Basketball: Veteran Stone answers Auckland's distress call

By PETER JESSUP

Kenny Stone has answered the SOS call from the Auckland National Basketball League team and will turn out for Friday night's semifinal against North Harbour.

The 34-year-old Stone has had only a few minutes of game time this season after retiring at the end of last year, but neither he, coach Tab Baldwin or the Auckland squad have doubts about what he will bring to the game.

"A bit short of match fitness? I think he'll be way short," was Baldwin's assessment of how Stone would be physically.

"But he will lack nothing in desire and commitment. The guys are keen to have him in the team."

Stone has been a big part of each of Auckland's four national title victories in the 1990s, and comes back to join a squad who have grown from talented juniors to hardened pros.

"I don't know if they were sinking but yeah, I'm stepping in," he said yesterday after confirming he was available.

"I think I can make a difference off the court, if not on it."

Stone's time on court might not be that great given that he has had only once-a-week training sessions in the last couple of months after injury hit the Auckland squad. But his presence, even on the bench, adds composure, experience, discipline and a burning desire to win that will undoubtedly lift them in the game against the table-topping North Harbour Kings.

The Auckland side had adapted well to news of American Matt Barnett's sudden departure, Baldwin said. Their attitude was "let's get on with it without him."

Harbour will concentrate their training on toughening up in defence, with a team video session of the weekend's loss to another semifinalist, Waikato, showing up "holes like Swiss cheese," according to coach Tracey Carpenter.