Suns aim to shine brighter than Aussies

JUMP START: Aaron Sadler (left), Sophie Tua, Kay Wairau, Reanon Heteraka Sadler and Whakaheketoto Wairau are warming up ahead of the upcoming series against Australia's Hoops for Health teams. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

There will be plenty of transtasman rivalry on display at ASB Stadium on Monday as Jennian Homes Northland Suns face off against a group of Australians.

New South Wales Hoops for Health teams, which are part of an Australian health programme, are returning to our shores and continue to help develop grass roots basketball for Aussie and Kiwi teams.

Competing will be Northland under-15 and under-17 boys, along with open-age men's and women's teams.

Northland Suns basketball development coach Aaron Sadler said the matches, which kick off from 4pm on Monday, served as a chance to showcase the region's talent.

Sadler said they would be competing to win after defeating the Hoops for Health men's team by about 25 last year, but also have an eye on developing as teams.

"We should be in with a shot. The Hoops for Health guys run on a yearly roster so have a different group each year," Sadler said.

"They'll look at having a good crack at us.

"We beat them last year but the core group of our guys aren't there. We have a few new big guys stepping up for us though.

"It's definitely about being competitive, but there are more ways to win other than on the scoreboard."

Monday's matches also mark the start of the Northland Suns' season, along with signifying the start for age grade teams as they prepare for tournaments early next year.

Sadler said the games would give them an opportunity to put Northland's best under-15 and under-17 players out in front of a local crowd, hopefully enticing a few people to get involved.

Keeping players involved from the age grades into men's and women's levels was tough.

"What tended to happen from last year's group, which was a development group, is most of the age-groupers either went to university or to work.

"We've had a few boys who were going to uni and stayed here but have moved away into work, and we support them in that pathway."

Monday's event is free entry and Sadler invited Northlanders to get behind basketball in the region.