North Canterbury Basketball Association hosted its 2019 Prizegiving on Saturday night at the Rangiora RSA.

This year NCBA decided to change the format from previous years, to a slightly more formal occasion that celebrated success across the wider association on one big night. Previously there have been two separate prizegivings for the club and rep programs.

Over 200 people attending the evening MC'd by Compass FMs Sally Lane, with players from the u13 boys club teams right up to our Men’s Premier team and McAlpines Mitre 10 MEGA Rangiora NC Spirit there to celebrate their teammates and fellow association members successes. We also had special guests David Bond and his business partner Matt from McDonalds North Canterbury, and Canterbury Rams player, Alex Talma in attendance. Additionally, Richard Connelly from GamefaceNZ was there to capture moments from the evening from behind the camera.

We would love to hear your feedback on how you thought the prizegiving went and the new format. If you didn't go - we'd still love to hear from you so we can get you along next year! Please take a few moments to fill out the feedback form here.

Congratulations to all our award winners from the night. Please see below for major award winners.

 

Referees:

Highly recommended referees

Ella Evers, Dayna Simpson, Benji Chick, Georgia Gold                   

Female Most Promising

Lily Evers                       

Male Most Promising

Lachlan Jones                      

Female Most Improved

Lucy Penney                     

Male Most Improved

Jesse Chick                     

Junior Referee of the Year

Oliver Hillson-Barrett

 

Player of the year:

U13 Girls - Terongomaianiwaniwa Williams

• A very promising player that can play any position at the moment, who will become an unstoppable force when she develops her left hand, her year has included:Played in the SIPT tournament (Casebrook), Played for NC in the Oamaru tournament and the NC U15 girls club team throughout the year. Finally, Boo's as she is known by many played for NC in the recent U13 Regional tournament where she, unfortunately, rolled her ankle in the last game and missed the Final, but was still named the MVP for the team. 

U13 Boys - Jake Holmes

• Jake has had another big year. He attended the Basketball New Zealand u14 camp as a bottom ager, played up a grade and in the u15 boys club competition, has done everything imaginable from hoops and stars, to the u13 camps in a constant quest to improve themselves as a player. Jake’s season was capped off by being a member of the u13 Boys Maroon team that won the recent u13 Southern Regional Tournament.

U15 Girls - Aliyah Newton

• An awesome point guard with many honours this year. Aliyah was an integral part of the U18 girls club team who was voted players player by her teammates and then made the end of year all-star team as selected by the opposition coaches throughout the year. Aliyah was a team member in the U15 Waitaha Red team that finished 3^rd at Nationals. Furthermore, Aliyah was chosen to attend the NZ U14 camp and then selected into the team that travelled and played in Australia.

U15 Boys - Ty Grabowski 

• Ty played his way into the Waitaha teams this year, but once he was in the team he surprised everyone. Most would know of Ty’s offensive exploits however, it was his work on the defensive end, guarding the oppositions best perimeter player that caught everyone’s eye. Becoming a 2-way player showed Ty’s growth in 2019.

U17 Girls - Elsie McRobb

• A slow start to the year due to an injury didn't stop what was to become a dominant season. An automatic paint touch every time she drove, and a pest on defence, Elsie earned her spot in the Waitaha u17 A team. Elsie was also a key part of the CGHS team that won the South Island Secondary school tournament and came 8th at Nationals. Also, CGHS won the u21 club competition and Elsie earnt an All-Star 5 Selection.

U17 Boys - Walter Brown 

• During the Waitaha Selection tournament, Walter’s play was outstanding earning him a place in the Waitaha teams. Walter played a key role in the u17 Waitaha boys placing 2nd at Nationals. In addition to success with the Waitaha, Walter helped his St Bedes u17 team win the u17 club competition and took home u17 MVP. 

U19 Girls - Helen Mathews 

• Helen represented the region to the highest levels throughout the year and was a dominant force at both ends of the floor. A key player on the Canterbury Wildcats team in the WBC, selected to the Steven Adams High School Invitational camp, a member of the Waitaha u19 girls team, Finals MVP and Premier Women’s champion with NC and an international representative with the NZ 3X3 u18 side at the Asian Champs. 

