yanni scoring 4 points.

Harbour’s Emme Shearer and Tiarna Clarke were members of the 3x3 Tall Ferns team that was defeated by Italy in the quarter-finals of the Quebec stop of the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series. 

In a couple of domestic competitions played on our doorstep last week the Men’s U23 National Championship and the Women’s D League Championship were held at Eventfinda Stadium and it is pleasing to report that both teams medaled.

The Harbour Breeze won silver after being defeated 88-73 by local rivals Auckland Dream in the D League Grand Final.New Zealand U16 international Bailey Flavell had 26 points and 4 steals in the final while Elianna Tuaiti and Riana Rangi-Brown scored a dozen apiece and skipper Milomilo Nanai had a double of 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Both Bailey and Riana were named to the D League Tournament Team.

The Harbour team were forced to settle for bronze in the U23 National Champs. They were beaten 84-81 in the semi-finals by Porirua with Jett Thompson and Kiani Saxon scoring 15 points while Zach Riley, home briefly from his commitments at Fordham University, made a team high 29 points. In the Bronze Medal game Harbour defeated Auckland 83-61 with Jett scoring a game high 30 points. Zach scored 20 points with Kiani posting 13 and Dylan Wilkie 11.

Zach and Jett were named to the U23 Men’s Tournament Team.

It was a successful Round 6 of GJ Gardiner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa women’s league for BNZ Northern Kāhu, with Opals captain Tess Madgen making her first appearance, they regained top spot on the Tauihi ladder after a pair of road wins at Pouākai and Whai.

Akiene Tera-Reed posted a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds in the 100-74 win against Whai in Tauranga.

She followed that with a second double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Kāhu grabbed a 101-90 victory over Mainland Pouākai at Cowles Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday afternoon.

Penina Davidson missed the game in Tauranga but was back on board for the South Island trip and scored 20 points against Pouākai. 

Get along to Eventfinda Stadum in the coming days to see high quality women’s basketball with the Kāhu entertaining Southern Hoiho on Sunday August 27 at 5pm and then facing Whai on Monday September 4 at 6.30pm.

Congratulations To Josh Kooiman who in his first year playing overseas has won a Big V Championship with Shepparton Gators after averaging 14.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists during the season. The Gators beat Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology 79-66 in the Final.

The Grand Finals of the top two Boy’s and Girl’s Divisions of Auckland Secondary Schools High School Basketball will be played at Trusts Arena on Thursday with Harbour schools involved in three of the four finals. 

In the Boy’s Premier Grade Rosmini College will meet Mt Albert Grammar School in the final after they defeated Auckland Grammar 89-85 in a tightly contested semi-final. Leading scorers for Rosmini were Jameer Reed 22pts, Zion Anderson 20pts, Josh Batty 15pts and Bart Jackowski 11pts.

Regular season champions Westlake Girls High play Mt Albert Grammar in the Girl’s Premier Grade Final after a comfortable 102-54 semi-final victory over Takapuna Grammar. 

The Westlake leading scorers were Emma Schroeder 29pts, Rebecca Moors 19pts, Lily Fotu 14pts, Zenthia Stowers 12pts and Amy Pateman 10pts.

For Takapuna Bailey Flavell top scored with 24pts and Amy McKenzie contributed 17pts.

Rangitoto College completed an unbeaten campaign to secure the Girls Senior A regular season title and will now meet Manurewa High School in the championship game. Rangitoto pulled away in the second half to beat Mt Roskill Grammar 78-62 in the semi.

Leading scorers for Rangitoto were Eva Veale 26pts, Maddison Skelton 14pts and Mela Andrews 12pts

Having set the pace all season Northcote College were pipped 74-70 in the Boy’s Senior A semi-final by Liston College. Aaron Sievert capped a fabulous season with 41 points while Tane Cook scored 12.