Basketball: Veteran captain misses Games selection

Donna Loffhagen

Veteran captain Leanne Walker has been axed from the Tall Ferns basketball squad for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next month.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), in conjunction with Basketball New Zealand, today confirmed the team for Melbourne, including newcomers Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe and Lisa Pardon.

Coach Mike McHugh said it was a tough decision to omit 35-year-old Walker, an 11-year veteran in the side who captained them at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

"Leanne has been a great player for New Zealand over a long period," McHugh said.

"Leaving her out was a tough decision but at this point, youth was not to be denied."

The other candidate to miss out from last weekend's final selection camp was rookie forward Kim Barnes, 17.

After six years of heartbreak, McMeeken-Ruscoe and Pardon will finally get their chance to represent New Zealand at a major international tournament.

The two shooting guards have been close to selection for the past two Olympics, in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004, but missed out each time.

Both have excellent basketball pedigrees.

McMeeken-Ruscoe's mother, Jane McMeeken, captained the national women's team during the 1980s, father Matt Ruscoe has coached widely in the National Basketball League and brother Luke is attending Brown University on a basketball scholarship.

Pardon's father, Chris Pardon, played for the New Zealand men's team during the 1970s.

McMeeken-Ruscoe, 26, and Pardon, 23, both play semi-professionally in Australia.

"Sometimes, it's just not your time," McHugh said of their past setbacks.

"But they are now part of what I think is a pretty exciting group to go the Commonwealth Games."

The team will be captained by double international Donna Loffhagen, who has already won two Commonwealth Games silver medals with the netball Silver Ferns at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and Manchester in 2002.

Forwards Rebecca Cotton, 31, and Jody Tini, 30, provide the experience in a squad with an average age of 24.

Four of the roster, including 16-year-old centre Jessica McCormack, debuted for the Ferns only last year.

"I'm very happy with the squad we have," McHugh said.

"In some ways, it may be stronger than the one that made the quarterfinals at Athens.

"The big thing the Athens team had in their favour was experience. That may be our biggest weakness, but there is a bit of depth in this group that has put pressure on everyone to step up.

The women's team will visit Cuba for a series of buildup games against the national team from February 15-23.

Basketball will be making its first appearance at a Commonwealth Games.

New Zealand women's basketball team: Micaela Cocks (North Harbour), Rebecca Cotton, Aneka Kerr (Townsville), Donna Loffhagen, Angela Marino (Canberra), Jessica McCormack (North Harbour), Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Cairns), Lisa Pardon (Tasmania), Charmian Purcell (Sydney), Jody Tini (North Harbour), Lisa Wallbutton (North Harbour), Noni Wharemate (North Harbour).

- NZPA