Womens CL Awards 2010

NZ Force Harbour Breeze guard Noni Wharemate predictably took Most Valuable Player honours from the 2010 Women’s Basketball League … but the most popular accolades went to a pair of women twice her age.

Waikato Wizards coach Theresa Cargo was recognised (and received a standing ovation from all teams) for a contribution to women’s basketball encompassing a multitude of roles and spanning several decades. As well as guiding her team to the WBC semifinals, she was also rewarded as outstanding referee of this season’s opening round in New Plymouth.

But perhaps the unofficial inspiration to emerge from this year’s national competition was the re-emergence of legendary player Carolyn Grey, still banging bodies on court at the age of 56.

One of her Waikato team-mates was a school classmate of her grand-daughter.

Grey said age was just a number to her and she intended still playing into her 60s. She also told her younger rivals that it was their responsibility to represent their sport - women’s basketball - with dignity and that “professionalism” had nothing to do with money.

Her message was not lost her audience.

Wharemate had spearheaded her team’s defence of the WBC title, and was head and shoulders ahead of her rivals on court. Harbour’s Angela Perrott-Hunt took out coaching honours, guiding the Breeze home in her first season at the helm.

The full list of awards winners was …

Championship Winners

NZ Force Harbour Breeze

Plate Winners

Taranaki Trojan

NZ Force Most Valuable Player

Noni Wharemate (NZ Force Harbour Breeze)

All-Star Five

Suzie Bates (Oceana Otago Goldrush), Jody Cameron (NZ Force Harbour Breeze), Amanda Harris (NZ Force Harbour Breeze), Patrice McKenzie (Oceana Otago Goldrush), Noni Wharemate (NZ Force Harbour Breeze)