Breaking down the Sky Sport Tall Ferns Olympic Tournament roster
The Sky Sport Tall Ferns coach Guy Molloy has named the initial 14 players on his roster for the Olympic Tournament. This tournament is big for many reasons, including that this is the first time the Tall Ferns will play at home, in front of home fans, for the first time since 2015. All the members from the Asia Cup, plus the return of Pep Flavell and Brooke Blair, have been named. The team will assemble in Auckland prior to the tournament, where Molloy will narrow down the squad to 12.
Here’s my break down of the New Zealand roster:
Stella Beck, Guard (Melbourne Boomers)
Beck has been a staple for New Zealand and for her other respective teams. Her international experience has been extensive since joining the team in 2014 including both at the 2019 William Jones and Fiba Asia cups.
A graduate of Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, CA, Beck finished her career 10th on the all-time scoring list with 1,439 points.
Combine her shooting ability with some more playing time with teammates Kalani Purcell, Toni Farnworth and Penina Davidson on the Melbourne Boomers of Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League, they’ve been developing a rhythm that should translate well to the international level after playing (and debuting internationally) together for many years.
Her ability to contribute on all ends of the floor provides a solid foundation for New Zealand moving forward.
Brooke Blair, Guard (Rockhampton Cyclones)
Brooke returns to the black singlet after a successful campaign with the Rockhampton Cyclones of the Queensland Basketball League (QBL). Blair led the Cyclones with 16.9 points per game alog with an average 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Blair last played with the Tall Ferns in the 2018 William Jones Cup. This also marks Blair’s reunion with Davidson and Fotu, all three whom were on the same team at Rangitoto College.
Tessa Boagni, Forward (Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats)
If you’ve been following the Tall Ferns for some time, you’ll recognize her name. A steady force off the bench for Molloy and his staff, Boagni was a key contributor in game three of the Asia Cup with 16 points and five rebounds.
As she looks to continue with the positive momentum from the last tournament, Boagni continues to solidify herself as a steady factor.
Boagni also carries a family legacy on the team, as her mum Jane McMeeken captained the team 1982–86 and sister, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe, a member of New Zealand’s team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Micaela Cocks, Guard (Townsville Fire)
November will hold a special place for Cocks as she hopes to propel the Tall Ferns one step closer to their 2020 Olympic hopes. Cocks was a member of the squad who competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and hopes to add to their pedigree in Tokyo.
There’s not much Cocks can’t do: she was a power leader for the Tall Ferns at the Fiba Asia Cup in India just last month. More notably in that tournament she tallied 18 points, three assists, with 86 percent shooting and 100 percent free throw percentages against Chinese Taipei.
She was also a top performer in the 2019 William Jones Cup, making the All-Star Five along with other major contributions.
With the 2019 WNBL season starting this weekend, she’ll step on the court as captain for the Townsville Fire before heading to Auckland to play with the group.
Penina Davidson, Forward (Melbourne Boomers/Harbour Breeze)
An emerging leader and steady force for the Tall Ferns, Davidson has shown tremendous impact throughout her years in the black singlet.
Her versatile play and leadership roles that led to her 12-point, six rebound performance at the Asia Cup and a 14 point, nine rebound night in the finals against Japan at the William Jones Cup are just the start of her international basketball resume.
As she continues to become a bigger presence on the floor and a vocal leader, she’s solidifying herself as one who makes the Tall Ferns a force to be reckoned with.
Toni Farnworth, Guard (Melbourne Boomers)
Farnworth is a special player that Molloy must be grateful for each time they suit up. Her constant relentless efforts against every opponent can arguably put her as one of the top Tall Ferns.
She was a strong performer at the Asia Cup with 12 points and shooting 100 percent from the free throw line. It’s always a treat to see what she has in store and we’re sure to see another top performance in Auckland.
Matangiroa “Pep” Flavell, Guard (Harbour Breeze)
Pep is back! Flavell had her debut campaign in the William Jones Cup just this past July after finishing the 2019 season with the Harbour Breeze of the WBC.
She saw action in both the William Jones Cup and during the training camp in Japan so this is shaping up be another good learning experience for her down the road.
