The Banquet Hall at Parliament was the venue for the annual Basketball New Zealand Awards this evening, which recognises excellence and achievement in basketball for the 2021 calendar year.
The evening featured a record 29 awards handed out this year, including a pair of two new community awards and the first ever Lifetime Achievement award – given out to Phil Henderson for his 55 years of officiating the game.
Highlight of the Awards night included Tall Fern Penina Davidson being named both MVP for the year as well as Female Player of the Year – both for the second consecutive year. Former Tall Black Mika Vukona was named Male Player of the Year, following his retirement last year after 16 years in the black singlet.
Hannah Mischewski and Dontae Russo-Nance took out the awards for Female and Male Junior Player of the Year respectively, while Mel Bennett and Ben Sheat earned top coaching honours – and Lori McDaniel and Nenad Vucinic were each recognised for their coaching contributions to basketball.
Basketball New Zealand also inducted four new members into its prestigious Hall of Fame, including Tall Blacks gunners Phill Jones and Kirk Penney, former Tall Fern Leanne Walker and celebrated referee Ken Coulson.
The night culminated with BBNZ bestowing its highest honour – the Basketball New Zealand Legend – upon noted player and coach, Colin Agnew. Agnew joins Keith Mair, Pero Cameron, Anita Hannen, Zena Gay, Sir Lance Cross, Stan Hill, and Carolyn Grey in this esteemed category.
CEDRIC CUDBY VOLUNTEER AWARD
This years Volunteer award was jointly presented to three recipients.
Mindy Morrison – Mindy Morrison has been involved with the Mid Canterbury Association for the last 15 years as a coach, manager, administrator. She is passionate about the game and what it can offer our tamariki and rangatahi, and has played a key role in the growth of basketball in Mid Canterbury.
She was instrumental in the success of the Associations’ 3×3 pilot programme and the Girls Got Game roll out, and has been the backbone of social basketball, mixed basketball and the women’s league – all successfully delivered due largely to her involvement – as well as Manager of the Canterbury Wildcats and involved in the administration.
Pauline Anderson – Pauline Anderson has been a crucial member of the Mid Canterbury Association as a team manager, committee member and treasurer for the past 10 years.
With two girls playing basketball at representative and high school level, she has been an active supporter at all steps along the way – 15 years of involvement from primary school to high school at Ashburton College through to managing Mid Canterbury and Mid-South Canterbury rep teams. Her tireless work behind the scenes has helped to ensure the stability and viability of the association
Susie Patana – Susie Patana is a well-known face around the basketball courts of Auckland. Her list of volunteer activities are numerous including refereeing, educating young referees, venue controlling, score bench officiating and game night statistician.
During the 1990’s and early 2000’s Susie officiated and referee co-ordinated the Auckland Secondary Schools leagues on behalf of College Sport Auckland. At grassroots she was active running miniball and adult leagues, whilst managing and assisting many Auckland representative teams.
Susie also assisted at the 2017 World Masters Games and the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, and has more recently refereed the Halberg Foundation Wheelchair Basketball Tournaments, Inter-faculty tournaments at Auckland University, the Filipino League and BBNZ 3×3 competitions.
YOUNG OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR AWARD
Taylor Lynch – In 2021, Taylor Lynch officiated at both the U19 and U17 National Tournaments. He also joined the National Leagues Panel as a Level 4 referee. This saw him referee 3 Men’s NBL games in 2021 and the opening Women’s NBL and D-League tournaments before the competition was cancelled due to Covid.
At Nelson Basketball, Taylor is always happy to referee any grade. He hosts the pre-season refresher, trains young referees and is regarded as one of their top officials. He regularly officiates multiple games a night and in 2021 refereed both the A Grade and Premier Finals.
SERVICE TO COACHING AWARD
Dwayne Tamatea – Dwayne Tamatea has worked tirelessly in the Gisborne region for many years. Following his playing career, Dwayne turned his attention to coaching, using his passion to aid the development of tamariki and rangatahi to develop the well-being for individuals and communities.
