AT A GLANCE: TALL BLACKS AND TALL FERNS ABROAD

Tom Vodanovich continued his good form as Telstar Hesperange (0-4) came close to recording their first victory in the Luxembourg League. The Tall Blacks forward piled in 36 points as Telstar came up just short losing 86-82 at Larochette.

Vodanovich, who is third on the Luxembourg League scoring list averaging 29.3ppg, scored his 26 points at a really good clip – 4/8 2PG,  6/11 3PG and a perfect 10 from 10 from the foul line.

Venezia are off to a good start in the Italian League. Their 75-67 win at Cantu means they sit second on the Serie A ladder with a 3-1 record. Isaac Fotu played just 10 minutes for Venezia finishing with 4 points on 2 from 3 shooting.

Southern District Spartans have bowed out of the Queensland State League (QSL) play-offs at the quarter-final stage losing 107-96 to Sunshine Coast Phoenix. This means the State League season is over for Tyrell Harrison and Mika Vukona. The Tall Blacks captain produced 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 points for the Spartans whilst Harrison added 10 rebounds to 19 points, finishing the season averaging 15 points and 9 rebounds per game.

Also bowing out in the QSL quarter-finals are the RedCity Roar with it’s contingent of five Kiwis. The Roar did anything but as they succumbed 92-62 to Gold Coast Rollers.

Tall Fern Ashleigh Karaitiana top scored for the Roar with 18 points whilst former international Charmian Mellars was prominent with a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds.

The other two players in double figures for the Roar were fellow New Zealanders Ajiah Siosiua-Pepe (14 points) and Kayla Kiriau (10 points).

There is still plenty of New Zealand interest in the QSL as Chevannah Paalvast (Logan Thunder), Natalie Taylor and Kalani Purcell (both Southern District Spartans) will be in semi-final action on Friday night.

In other news young Tall Black Taine Murray has begun training with the Sky Sport Breakers. He will spend the coming ANBL season as a Development Player with the Breakers before heading to the University of Virginia next year on a 4-year basketball scholarship.