Basketball: Tauranga age group teams on a roll

TOP CLASS: Wellington Saints Corey Webster is a star attraction at the NBL finals in Tauranga this weekend. PHOTO: photosport

Tauranga City Basketball have yet another achievement to be proud of in what is turning out to be a stellar year.

Over Queen's Birthday weekend Tauranga fielded four teams at the Mid North qualifying tournament.

This was only the third time since Basketball NZ went to age groups in 2006 that Tauranga have qualified in all four grades of under-15 boys and girls and under-17 boys and girls.

The under-15 boys won the qualifying tournament for the first time to add the final sparkle to a memorable weekend.

Tauranga City Basketball general manager Mark Rogers said consistency of teams across all age groups was testimony to the outstanding coaching programmes in the city.

"It has been seven years of work to get the results we are getting so I am very pleased with the way things are heading," he said.

"All of the teams are doing better but we are now actually knocking Waikato off which has been a real difficult task given how strong Waikato are nationally. We have got quality coaches involved with the programme throughout now."

Building depth of talent has been a goal for several years and now it is paying off big time, Rogers said.

"Now we have teams full of players that are capable and are beating teams with under-age teams with players pushing for spots. That competition for spots is helping in terms of focus and is just part of the progression.

"We are on a trajectory up."

Excitement is building in the basketball community for the NBL Final Four finals series to be held in Tauranga this weekend.

It is the first time since Napier in 2013 that the finals series will be hosted in a city with no local team involved.

Basketball NZ is taking somewhat of a punt that a large neutral crowd will turn up but ASB Arena has welcomed good-sized crowds in recent years for games involving the Breakers, Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns.

This Friday Wellington Saints, Southland Sharks, Canterbury Rams and Supercity Rangers will play-off at ASB Arena for the right to contest the 2017 NBL Final on Saturday night.

Wellington are red-hot favourites to add to their nine national titles after a 17-game winning streak, one of the most dominant team performances in the history of the NBL.

Former Breakers star Corey Webster who has signed with Perth Wildcats for the 2017-2018 season will be a star attraction for the Saints. His father Tony Webster is helping drive the coaching programme in Tauranga.

The semifinals are at 5pm and 7pm with the grand final at the earlier time of 5pm so as not to clash with the Maori All Blacks v British and Irish Lions clash at Rotorua International Stadium beginning at 7.35pm.

Two-day passes are available from Ticketek at the reasonable price of $35 with TECT customers entitled to a 50 per cent discount when purchasing at Baycourt.

All games will be streamed live on nzherald.co.nz.