Tall Ferns make their mark in Australia's NBL1

Photo from Basketball New Zealand

AUCKLAND (New Zealand) - An array of former and current New Zealand Tall Ferns did not shy away from the big stage, leaving shining imprints in Australia Women’s NBL1 competition which is now at the tail end of its exciting season.

Standing the tallest were Chev Paalvast and Ashley Taia after serving as key cogs in Logan Thunders’ NBL1 Northern Conference championship at the expense of compatriots Kalani Purcell and Nat Taylor of the Southern District Spartans.

Taia registered 12.7 points, 1.6 assists, and 3.2 rebounds while Paalvast had 9.7 points, 2.2 dimes, and 4.7 boards including the game-tying triple en route to a 13-point, 10-rebound outing in Logan’s title-clincher over Southern District.

Purcell (12.1 points, 2.9 assists, 9.1 rebounds) and Taylor (3.4 points, 1.2 assists, 2.6 rebounds) also did not disappoint as the Spartans just fell short of the Northern championship.

Jordan Hunter was not to be left behind either, helping the South Adelaide Panthers subdue North Adelaide to reign supreme in the Central Division.

Hunter tallied an all-around play of 8.7 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in South Adelaide’s title run.

Mary Goulding also made her mark, registering a Western Conference-best of 24.0 points and 13.6 rebounds as East Perth Eagles finished in the Semi-Finals.

Her outburst included a 32-point, 15-board, 5-steal and 2-assist outing in a razor-thin 80-79 East Perth loss to Warwick Senators in semis of the Western tourney eventually won by Willetton Tigers.

The NBL1 Southern tourney has been canceled earlier this month due to travel restrictions among its participating squads brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIBA