Northland Suns get new coach Ross Cronshaw

The offer to coach the Northland Suns surprised Ross Cronshaw but he did not hesitate to accept the challenge.
Suns player and board member Travis McIlroy approached the 34-year-old father of four after watching him coach the Kamo High School senior boys.
"I knew immediately Ross would fit in with the Suns and how we want to play basketball - he has good systems and a strong playing background."
Cronshaw replaces Mata Cameron, who has committed to the New Zealand Development Under-17 Girls programme this year. She will still keep an eye on the team she helped get up and running last year, after a 12-year hiatus from the national league, McIlroy said.
The Suns tip off their second season back in second division (Conference Basketball League) in July - aiming for the National Basketball League in the next few seasons.
Their move into first division might come sooner, depending on performance and whether the Northland Suns Basketball Trust Board commit to the cost of about $200,000 to enter the top division, McIlroy said.
Although the season is some time away, players trialed in March, the team was chosen, and the Suns have already started training - a month earlier than originally scheduled - at Cronshaw's request.
The Northland-raised coach has moved around a lot - playing for Hibiscus Coast and Mahurangi before heading overseas for a stint with second division teams in Belfast and Edinburgh in 1998-99. On his return to New Zealand, he began coaching at Orewa College and Henderson High. He spent four years in Whanganui coaching at the regional high school and third division team Whanganui WolfPack before he decided to shift north again, last year.
While he did not see the Suns play last year, he has a firm idea of what he would like to see them achieve this season.
"I would like them to have a defence-first attitude and get them playing an up-tempo style of basketball that's exciting for fans to watch - so we can start to build a bit of a fanbase. We have around four home games this season which will be great," Cronshaw said.
The team has a good mix of youth and experience - mostly stemming from Northland - but also includes an exciting new power forward, 2.03m (6ft 8) Tongan import Niasi Malua.
While the team lack a bit in the height stakes, Cronshaw said he was sure the team would combat it with speed and fitness.
Coaching the Suns in second division will be the highest level Cronshaw has coached at, but he is excited, not intimidated by the challenge.
"I think if you are doing the right stuff, it works at any level ... plus they are a good bunch of guys. They've come in and put their heads down and bums up - and they're having fun while they are doing it. It makes it easier for me."