He has coached representative teams from U13’s to U17’s for Gisborne Basketball Association, Turanganui-a Kiwa Poitukohu, Gisborne Girls High and Boys High teams, and his development of the local coaching pool in Gisborne allowed others to take the lead for local, regional and national teams.
IAN GOODWIN SERVICES TO OFFICIATING AWARD
Colin Tilley – The Ian Goodwin Award this year goes to the late Colin Tilley. Colin loved basketball and his passion on court developed into a lifelong service beside the court, especially in stats. He was the Head Statistician for BBNZ and worked with FIBA Oceania on material for their statistics training.
The Manawatu native and Palmerston North Boys High old boy had been recording numbers courtside for over 40 years and was responsible for Stats personnel for some major events including the 2009 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup. He was a constant on the side-line when the Breakers were established in 2003, heading the statistical team on behalf of the ANBL for 16 years.
He supported countless events including Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns internationals, the National Basketball League plus numerous age-group tournaments, while also training new statisticians throughout New Zealand. The legacy of Colin’s dedication and service to our sport will last for many years through his students.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARD
Basketball Northland – The Community Partnership Award is an opportunity to identify, celebrate, promote and encourage exceptional partnering with a regional or local entity for the benefit of community basketball. The recipient of the 2021 Award is Basketball Northland for the 100 Hoops Campaign.
The 100 Hoops Campaign is simple, it seeks partners to donate full hoop setups (pole, backboard and ring) to marae, council owned parks, community organisations and schools. To date 63 hoops have been installed in Northland, with another 20 planned in the near future. Northland Basketball believes the project will lead to better wellbeing statistics for their community, greater access to hoops, a more engaged basketball community and a rise in players entering their local competitions.
COMMUNITY INNOVATION AWARD
Basketball Manawatu – This award identifies, recognises and celebrates exceptional community initiatives delivered by member associations in community leadership, in areas such as diversity and inclusion, innovation and community impact. The 2021 Winner is Basketball Manawatu for “Connecting with our Community During Covid”.
With Covid restrictions preventing spectators entering venues, Basketball Manawatu decided to take the game to the community – through live streaming games and projecting them on a big screen at the Central Energy Trust Arena car park. This allowed parents to come down and drop their tamariki and rangitahi off to play, then sit in the car park and watch the action from the comfort of their cars.
Basketball Manawatu have expanded the initial pilot and are now live streaming four to five games at a time.
CAROLYN GREY FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Mel Bennett – Mel Bennett was Head Coach of the Tauranga Boys U15 team that attended the National Tournament last year. She has been involved with the Basketball New Zealand High Performance Programme for a number of years, her contribution recognised with her being named as the NZ U17 Girl’s Coach for the next FIBA cycle.
Most recently she was appointed Head Coach of the Whai Stingrays, one of five teams that will compete in the newly launched Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa competition. Mel’s passion areas are coaching and equity in both the Maori space and wahine space, and she has been instrumental in supporting Wahine coaches in basketball. She currently co-ordinates the Te Whariki Hou – Te Mana o te Wahine project, and created the Pou Uara framework which the Tall Ferns implemented last year.
KEITH MAIR MALE COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Ben Sheat – Ben Sheat is currently assistant coach of the Canterbury Rams NBL team, having held that position previously from 2016-18. In 2021 he led the Canterbury team to the U17 National Championship title – defeating Auckland 107-91 in the final.
The former Head Coach of the Cashmere High School Senior team, Ben currently fulfils that role at Christ’s College where he is also a physical education teacher and head of basketball. Christ’s College won the Canterbury Schools Senior title in both 2020 and 2021 – the 2020 championship being the first in Christ’s history. Ben is also formerly the Head Coach of the Mainland Eagles Academy.
LANCE MCGLOUGHLIN TROPHY FOR FEMALE JUNIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Hannah Mischewski – 2021 was the first year that Hannah Mischewski had played representative basketball and she made a pretty good fist of it. In April she helped the University of Canterbury lift the Tertiary 3X3 title, while also winning the Individual Shoot-out at the tournament in Wellington.
