Tauranga’s under-16 girls basketball team are right on target shoots their shot and have scored a place in the national finals.

The team won their semi, meaning the Tauranga City Basketball Association has had a Grand Finalist in every women’s and girls’ national tournament this year, says Tauranga City Basketball director of development Rachel Gwerder.

“Fingers crossed our U16s get the big ‘W’,” she says referring to today’s finals.

“Striving for a win is part of sport,” says Tauranga City Basketball general manager Mark Rogers. “Everyone loves to have success, and getting success at this level is a reward for the hard work the players and coaches have put in.”

Asked what the most memorable aspect of the last tournament was, Rachel says, “The engagement from the entire team in every play, regardless of how much court time they received. The players showed joy on the court and on the bench.”

Excitement will be at a peak when the Tauranga City Basketball U16 Girls play for gold at 3pm today against Wellington. Photo: Mike Hill.

Recent success

TCBA has had a lot of success this year with the U16, U18, U20, and Tupu League teams.

TCBA U20 Women made the BBNZ Grand Final, claiming silver after losing to Canterbury 61-68.

TCBA Coasters – a women’s’ team – made the BBNZ Tupu League Grand Final, claiming silver in losing to North Harbour 89-95.

TCBA U18 Girls made it into the BBNZ Grand Final, claiming silver after losing to Waikato 84-92.

The TCBA Girls’ nationals tournament is in its final day, having started on July 16.

Several Tauranga players have been selected in the tournament All Star 5s: the U20s’ Olivia Lassey, Tupu League’s Anika Hyland and Briarley Rogers, and the U18s’ Emma Rogers – who was also named Most Valuable Player. The U16s All Star team is still to be decided.

Making the team

Each team has 10-12 players. The under-16s are 14 and 15 years old, under-18s are 16 and 17 years old and the under-20s are 18 and 19 years old. They also have a “Tupu League” of women who need to be older than 15, with the ages ranging from 17-31.

“We hold trials each year for these age groups in November and December,” says Mark. “They train twice a week from late February until their national tournament.

“Team chemistry is really part of building the team.”

Rachel says: “It has been key to the success of the teams, players being willing to put their team first.”

Mark says: “Being a TCBA rep player is a part of a larger Basketball New Zealand pathway for player. Each year players need to trial to make a rep team and each year we hope to perform well at a national level.

“Individually the players have the opportunity to be seen by national coaches at the BBNZ events and potentially be picked to trial for the New Zealand sides.”

Mark says this national tournament is the last tournament of the year and trials for 2025 teams are in November and December.

“The TCBA community is very strong. TCBA and these players have worked hard to develop their skills over many years. We are now seeing the benefits for these players.”

The Tauranga City Basketball U16 girls play for gold today and are undefeated going into the Grand Final. Photo: Mike Hill.

Women in basketball

When asked if there are many female basketballers in Tauranga, Mark responds: “Not as many as we would like. The number of male players and teams is definitely way higher. It is something we and BBNZ are working to address.

“The opportunities for female basketball players are huge. There are three players, who came through the TBCA programme, on paid basketball scholarships in America at present,” Mark says, adding that more are heading to the US in August this year.

“The professional opportunities for players are also expanding very rapidly with professional competitions around the world.”