U19 Boys - Lachie MacFarlene

• Selected to the Waitaha u19 boys side, Lachie player was a key member that finished 2nd at nationals losing in a tightly contested final against Harbour. Unfortunately they suffered a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for a while, however, Lachie came back strong to finish the year at south islands with his school team, and being selected to the high school all-star game.

Player of the Year - Esra McGoldrick 

• Esra is regularly a top scorer in each game, it's the defensive side of the ball where this player can control a contest. Elite rim protection and rebounding a real strength in their game! A freak of an athlete, intimidating opposing teams with physical presence alone. When zoned in, this player can dominate a game where very few in the country can. All the skills in a freak physical frame! It was these skills that earnt her selection to the Tall Ferns William Jones Cup side, and selection to the WBC Tier 2 All-Star 5 

TEAM OF THE YEAR - NC u15 Boys White

This year North Canterbury has a new award which is the team of the year which is chosen from the following criteria.

• A team that best represented NC, and our values on and off the court
• A team that achieved success on the court
• A team that grew and exceeded expectations on and off the court

The u15 Boys White team took out the u15 boy's development grade, while every player improved hugely throughout the year.

Apprentice Coach of the Year - Blake Cunninghame 

• Blake has put a lot of time and energy this year into giving back to the game as a high school student. Blake has been doing hoops and stars throughout the year. He has also taken an u15 club team and an u15 Mainland team. Alongside this, Blake has taken the Basketball New Zealand kiwi hoops coaching course to learn more about the art of coaching. 

Coach of the Year - Wade Parata 

• Wade has coached the Women’s prems and made it to the final three years running and taking the title twice in this time, including this season. Wade has also coached the flagship women’s WBC tier 2 team for the last two years, tacking the title in the inaugural year in 2018, then winning the 2019 WBC plate with the newly named “McAlpines Mitre 10 MEGA North Canterbury Spirit”. His technical knowledge and ability to gather a great team with great culture and support is second to none, which is evident by the players that want to play under his tutelage and return year after year. Wade creates a family environment that people are drawn to and thrive in, which is a priceless skill to have and one that we want to encourage and retain in NC.

Mark Whittaker Award for Service to North Canterbury Basketball - Matt Cunninghame

• This award is in honour of Mark's legacy and the impact he had on North Canterbury basketball. Mark put hours upon hours into all aspects of NCBA, and we wouldn't be where we are today without him.
• This year Matt has been instrumental in making NC tick. From coaching u17 mainland boys rep team, and the u20 men's club team, Matt has also been leading the Hoops and Stars sessions at New Life throughout the year. Alongside this, Matt stepped in and help run sessions while George was on bereavement leave. Matt has been the driving force behind our new relationship with Paladin and ensuring that NC is the best looking association on and off the court. Additionally, Golf Day is Matt's baby and he has been building relationships with local sponsors throughout the year.

2019 was a massive year for NC with 16 club teams and 14 rep teams that travelled across the south island. 10 players were selected for their club competition All-Star 5, 29 players played for Waitaha, 8 players represented New Zealand. We don’t expect 2020 to be any different, and in-fact given that Basketball is going to be the most played high school sport in the country, the number of teams and players we have will continue to grow.

Basketball never stops and we still have a bunch of events and games going on in term 4.

• Our McDonald’s Friday Night Competition is in full swing.
• We also have our McDonalds All-Star and 3X3 Day coming up on November 24^th
• Don’t forget about Golf Day on December 1^st, for more info and to register your team click here.
• The Hoops and Stars program is continuing again for term 4. For more info and to register click here
• Finally, those that are wanting to have a crack at Waitaha rep sides next year, the Waitaha Performance Program, led by Mel Downer, has trials the 2^nd/3^rd of November. To register to trial click here, and for more information and dates on the WPP click here

We look forward to seeing you all again next year!