Nick Jeffrey takes a look at all things Sharks from another busy off-season week including Tall Blacks, Summer Leaguers, Mini-Ballers and more
It's the most wonderful time of the year Sharks Fans ... well second-most wonderful (behind Sharks season!) What a crazy week we have coming up. Over the next week or so, we will:
1. Introduce another member of our 2018 SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks playing roster,
2. Confirm the 2018 NBL Draw,
3. Release details for our Sharks Fan Season Passes so you can get them under the Christmas Tree,
4. Host the finals of the Sharks Summer League on Thursday night
and 5. Announce the make up of our Sharks local pre-season training squad.
Talk about the Christmas rush!
Now, what about the last week? Chief and Reubs ran amok over in Hong Kong for the Tall Blacks ... mind you, everyone wearing a white NZ singlet did that. Who says international basketball is won by defense?
If you weren't mad enough to get up in the middle of the night on Monday morning, you can catch a full replay here: Maori Television On Demand.
The week off for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers wasn't what the Breakers wanted. When you've won 9-straight you just want to keep playing and unfortunately that break didn't seem to do them any favours when the Perth Wildcats came in to the Breakers' house on Friday and ended that streak with an 89-73 win.
But, not before Chief made his mark at both ends of the floor ...
Chatting with Sharks' Head Coach and Breakers Assistant Judd Flavell on Saturday, he wasn't sure what role the week off played, but thought they were rusty and a little flat knows it's something to learn from for the 2018 NZ NBL when the same thing will happen after the first nine weeks of the competition. But more on that later in the week :)
Quote of the week must be Coach Henare, when he said they were a leaky boat early in Friday's game, and in the fourth quarter ... they sank!
Reubs was also unlucky on Friday night. His Bullets got passed by the Adelaide 36ers late in their NBL clash and his three-point attempt on the buzzer for a walk-off win rimmed out. Don't know how it didn't drop! This pic kinda tells the story ...
And then this one kinda tells the story of today's game - Reubs and his Bullets mates handed the Breakers its second loss of the weekend, 81-76.
Big week for Breakers HQ coming up then!
Closer to home, the Sharks Summer League has been O for awesome! Four great weeks of hoops and now it's all set up for two great contests on Thursday night in the Shark Tank. Orange v Blue in the Grand Final from 7:30pm and White v Black from 6:00pm for 3rd/4th.
Expect some real intensity, so get down for a look. It's on Court 1, so the ILT Stand is in play and there's no entry. As mentioned, we'll be announcing our Sharks local pre-season training squad in the days following Thursday's finals.
Also, no truth to the rumour that Andrew Wheeler has had to take out another mortgage for all the side wagers he has on the game!
What a great day on Friday as ILT Stadium Southland was over-run with mini-ballers for their end-of-year tournament. Some of those kids can hoop! Was great to dish out free Sharks' tickets to everyone from the SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks and ILT Stadium Southland. We can't wait to see you all at our Home Opener next year guys! And while I'm here, Di, Dan, Michelle, Jill and all the volunteers who make that day happen deserve so much credit.
Prior to the break we took to dish out our tickets, one game went to overtime, so 150 kids and about the same number of supporters lined Court 2 to watch the last two minutes. Those guys will remember that for the rest of their lives. Felt like a Sharks game.
I wish I got the name of the player who came up with a big block on the buzzer to take the win!
Connor Coll and Mac Stodart are in there somewhere!
Loving this time of year and can't wait for ONE BIG WEEK this week. Keep a close eye on the website and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages (just search Southland Sharks).
Keep your fins up till then!