Basketball: Breakers play ball with North

Rising Northland Suns player Chris Manley, moves the ball up-court during the Suns' 121-78 loss to North Harbour at ASB Stadium last month. Photo / File

The New Zealand Breakers are opening the doors to 60 Northland basketball coaches tomorrow as they look to help the sport in the region at grassroots level.

Two sessions will be held by Breakers staff at ASB Stadium with a view of developing coaches within Northland, who hopefully in turn will filter the knowledge down to the players.

The coaches' workshops come as a trade-off for the Breakers' unavailability to play a game in Northland this season. The workshops are being run in association with the Rising Suns In-school Basketball Programme, Jennian Homes, and the Meadow Fresh Champions Programme.

Last year the Breakers' development team played the Northland Suns, winning by 60 points.

Northland Suns coach Aaron Sadler wasn't worried about the Breakers not bringing a game to Northland, instead saying the coaches in the region could take away a lot.

Approved school delegates will receive free resources, including 30 basketballs, ball bags, coaching manuals and champions' workbooks.

Registrations closed on Friday officially but allocations were pretty much maxed out before that, something Sadler felt was encouraging.

Tomorrow's sessions continue what has been a steady start to the season for the Northland Suns, having already had teams tour the region.

In September, the Northland Suns faced off against players from Australia who were travelling as part of a New South Wales health team promotion.

A good turnout from Northlanders proved to be the silver lining as just one of the four local teams picked up a win - the women's team. Also competing were Northland's under-15 and under-17 boys and open-age men.

In October, Northland's youngsters were asked to step up for the Northland Suns and did - despite a 121-78 loss to North Harbour.

-As part of the Breakers' visit, Jennian Homes is giving away four tickets to the Breakers-Townsville clash on December 19 at the North Shore Events Centre. To enter, email northland@jennian.co.nz with your contact details and the keyword "Hoops" to be in the draw.