BASKETBALL - Hard graft to net rewards

The Northland under-15 boys' basketball team have been hard at work preparing for their national age-group tournament in Rotorua next week.
The tournament will feature the top 16 teams in the country, after all teams came through regional qualification just to participate.
Coach Brian Te Tai said the team deserved to qualify in the premiership zone one tournament in August after training twice a week for the last four months, with great results.
This team is the only Whangarei basketball team to have qualified for a national tournament this year, from six teams, and the boys have worked hard to earn their chance to play in Rotorua.
There are 12 players in the squad, with Te Tai taking extra players to give them experience for next year's campaign.
They are in section D, playing Counties-Manukau and Porirua on Monday, Mid-Canterbury on Tuesday before pool cross-overs on Wednesday.
There will be semifinals on Thursday and finals on Friday.
Te Tai said a top result will be tough to achieve given the strength of the city teams, but the challenge itself will be a bonus for the Whangarei boys.
He thanked all the parents and numerous sponsors for their help in getting the team to Rotorua.