U17 Nationals Review
The 2015 U17 Nationals was a successful event that culminated with our Harbour U17A boys winning the national title. All of our teams performed well during the tournament with the A girls coming 4th and the boys B team topping their pool and almost securing a semi final after a 3 point loss to Canterbury . The girls B team grew tremendously over the tournament, secured two wins and will have learned a lot during the week.
The highlight of the tournament was Saturday night as the Harbour A boys dominated the team from Waikato in a 113-74 Grand Final victory. The tournament MVP was awarded to Sam Waardenburg who put on an outstanding display in the final registering 28 points and 18 rebounds.
Braydon Inger and Cameron Stone were also rewarded for a stellar week, both making the tournament team with Sam. Thabo Manyere must have been on the cusp of this team after having a brilliant tournament.
Coach Kenny Stone and Assistant Coach Aaron Young have done an incredible job throughout the season. Every once in a while you have the pleasure of watching an exceptional team in action, and this is one of those teams. Look out for them next year in the U19 age group!
The A girls team also had a great tournament with a fourth place finish for Coach Lana Wolf who had her first tilt at a national title. Coach Wolf had an outstanding year along with star guard Tiarna Clarke who was named in the tournament team. Unfortunately she injured her ankle in the last game and finished on the sideline.
The boys B team had an extraordinary season and finished well beyond expectations. It was a lofty goal at the beginning of the year just to make nationals, especially with a team half made up by bottom age players. However Coach Zac Fitzgerald and Assistant Jacky Kuan did a marvellous job moulding the boys and came within three points of a semi final.
Coach Deena Franklin and her girls in the B team also had a great year with improvement visible across the board.
Five of the Harbour boys, Sam Waardenburg, Brayden Inger, Cameron Stone, Dan Fotu and Thabo Manyere and Tiarna Clarke are in the New Zealand U17 teams that will play Australia next month for a place at the U17 World Championships. We wish them every success in that playoff game.
Boys Results:
Harbour A
Beat Southland 95-51
Beat North Canterbury 121-33
Beat Hawkes Bay 111-47
Beat Waikato 84-73
Beat Palmerston North 83-63 (Quarter)
Beat ACM1101-59 (Semi)
Beat Waikato 113-74 (Final)
Harbour B
Beat Taranaki 69-38
Beat Central Country 95-67
Beat ACM2 68-57
Beat Rotorua 68-57
Lost Canterbury Metro Red 76-73 (Quarter)
Lost Waitakere West 80-71
Won Central Country 66-58
Girls Results:
Harbour A
Beat Southland 76-70
Beat Otago 47-29
Lost Waikato 63-40
Beat Mid North 85-33
Beat Palmerston North 64-42 (Quarter)
Lost Canterbury Metro Red 72-62 (Semi)
Lost Taranaki 67-52
Harbour B
Lost ACM1 106-18
Lost Tasman 103-27
Beat Canterbury Metro White 63-52
Lost Taranaki 99-30
Lost Hawkes Bay 110-57
Beat ACM2 75-52
Lost Ngati Porou 97-55
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