It is with great interest that I am starting to see players from the successful 2002 World Championship campaign starting wind down their careers. A number of them are choosing to move into the world of coaching. This surely can only bode well for the future of basketball in New Zealand.

Well the season is under way and there we no real surprises from a win/loss point of view but certainly the start of the season unearthed some exciting players to watch this year. In one of the finest debuts in my time in the NZNBL Waikato import Eric Devondorf started with an exemplary scoring effort of 49 points to help the Pistons route Nelson on opening night of our new season. Nelson were certainly at a disadvantage not having a number of players at training as they finished their commitments in the ANBL.

March 6, 2010

Southland Sharks impress in debut but Hawks show experience winning 105-90 in overtime.

Hawks had six players reach double figures led by Everard Bartlett who scored 23 points and Jamil Terrell who had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. For the Sharks newly signed import point guard Mike Rose had a game high 29.

Start of the first quarter was close but with the scores at 12-13 Hawks increased their lead with a 15-3 run, up 28-15.

By SCOTT PRESTON -

The Bay Hawks denied National Basketball League newbies, the Southland Sharks, a dream start to their existence in Invercargill on Saturday night.

The Hawks blew a fourth-quarter lead but the dominated overtime, out-scoring Southland, in their inaugural season, 21-6 in overtime on the way to a 105-90 win at Stadium Southland.

Hawke's Bay, coming off a loss to the Christchurch Cougars on Thursday night, had six players in double digits, led by guard Everard Bartlett, who shot 9/16 FG and 3/6 3pt for 23 points, while adding six rebounds and six assists.

The Southland Times

The Southland Sharks will play each of the nine other New Zealand NBL franchises at home and away this season. Basketball reporter Brendon Egan takes a look at who the pretenders and contenders could be.

HARBOUR HEAT
Formed: 1986
Main Arena: North Shore Events Centre, Auckland
Coach: Judd Flavell
Last year: 9-7, quarterfinalists
Key Players: Kavossy Franklin, Rick Rickert, Dillon Boucher, Corey Webster

By GEOFF LONGLEY - The Press

Thursday, March 4

At Cowles Stadium, Christchurch

Christchurch Cougars 75 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 72 Final
1Q: 18-19
HT: 30-48 (11-30)
3Q: 51-57 (21-9)
FT: 75-72 (24-15)

Christchurch Cougars 51 (Winitana 20, Kench 13, Wurtz 8) 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 57 (Langrell 18, Connell 13, Daniel 11) 3Q
1Q: 18-19
HT: 30-48 (11-30)
3Q: 51-57 (21-9)

Christchurch Cougars 30 (Kench 9, Winitana 9, Wurtz 6) 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks 48 (Langrell 18, Connell 11, Daniel 9),
Half Time

By SAM WORTHINGTON - The Dominion Post
The Wellington Saints have pulled off a major coup on the eve of their NBL season opener with experienced Tall Black Casey Frank joining an already powerful squad.

Frank, 32, flew from Auckland to attend Saints training in Wellington last night and is believed to have agreed terms with the side.

The 2.03m American forward debuted for New Zealand in 2005 and has also played for the New Zealand Breakers and the Wollongong Hawks in the Australian NBL.

By SAM WORTHINGTON - The Dominion Post

It is turning into a classic good news-bad news week for Wellington Saints chief executive Nick Mills.

The good is that the Saints have signed their second import, American Erron Maxey.

The bad, neither Maxey, 31, or new player-coach Pero Cameron will be in Palmerston North for the NBL season opener against the Jets on Saturday night.

Both are required to fulfil their contractual agreements with the Gold Coast Blaze, who have Australian NBL season-ending prize-giving and sponsorship obligations at the weekend.

LOGAN SAVORY - The Southland Times

The Sharks have signed a United States import on a short-term deal as the new Southland National Basketball League team eyes a positive start to their debut season.

Twenty-two-year-old Mike Rose arrived in Invercargill last night to provide cover for the Sharks in the early rounds of the competition.

The Southland team has been dealt a blow with its key player and captain Luke Martin ruled out for Saturday night's opening game because of his involvement in the Australian National Basketball League.