Following the narrow defeat to Japan, 81-73, in the final game of the Christchurch Casino International Women’s Basketball Series Tall Ferns head coach Kennedy Kereama named his 12 players to face the Australian Opals.
The Tall Ferns departed for Melbourne early on Monday and will spend the rest of the week preparing for the FIBA Oceania Series against Australia, in Melbourne on August 15 and Tauranga on August 17. The winner of this series earns direct entry to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The players omitted from the 14 that played in the Japan series are Hawkes Bay forward Josie Stockill and Kapiti guard Jacinta Beckley.
Stockill has already hooked up with her American college team, Colgate University that are currently touring New Zealand and Beckley will shortly be heading back to Seattle University to begin her second year of a four year scholarship.
It wasn’t an easy decision for Kereama.
“It was a very difficult decision, every player probably deserves to be there but we have got to take the twelve that we believe can help us beat Australia right now. It doesn’t mean that Jacinta and Josie are out of the picture. They will be getting some feedback and expected to come back even better next year and push for a spot in our Olympic team.”
Reflecting briefly on the third test loss to Japan Kereama was naturally upbeat after a strong performance from his team.
“You could call it an honourable loss, much happier with the effort and clearly shows steps forward. We’ve always been about improvement and I think the Japanese beating Australia by one point and us getting within eight points of them definitely gives us a boost of confidence moving forward. We still have a week of preparation to get ourselves that eight or nine points better.”
Kereama was again delighted that his team won the rebounding count, 47-36, in the third game
“Us winning that possession game is important and obviously winning the rebound count is something we have to be the best at if we want to compete with teams.”
Kereama and his assistants Aik Ho and Chris Lucas now shift their attention to the Olympic Qualifying series.
“The focus is now directly on Australia, everything we do will be geared around how we defend their systems. Players will be required to remember a lot of information on different players and we will be solidifying the game plan that we need to put in place over the next week.”
Players Selected:
Micaela Cocks, Townsville Fire (AUS)
Jordan Hunter, Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks (NZ)
Stella Beck, Saint Mary’s College of California (USA)
Samara Gallaher, Hume City Broncos (AUS) / Oceana Gold Rush Otago (NZ)
Natalie Taylor, Gladstone Power (AUS)
Kalani Purcell, Brigham Young University (USA) / Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks (NZ)
Chevannah Paalvast, Southern Peninsular Sharks (AUS)
Lisa Wallbutton, Willeton Tigers (AUS)
Jess Bygate, Gladstone Power (AUS) / Nelson Sparks (NZ)
Megan Craig, Lakeside Lightning (AUS)
Penina Davidson, University of California, Berkley (USA) / Harbour Breeze (NZ)
Tessa Boagni, California State University, Northridge (USA)
Tall Ferns Schedule
11-14 August Preparation Camp in Melbourne
15 August, FIBA Oceania Series, v Australia, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
17 August, FIBA Oceania Series, v Australia, ASB Arena, Tauranga