Named to the Tournament Team, she was a major player as Canterbury progressed all the way to the U19 Women’s Championship Grand Final. She also made her NBL debut, the 18 year-old scoring 15 points against Auckland Dream as the Canterbury Wildcats made a 2-0 start to the season before Covid closed down the league after just one week of the competition.
Hannah is a crafty playmaking guard that can get to the rim at will, playing with a high level of skill, flair and speed. Though diminutive in stature, this does not hinder her ability to score under pressure with a variety of finishes.
AMBASSADORS TROPHY FOR MALE JUNIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dontae Russo-Nance – Dontae Russo-Nance enjoyed an outstanding rookie NBL season last year. The youngest player in the 2021 Sal’s NBL, the 16 year-old scored 196 points in his debut season averaging 11.5 points per game along with 2.5 assists, for the Auckland Huskies.
Currently a Year 13 student, and prefect, at St Kentigern College he will again be looking to guide his school team into the top four of the Auckland Schools Premier League. He did that successfully in 2021 before the season was cut short by Covid.
Playing for Waitakere West, Dontae was named to the Tournament Team at the 2021 U17 National Championships for the third year running. In 2019, at the same Championship, he was named MVP as Waitakere claimed the title. As recently as March this year he received an NBA Global Academy invite, spending a week at the AIS, in Canberra.
MALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mika Vukona – One of the greatest to have ever worn the black singlet, after a 16-year stint in the Tall Blacks, Mika Vukona called time on international basketball after a typically selfless display of love and commitment to his country.
In February 2021 Mika was called into the Tall Blacks team, by his good friend and former teammate, Pero Cameron, to help the New Zealand Tall Blacks stay the course as they looked to the 2022 Asia Cup, 2023 World Cup and potentially the 2024 Olympics.
If you remember it was a game that the Tall Blacks had to fulfil against Australia, in Cairns, with an untried team – Mika totalled 150 of the 152 test caps on display for NZ in that game – with 18 year old Taine Murray having played two games the year before. It was end up being the only game the Tall Blacks would play in a Covid ravaged 2021.
Mika bows out as the fourth all-time test capped Tall Black behind Pero Cameron, Kirk Penney and Phill Jones. He played 150 internationals captaining the team on 61 occasions.
FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Penina Davidson – Penina Davidson wins this award for the second year running. She performed with distinction for the Tall Ferns at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup in Amaan, Jordan last October. Now a veteran with 53 international games under her belt, Penina led the Tall Ferns scoring and rebounding in Jordan with 15.4 points and 8.0 boards per game.
Her 26 points haul against Chinese Taipei usurped Jillian Harmon’s 23 points – in 2017 against North Korea – as the highest single game points tally for NZ at the Asia Cup. In addition Penina’s double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds against India was the eighth of her international career and only Kalani Purcell, of current players, has recorded more.
Last month Penina helped the Guy Molloy coached Melbourne Boomers claim the 2021-22 Australian WNBL Championship – her first championship in her fourth WNBL season.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Penina Davidson – For the achievements stated above, Penina also wins the MVP award this year – for the second year in a row.
LONG SERVICE AWARD
Brian McKenzie – Brian McKenzie was named a Life Member of Southland Basketball in 2017 and is a very popular and approachable face around the Southland Basketball scene.
Brian is the current chair of Southland Basketball and has devoted close to 40 years of administration and referee involvement in Southland in a very hands-on way. He played a leading hand in the establishment of the Southland Sharks, serves on their board, and still acts as Table Commissioner at all home games. He has also been involved in other major decisions such as the move from Southland Basketball Association’s own venue into ILT Stadium Southland.
LONG SERVICE AWARD (40 YEARS SERVICE)
Jill Bolger – Recognised as the face and voice of the Southland Sharks, Jill Bolger is still very much involved in the game at grass roots level. Jill has been involved in refereeing in the Southland region for over 40 years – whether it be A grade or school competitions, Jill has been actively mentoring senior and junior referees during this time.
