Tauranga's Makayla Daysh proud to be in NZ Maori basketball team

Makayla Daysh is in Cairns competing for New Zealand Maori women at the Indigenous Tournament. Photo / File

Young athletes often make national levels playing basketball and volleyball, with the two gym-based sports having height and the ability to leap as pre-requisites.

But basketball and rugby? That combination of sports is rare indeed, particularly among young women.

Tauranga's Makayla Daysh, 21, is something of a trendsetter as the Junior Tall Ferns basketballer has just finished a successful rugby season. She was part of an impressive Rangataua Sports team before stepping up to help the Bay of Plenty Volcanix win the Farah Palmer Cup Championship title.

Juggling the two sports is difficult at times, especially as playing in the hard school of knocks in the front row always comes with bumps and bruises that can make basketball training a challenge.

This week Daysh reaches another personal milestone with selection for the New Zealand Women's Maori basketball team competing in Cairns against the Apunipima Australian Indigenous team at the Indigenous Games.

For the men's teams it will be the fourth series but for Daysh and the New Zealand team, this is the first time the teams have met.

The three-test series has special meaning for her. She is dedicating the week to a special person who was a mentor to her in her younger years.

"For all of our whanau, there will be lots of pride. With the Maori, it is a lot more family based. Its also been awesome finding out my whakapapa and family heritage along the way," Daysh said.

"But for me, it is a tribute to one of my coaches, Rose-Ana Kingi, who I lost in 2011. She was a coach for me at Tauranga and was also a teammate. Obviously, I was quite young in the team.

"She passed away in a car accident (aged 21) over in Hamilton so I guess this is just a tribute to her because she probably would have been in the New Zealand Maori team as well. She was that talented."

It was six years ago but is still an emotional thing for Daysh to talk about.

"I was 15 at the time and I went to high school with her sister. We were really quite close and at that time she was a role model for me and I kind of idolised her and wanted to play like her and be like her when I was older.

"When I get to put on the black jersey I always try and play for someone. A lot of the time that is for my parents or grandparents but this time with it being the Maori jersey it will definitely be for (Kingi)."

Daysh has not wasted a moment since returning to Tauranga after spending two years on a basketball scholarship to Chadron State College in Nebraska.

She has reconnected with childhood friend and Black Sticks women's player Amy Robinson at Tauranga Intermediate School where they help run the sports academy.

"We went to kindergarten together so have known each forever. It is awesome to work with the kids who are so passionate about sport at such a young age. It is really cool to see our future and be a part of that," Daysh said.