Basketball: Clean-slate policy for Sharks: Henare

Paul Henare

Paul Henare sees the defending champions' semifinal against the top seeds tomorrow as an opportunity to start all over again.

The Zerofees Southland Sharks tip off at 6pm against minor premier champions IMS Payroll Hawks at TSB Stadium in Wellington in the first semifinal of the Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL).

"Obviously we're extremely proud of our guys to get there [Final Four] on top of everything that has happened to us," Hawke's Bay-born Henare said last night of his team who have lost a few players due to off-court incidents that led to a brush with the law. He slipped on the strip to play.

Last year, the Sharks also qualified in fourth position before going on to prove the pundits wrong in Napier for their maiden NBL crown.

Mindful two more games remain before they retain their bragging rights, Henare impressed that the Hawks were outstanding in the NBL this year.

"Every other team had their highs and lows but the Hawks, credit to Tab's [Baldwin] coaching, have been there right from the start."

The Hawks, he said, deserved their top-of-the-table perch.

"Tab's one of the best in the country. That's what I love about Tab because he's evolved in different ways to try to get the best out of his players and that's what I hope to emulate," the former Hawks player/captain/coach said of his ex-Tall Black and NBL coach.

An astute Henare hastened to add the Pacific Jewellers Saints v Fico Finance Nelson Giants match tipping off at 8pm would also be a humdinger with the former obviously enjoying the home-court advantage.

"I haven't had a lot of success with any team so it's a tough place to win in Wellington," he said, reflecting on the Hawks' semifinal exit in a physical encounter in 2012 when he was coach.

"We're up against it but it's exciting times for New Zealand basketball."

Henare's only concern is Brian Conklin coming off flu.