Australian U16 state championships, Adelaide

New Zealand U16’s Boys have recorded three wins from four outings at the Australian State champs in Adelaide

Canterbury Under age and Cashmere High’s coach, Ben Sheat extends his already extensive career as Apprentice coach under coach Mike Fitchett as the NZ Under 16 Boys started the Australian State championships in Adelaide on Saturday. The Canterbury Basketball family wish him well on his endeavours.

Two developing young players from Canterbury included in the side are Quinn Clinton (ChCh BHS) and Sam Riley (Lincoln High School)

This is a team with some future and Fitchett commented “When you’ve got a 14-year-old at 6ft 6 and a 15-year-old at 6ft 7, you can’t really complain,” he says. “We’re hoping that our physicality can be something that we take advantage of. Clinton fills the back up point guard role while Riley plays forward. “This is definitely the first step in the process of becoming a Tall Black and we have to look at long-term development – can these kids become Tall Blacks in 10 years’ time?

“But we’re also going over there to win.”

The NZ U16 Boys team is
Samuel Aruwa (Auckland), Quinn Clinton (Canterbury), Isaac Letoa (Wellington), Sam Riley (Canterbury), Puhi Samuel (Wellington), Ken Smith (Auckland), Matiu Spooner (Hawke’s Bay), Liam Thornton (North Harbour), Kaeleb Tyner (Wellington), Tai Wynyard (Waitakere West Auckland). Coach: Mike Fitchett Assistant: Douglas Courtney, Apprentice coach: Ben Sheat, Manager: Andrew Mackay

New Zealand beats Western Australia Country 86-51

New Zealand got off to a great start at the Australian U16 state championships, with the boys overrunning Western Australia Country 86-51 less than 24 hours after arriving in Adelaide.

The Kiwis really stamped their authority on the contest with a 25-4 second quarter. They led by as many as 36 points soon after halftime. NZ enjoyed a huge 61-34 rebounding, including 24 offensive boards, and outscored WA 46-16 in the paint and 18-9 in second-chance points.

Canterbury’s Sam Riley (Lincoln High) came off the bench to top score for the Kiwi's with 19 points/12 rebounds, while Aucklander Sam Aruwa also compiled a double double of 12 points/14 rebounds.

New Zealand 86 (Sam Riley 19, Isaaac Letoa 14, Sam Aruwa 12, Tai Wynyard 12) Western Australia Country 51

 

New Zealand beats ACT on Sunday 96-67

Six players scored in double figures to help the NZ boys extend their winning start to two games at the Australian U16 state championships at Adelaide, overcoming Australia Capital Territory 96-67 with Sam Riley slotting 13 points.
New Zealand took command with a 24-11 and led by as many as 35 in the final moments. They shot 63% from the field and out-scored their rivals 50-20 in the paint.
New Zealand 96 (Sam Aruwa 20, Puhi Samuel 15, Isaac Letoa 14, Ken Smith 13, Sam Riley 13) Australian Capital Territory 67

Queensland South beats New Zealand 74-62 on Sunday evening

The Kiwis tumbled 62-74 to Queensland South, falling behind with an 8-20 second quarter, but storming back with a 26-13 final stanza.Tai Wynyard led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 9/21 FG and including eight offensive boards among his 17 rebounds haul, but as a team, NZ shot a paltry 26.5% from the field in their second game of the day.

 

New Zealand beats South Australia Country 84-60 on Monday night

 

Balance of Schedule
Wednesday, July 10 5.30pm (NZT) New Zealand v Victoria Country

Thursday, July 11 5.30pm (NZT) New Zealand v New South Wales Metro