Jill’s dedication to upskilling Southland referees is second to none. Her ability to communicate with all age groups is what makes her such an outstanding educator. Jill has also made herself available as a BBNZ referee educator attending a number of age group tournaments, imparting her extensive knowledge of the game.
LONG SERVICE AWARD (40 YEARS SERVICE)
Ken Coulson – Ken Coulson has had a long and illustrious refereeing career, one that began in 1980 and reached its pinnacle when he was selected to officiate at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Whilst Ken was an outstanding referee whose international and NBL career extended over 20 years, it’s his overall contribution to the game that is so highly commendable. He has played major roles in the game as an educator, administrator, commissioner and coach in addition to blowing the whistle.
Despite his recent retirement, Ken remains very active in the game. He has recently completed his 17th season as a referee educator/evaluator for the Australian NBL and is currently doing the same for the Sal’s NBL – also for a 17th year. He is also a member of the recently formed Referees Leadership Group.
LONG SERVICE AWARD (50 YEARS SERVICE)
Cliff Blumfield – The Gisborne Basketball Association last year bestowed a Life Membership on Cliff Blumfield for his service to the game.
Cliff has refereed professionally in the United Kingdom and played a part in the creation of the Suns in 1989. He played for Gisborne Boys’ High School, first picking up a whistle while still a student there, travelling to tournaments before refereeing professionally in the United Kingdom and the NZ NBL.
He refereed the Gisborne Suns’ opening second-division game against Rotorua, in front of a more than-full house on April 22, 1989.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Phil Henderson – Phil Henderson first volunteer refereeing in his fourth form, spending two nights a week officiating the local adult competition. He continued refereeing in Wellington before moving to Taumarunui, as he began his 27-year career with NZ Rail. Appointed a Relief Station Master, his central North Island stops included basketball hot spots Taihape, Ohakune, Marton and Waioru. Further NZ Rail appointments took the recipient to New Plymouth, Wellington and back to Taihape before a permanent move to Auckland in 1989.
Thus began an association with Harbour Basketball that continues today. He has been a Harbour Board Member, Board Chairman, Benefactor and Interim CEO. He retired from refereeing after 55 years of officiating in 2015, but still acts as a Venue Controller for High School Basketball two nights a week and also undertakes score bench duty at all the BBNZ Tournaments that Harbour host.
STAR AWARD
Tony O’Connor – The Star Award recognises a notable contribution to basketball in New Zealand and may sit outside of traditional basketball organisations, with the nominee contributing significantly to basketball in New Zealand over an extended period of time.
In September 2021 BBNZ was able to launch a website dedicated to the Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns. The site contains an online database that covers teams, opponents and results all searchable via filters. Critically it carries a full list of the 277 players that have played for the Women’s National team and the 280 players that have donned the Tall Blacks singlet. Thanks to the research undertaken by Tony O’Connor, players and fans alike can go on-line and check the records that date back to the first Tall Blacks game in 1948.
O’Connor dates his interest in the game back to the 1970’s when as a youngster he remembers watching the likes of Steve McKean play at PYCC in Panmure and then at Palmerston North YMCA. His interest in stats was fuelled by his mum and dad, who did official match stats at NBL games from 1985 to 2005, he himself doing a 4 year stint between 1988 and 2000.
The website launch had been six years in the making and wouldn’t have been possible without the unstinting efforts of a Wellingtonian data-head and basketball nut, Tony O’Connor.
MURRAY MCMAHON AWARD (NOTABLE CONTRIBUTION IN MEN’S BASKETBALL IN NZ)
Nenad Vucinic – The Murray McMahon Award recognises a notable contribution to men’s basketball in New Zealand. Nenad Vucinic is the only man to have played over 100 games for the national team and to also to have been head coach of the team on more than 100 occasions.
In addition, he was Assistant Coach of the Tall Blacks on 95 occasions – taking his tally of games on court or on the sideline to 309 between 1989 and 2014. During those years he appeared at two Olympics and four FIBA World Championships.
