We mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Penina Davidson, Tayla Dalton, Ash Kelman-Poto and Akiene-Tera Reed had attended the recent New Zealand Tall Ferns Trial Camp. The good news is that all four players earned selection for the Ferns tour of Europe that departs this week for games in Turkey, Serbia and Poland.

Tayla and Ash will be making their full international debuts, Tera will be adding to her six previous appearances while Penina will be the most experienced player on tour with 53 caps to her name. 

The tour has been organized as preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup that takes place in Sydney at the end of June.

Sam Waardenburg helped Cairns Taipans to the final four of the Australian NBL playoffs earlier in the year and has done the same in Germany where his club Ludwigsburg have swept Oldenburg 3-0 in the Bundesliga quarter-finals with Sam scoring 13 points in game two of the series. Ludwigsburg face a semi-final meeting with top seed Bonn who have former Breaker Finn Delany in their lineup.

Despite Sam scoring 10 points Ludwigsburg have lost the opening game of the semi-final series 80-71.

Meanwhile on the other side of the draw second seed ALBA Berlin and Yanni Wetzell were bundled out in the quarter-finals losing the five game series 3-1 to seventh seed Ulm. Yanni scored 4 points, had 4 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds in the fourth and ultimately final game of the season for Berlin.

Flying under the radar Corey Webster has won an African League title with Egyptian club Al Ahly Cairo.

Despite the Southland Sharks going down 106-87 to the Hawkes Bay Hawks Brayden Inger compiled a career high 30 points making 6 from 8 triples in the process in Round 8 of the Sal’s NBL. Denhym Brooke had 5 points and 4 rebounds in the win.

Both Auckland teams enjoyed victories on Sunday.

Matt Freeman made his debut for the Franklin Bulls and produced a nice stat line of 8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in the 81-70 home win against Nelson Giants. Dan Fotu top scored for the Bulls with 15 points and also pulled down 8 rebounds.

In the earlier game on Sunday Rob Loe underlined his top draw credentials as Auckland Tuatara won 104-98 against the Manawatu Jets in Palmerston North. Rob finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and a couple of blocks. Charlie Dalton tallied 15 points for the Tuatara with Liam Judd scoring 5 points for the Jets.

Good luck to our Harbour teams competing at the Aon U19 Nationals in Rangiora over Kings Birthday Weekend.