Basketball: North support called for

PLAY BALL: Aaron Sadler (left), Sophie Tua, Kay Wairau, Reanon Heteraka Sadler and Whakaheketoto Wairau warm up ahead of today's series against Australia's Hoops for Health teams at ASB Stadium. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Northlanders are being invited to get behind local basketballers today at ASB Stadium as Jennian Homes Northland Suns face off against players from Australia.

New South Wales Hoops for Health teams, which are part of an Australian health programme, are returning to our shores and continue to help develop grass-roots basketball for Aussie and Kiwi teams.

Competing will be Northland under-15 and under-17 boys, along with open-age men's and women's teams.

Northland Suns basketball development coach Aaron Sadler said the matches, which will kick off from 4pm, served as a chance to showcase the region's talent.

He said the locals would be competing to win after defeating the Hoops for Health men's team by about 25 last year, but also had an eye on developing as teams.

"We should be in with a shot. The Hoops for Health guys run on a yearly roster so have a different group each year," Sadler said.

"They'll look at having a good crack at us. We beat them last year but the core group of our guys aren't there. We have a few new big guys stepping up for us though."

Sadler said the games would give them an opportunity to put Northland's best under-15 and under-17 players out in front of a local crowd, hopefully enticing a few people to get involved.

Today's event is free entry and Sadler invited Northlanders to get behind basketball in the region.

Northland v Hoops for Health, todayCourt 1: Northland women v Hoops for Health women, 4pm; Northland Suns development men, 6pm.

Court 2: Te Tai Tokerau under-17 boys, 4pm; Te Tai Tokerau under-15 boys, 6pm.