The son of a Kiwi mother, Nenad Vucinic emigrated from Yugoslavia in the late 80s. After two seasons with Porirua playing in the NBL 2nd Division, Vucinic made his home in Nelson. As a player he helped the Giants become a perennial contender throughout the 90s, winning championships in ‘94 and ‘98. Retiring after representing NZ at the Sydney Olympics, Nenad turned to coaching full time. His most visible work was with the Giants in the NBL, alongside Tab Baldwin, with the hugely successful Tall Blacks teams of the early and mid 2000s.
One of the most ruthless competitors NZ basketball has seen, Nenad received five Coach of the Year Awards.
THE ZENA GAY MEMORIAL AWARD
Lori McDaniel – This award recognises a notable contribution to women’s basketball in New Zealand. Lori McDaniel followed in her mother’s footsteps playing for North Canterbury, Canterbury and the Canterbury Wildcats. After graduating from Rangiora High School she played at Casper College in Wyoming and then NCAA Division I at Butler University.
Back in New Zealand she was Head Coach of the Canterbury Wildcats Team that won back-to-back WBC titles in 2016 and 2017. She received the Carolyn Grey Coach of the Year Award in both of those years. Lori was also Head Coach of the NZ Under 17 Women’s team that finished fourth at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championships, and Head Coach of the NZ Women’s team at the 2017 FIBA U17 World Cup in Belarus.
She is also currently Head Coach of the New Zealand U17 Women’s team preparing for the Asia Cup that will be played in Jordan in June. Following a seven year stint as Community Coach and Women’s Development Manager for Canterbury Basketball Lori, last year, took up the position of Community Lead across the Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury and North Canterbury Associations for BBNZ.
SIR LANCE CROSS AWARD (EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES TO BASKETBALL)
Matagini Cameron – This Award is presented to an individual who has given exceptional services to basketball. Matagini Cameron has been a significant contributor to basketball in New Zealand for decades. The matriarch of the Cameron family always found time for others despite bringing up her five children – Pero, Ray, Jody, Jeannie and Zeta, who all played to a high level.
She has coached at NBL level for both North Harbour and Northland and was bestowed the Service to Women’s Basketball Award in 2016. Her coaching involvement at international level has involved a stint as assistant coach of the Tall Ferns and appointments to various New Zealand women’s teams from U16’s to U20’s.
In addition to coaching numerous age-group teams, Mata has been hugely influential at grassroots administrative level. Her achievements include being a Foundation Member of Basketball Pacific, Te Tai Tokerau Basketball, Whangarei Basketball Association and Northland Basketball.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Phill Jones – Phill Jones emerged from the small town of Reefton to become one of New Zealand’s best ever players. His shooting style was a thing of beauty, and at the height of his powers it was world-class. At 17, Phill Jones moved north to Nelson College and soon after, the Nelson Giants. He swiftly nestled under the wing of Nenad Vučinić and developed a killer instinct for putting the ball through the hoop. He helped deliver two championships for the Giants in the 2000’s.
In 1995 Jones was called up to the Tall Blacks for the first time. After back-to-back-to-back most outstanding guard awards, and another title with the Giants, he became a Tall Blacks starter in 1998. That memorable 2001 series against Australia saw the Tall Blacks qualify for the World Champs in 2002, with Jones top scoring in that series.
The 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis Phil led the NZ scoring averaging 18.2 points per game – 9th best at the championship. Two years later at the Athens Olympics he averaged 21 per game; his 33-point barrage against China propelling the Tall Blacks into the quarter final at those World Champs and finishing in the top 10 in scoring.
Phill Jones was also a foundation Breaker who helped set the club up for the success and also had overseas stints in Finland, Italy, Australia and Greece. He won NBL MVP in 2009, perhaps the best of his 23 seasons with the Giants. In total he played over 400 games for the Giants and over 200 for the Tall Blacks. Phil now coaches the boys’ team at Waimea College in Nelson, where his three kids go to school and wife Kat coaches the girls’ side.
Ken Coulson – Ken Coulson was appointed to the inaugural NBL Referees panel in 1982 and continued to be active in the League until 2004 officiating 370 games including nine Grand Finals. He still sits 4th on the all-time list of NBL games officiated.
