Basketball determined to finish season

Will Johnston

Basketball in Taranaki will rebound into action next week, but major changes were made to schedules to accommodate games.

Sport New Zealand’s refined guidelines were released today in time for sport’s return this weekend.  

In a statement to members, New Plymouth Basketball Association chairman Tony Eldershaw said the organisation is committed to finish the season with the help from the community.

“One of the main restrictions we have is we are only allowed to have a maximum of 50 players in the stadium at any one time,” he said.  

Senior leagues will play from Monday to Thursday next week at the TSB Stadium.

“This will allow us enough time to play all the remaining games to finish the season,” Eldershaw said.  

“We understand that this is not giving teams much notice, but we need to use all available court times to finish the season.”

Semi-finals will be held between Monday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 29.

Finals will be on Saturday, October 2.

Junior league finals will go ahead on Thursday, September 23 and Friday, September 24 without spectators at the TSB Stadium.

Eldershaw said the association will contact each team before the commencement of the season.

Mini ball leagues have been cancelled because the matches would exceed gathering restrictions, he confirmed.  

Luckily the netball season is finished meaning more space is available at the venue to accommodate the rest of the season.

Strict hygiene measures have been put in place including scanning QR codes or signing in, teams waiting outside before the previous teams leave and masks will need to be worn between the car park and the venue. The middle court will be left vacant to keep sufficient space between games.

Hawera and Stratford competitions will resume next week once venues and draws are confirmed.

Meanwhile, Taranaki has confirmed their Schick-sponsored 3x3 tournament teams.

Tara Clement, Joellen How, Esra McGoldrick and Caitlin O’Connell were selected in the Taranaki Thunder through a draft process.

Tai Waynyard, Carlin Davison, Josh Aitcheson and Dru-Leo Leusogi-Ape make up the Taranaki Mountainairs.

The competition will be played between October 14-16 in Invercargill.