Slam dunk: Titans look to sign Chappell and shop for Australian

By PETER JESSUP

The Waikato Titans have signalled intentions to sign American Mike Chappell as an import and bring an Aussie forward on board.

The franchise is in talks to retain Pero Cameron. Most of last year's squad, bar David Hopoi (Wellington) and Dillon Boucher (Auckland), are expected to return so the Titans will again have the best bench depth in the league.

Ken Strother, assistant to Jeff Green in recent seasons, has stepped up as head coach. His son, Riki, has officially retired, to concentrate on a new teaching career and his three young children, but there are hopes among the management that he will return when refreshed.

The Titans have been in talks with several Aussie players but these have been stymied by the demands placed on prospective Boomers representatives.

The Australian national side will go into a three-month buildup to Athens, which precludes players shifting to New Zealand.

Waikato Basketball chief executive John Davey said the Titans wanted to extend Chappell's contract beyond this season but that would depend on what he did with the Breakers, where he is signed for this season only but in talks to stay longer.

The franchise had good financial backing, he said, and Chappell was "not as expensive as you would think given the calibre of player he is".

Television demands mean half the Titans' home games will be played at the 1000-seat Te Awamutu Events Centre this season. TVNZ was not happy with the Hamilton YMCA.

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NBL referee Ray Hunt has been formally reprimanded and fined $500 for using obscene language in an exchange with a member of the crowd at the Townsville-Victoria Giants game on December 29.

In a decision released yesterday, the NBL judiciary said Hunt was placed under extreme duress and had been target of abuse.

The league, taking into account his 35 years of service and good record, suspended the fine, which will only apply if he is convicted of a similar offence this year.

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Christchurch basketball nut and website founder Piet van Hasselt has crunched the Breakers' numbers for the season so far and has come up with some interesting theories as to their up-and-down returns.

The team are more likely to win when Mike Chappell's score is lower than his average, Phill Jones needs some free-throws to get his eye in, and Paul Henare plays much better at home than he does away, according to van Hasselt.

Check out his site at www.kiwihoops.co.nz

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Tall Black coach Tab Baldwin is guiding the coaches of 120 of New Zealand's top basketballing talent as under-14, U-16 and U-18 boys' and girls' teams compete in the Australian state championships in Albury, New South Wales, this week.

The youngsters have been in camp at the Australian Institute of Sport and are in high spirits after both the boys' and girls' secondary school teams took one game in their series of three against Australia.

Up to yesterday, the boys' teams looked likely to contest finals on Saturday, while the girls were finding the competition tough.

The U-18 stars have been Thomas Abercrombie, who featured in the Herald's up-and-coming review last week, Corey Webster, the son of former North Harbour player Tony, Adrian Taylor and Randall Bishop.

Among the coaches are the Otago Nuggets' former import, Leonard King, who will rejoin the team this season after playing in the second-division CBL for seven years.

New Zealand's top referee, Ken Coulson, leads a group of budding whistlers officiating at the tournament and being assessed by judges with Aussie NBL experience.

Former Breakers forward Brad Williams, cut to make way for Mike Chappell, has been signed by the Cairns Taipans.

Former Manawatu Jets manager, NBL court announcer and television commentator Dean Page has become coach of the Mackay Meteors in the Queensland state league, feeder club for the Townsville Crocs.

Page has been working with under-18s in a development programme in Dandenong, outside Melbourne, and the Meteors' 16-game campaign is aimed at the finals in April.