His many international appointments included, the 2001 Goodwill Games, three FIBA Oceania Qualifying series, a tour to the UK and France with the Tall Ferns in 1998, the Magic Johnson All Stars v NZ All Stars in 1994 and the 1989 American All Stars v USSR encounter. He was selected to referee at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, one of only six Kiwis to have the honour of refereeing at the Olympic Games.
For many years Ken managed and supported junior referees that travelled to the annual Country Cup in Albury-Woodonga each January. In 2006 Ken was appointed a FIBA Examiner and in 2009 a FIBA Commissioner. He is also one of only three New Zealander’s to complete the FIBA Referee Instructor Programme, and in 2017 was Basketball Technical Commissioner at the World Masters Games in Auckland – the largest international basketball tournament ever staged in NZ.
Leanne Walker – Leanne Walker is one of the most celebrated names in New Zealand women’s basketball, having played at both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and prior to that at the 1994 FIBA World Championships. Despite not debuting until she was 23, Leanne played over 118 games for the Tall Ferns during a career that spanned 14 years (1992-2005) – only Micaela Cocks has played more games for New Zealand. She led Waikato to NBL titles in 1996 and 2002, winning the NBL Outstanding Guard Award on four occasions.
She has since gone on to become a successful coach of the Waikato Wizards, Waikato rep teams and St Peter’s School, Cambridge. Her coaching achievements include winning four of the last five Girl’s Secondary Schools National Finals as Head Coach of St Peters School in Cambridge, guiding St Peter’s to 5th place at the ISF World Schools Basketball Championships in Greece in 2019, and being Head Coach of the Waikato Wizards NBL team for the past five seasons – while also guiding various Waikato age-group teams to national championships.
Leanne was also named a Tall Ferns Assistant Coach last December.
Kirk Penney – 18 year-old Kirk Penney, out of Westlake Boys High School, played his first game for the Tall Blacks in 1999 and went on to make 179 appearances for the Tall Blacks – all but 7 being Tests. He scored over 2,000 international points averaging 17.5 points per game – the highest points per game average of the careers that BBNZ has scoring records for.
Penney played at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and at four consecutive World Championships between 2002 and 2014. At both the 2002 and 2006 World Champs the one-two guard combo of Penney and Phill Jones led NZ in scoring. At the 2010 World Championships in Turkey he opened with 37 against Lithuania; going on to be the second highest scorer at the tournament with 24.7 points per game.
After High School Kirk spent 4 years at the University of Wisconsin leading the Badgers to the NCAA Final Four in 2000. His 1,454 points for Wisconsin represents the most points scored by a Kiwi in Men’s NCAA Division I basketball. He also became just the second Kiwi after Sean Marks to play in the NBA when appearing for the Miami Heat in 2003.
After stints playing in Spain, Israel, Germany, Lithuania and Turkey he returned to NZ to play for the Breakers.
BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND LEGEND
Colin Agnew – this award is presented to any person who has achieved “legend” status in basketball and whose service to basketball is worthy of the highest honour. Colin Agnew was a notable player and coach, who graced the playing courts of New Zealand in the post war-years playing for Hamilton from 1948 to 1963. He won two National Championship medals and the Keith Carr trophy for the outstanding guard three times at the National Champs.
Agnew debuted for the National team in 1955 – the first Tall Blacks team to embark on an overseas tour. He made 29 appearances for the Tall Blacks between 1955 and 1963, captaining the team in 20 of those games. The 1962 team ventured further afield. The 6-week tour involved 19 games with first ever test matches played against Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Philippines.
Following his retirement from playing, he spent time at San Jose University to increase his coaching knowledge. With that experience to call upon he was appointed Tall Blacks coach and served in that position from 1965 to 1969. He continued coaching Hamilton rep teams and Melville High School teams throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s.
From 1964 to 1970 he was the National Coach and in that period took three teams to the Australian State Championships. There were also home games against San Jose State, Oregon State and Venture for Victory. In addition he was actively involved in the formation of the Waikato Basketball Association in the 1950’s, serving two terms as President of the association.
