Dan Ryan, Harbour Basketballs Competitions manager is convinced that Harbours A Grade Mens Basketball competition is by far the best club basketball in New Zealand. We currently have 18 teams in the league and over 180 players competing from all over Auckland and the North Shore.

Numbers have been so intense that we have had to break the competition into two pools and have reached full capacity for court usage at the North Shore Events Centre, says Ryan.

Every night of the week you can watch basketball at its best here at the North Shore Events Centre. At present, we have over 5,000 members and are desperately seeking new gyms and court space to cater for our rapidly growing programmes.

With the World Under 19 Championships commencing in June and streaming live from the North Shore Events Centre, we expect it to be a hive of activity down here at Harbour basketball. We look forward to an influx of new members due to this worldwide event being held right next door and are gearing toward a season high for basketball memberships.

This year alone, we have already got a record number of 147 Secondary School teams in our competition, with Westlake boys entering 30 teams alone. We have recently experienced a 50% increase in basketball teams from years 2 to 4 (primary school) and the ever-popular Social Mixed Basketball league which has proved to be in high demand on Monday nights.

Dilshan Perera of the Raptors (Telstra Clear Social Basketball team) said, We have thoroughly enjoyed the games, the spirit and the opportunity, even though we are the cellar dwellers of the competition. I think we may have enough interest to field two teams from Telstra Clear for next time.

With the appointment of 2008 Beijing Olympian Charmian Purcell, womens basketball has also been a huge focus for Harbour Basketball this year. The introduction of new initiatives such as the NBA (no boys allowed) Clinic held every Wednesday morning for up and coming female basketballers, accompanied with the well-supported Womens Academy run by Helen Lacey, we are certain that we definitely have one of the most competitive Womens Basketball leagues in the country. The passion of Harbour Breeze coach Brett Goebel, has further promoted the womens game by organising three Nation-wide tournaments throughout New Zealand, where the top female athletes battle it out for the WCBL title.