Slam dunk: Stadium key to Rangers' revival

By PETER JESSUP

The Waitakere Rangers are likely to rise from the ashes after missing eight seasons in the national league, thanks to the Breakers' shift to a new stadium in Henderson.

The $26 million, purpose-built Waitakere Trusts Stadium opens in July and will host the first Breakers game of the 2004-05 season on October 1, plus 10 other games.


The stadium offers 5000 seats plus a corporate lounge for 500, and Tall Blacks games are a good bet to move there too.

The happiest man at yesterday's announcement was probably longtime Waitakere Basketball player-administrator Ivan Yukich, who first dreamed of a home for the sport 20 years ago.

The Waitakere association was formed 45 years ago but never had a true home. It is based in a former packing shed on the Corban Estate with a volunteer-built court nicknamed "the Pit" because the roof leaks.

They have 1500 registered players and Yukich expects the Breakers' shift to give the sport a boost.

Waitakere Basketball still has a valid licence for the domestic league but has not activated it since the Rangers went into recess after 1995. All licences are up for review by Basketball NZ at the end of this season and the West Aucklanders qualify in every way - stadium, junior base, etc - bar sponsorship.

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Lindsay Tait is the only Breaker nominated for an award in the Aussie basketball league, one of six vying for Rookie of the Year. The 24-year-old guard came off the bench for 20 games of the 33 the Breakers played.

He is up against Adam Caporn of the Hawks, who is signed with the Wellington Saints, Chris Harman from Hunter, Steven Markovic of the Razorbacks and Greg Vanderjagt from Townsville.

The Titans' import Geordie Cullen, from Hunter, is among those nominated as Most Improved for the awards to be announced next month.

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The Canterbury Rams come to Auckland for a tough double-header with North Harbour on Friday and the Stars on Saturday. Harbour will field Aussie Hawks centre Axel Dench for the first time.

Waikato are away to the Jets on Saturday and should have too much firepower for them. Taranaki host Hawkes Bay in a real test for both teams while Wellington should beat Otago, who back up for another big ask against Nelson on Sunday.

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Auckland referee Dallas Pickering has been named in the officials squad for Athens, his first Olympics after Stab Battock and Ken Coulson whistled at Sydney. Coulson, still top ref here and one of the few used by the Aussies, is too old for the Olympics according to FIBA regulations, while Pickering has overtaken Battock to get one of the two nominations by Basketball NZ. Gavin Whiu of Hamilton was also nominated.