Ella Fotu, Guard (Harbour Breeze)
It’s been a big year for Fotu, who returns to the team for the third time this year. She debuted at the 2019 William Jones Cup as a rookie alongside Pep Flavell, Zoe Richards, Esra McGoldrick, Amy West and Mary Goulding.
Although she didn’t play much in the Asia Cup due to sickness, Fotu has the potential to be key on offense when it’s needed as she looks to further her impact on the program.
Ashleigh Karaitiana, Forward (Southern District Spartans, Australia)
Karaitiana returns to the Tall Ferns just a mere month after the team returned from India.
In her second year at the national senior team level, she had a major debut at the 2018 William Jones Cup where she led scoring following an average of 22 points per game.
Molloy complements her versatility: “Ash is primarily a three-man or small forward, but very useful these days when teams often play smaller at the four. She spends a fair chunk of time in the four for us — she is athletic and strong, and can defend all over the court. She is extremely versatile being able to get to the rack as well as being an excellent three-point shooter.”
Her ability to adapt as a three or small forward will only benefit the team as they matchup against some of Asia’s top teams, all three of whom they played at the Asia Cup.
Charlisse Leger-Walker, Guard (Waikato Wizards/St Peter’s School, Cambridge)
Arguably one of, if not the best high school basketballers in New Zealand, Charlisse doesn’t need much introduction. A senior at St Peter’s School, she continues to impress on the national stage. Leger-Walker debuted just last year in 2018 at the Commonwealth Games and was the youngest player to represent New Zealand.
Followers have seen her in action not only on the international level but also as a dominating force on the Waikato Wizards of the Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC), dropping multiple 30+ point games this season.
She’s a force to be reckoned with and only continues to grow as she follows in the footsteps of legendary veteran players in Micaela Cocks, Natalie Taylor and Toni Farnworth.
Chevannah Paalvast, Swingman (Sunshine Coast Rip, Australia)
Paalvast is another reliable player for Molloy who performed well at both tournaments this year. She’s on pace to have another good showing next month.
Kalani Purcell, Forward (Melbourne Boomers/Auckland Dream)
If you’ve been following New Zealand basketball, you know that Purcell is has been a staple for every team that she’s been on.
Her reputation as someone who can get it done on all ends of the floor has shown on multiple occasions in the international area, most recently as MVP of the Grand Final while playing for the Auckland Dream of the WBC and her appearance on Team World at the Aurora Games in Albany, New York.
She’s also becoming a leader for the group, serving as team captain at the 2018 William Jones Cup while also tallying an average of 9.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
She’s returning in her third season for the Melbourne Boomers of the WNBL, alongside Beck, Davidson and Farnworth.
From the looks of it, she’s only continuing to improve, and we’ll see the payoff in the coming months. She, too, will be an important leader for the next generation of Tall Ferns.
Natalie Taylor, Forward (Auckland Dream/Southern District Spartans, Australia)
When you think of legendary Tall Ferns, it’s hard not to mention Taylor in the mix.
Taylor, who’s been with the Tall Ferns since 2007, has accumulated quite the resume for herself, which includes a trip to the 2008 Olympics in Beijin with sister Charmian Mellars. She’s also recently won titles with the Auckland Dream and Southern District Spartans of the Queensland Basketball League (QBL), both in 2019.
Now she’s furthering her goal to power New Zealand to Tokyo in 2020 alongside sister Kalani Purcell while also being a voice for mum athletes. She also has two kids with husband Ezra Taylor: three-year-old Rocco and five-month old daughter Charlie, who accompanied Taylor to India.
Whether it’s scoring the ball (she’s been called a ‘professional bucket-getter’), or taking care of her kids, Taylor continues to show that mums can be athletes, too. It should for sure be a special moment when her kids see her play on the floor in Auckland next month.
Amy West, Center (North Canterbury Spirit / St Mary’s College, USA)
West has had herself quite a year on and off the hardwood. Not only did she debut in July for the Tall Ferns, she also transferred from Liberty University to Saint Mary’s College in California, Stella Beck’s Alma mater.
As the youngest of the post players and one that has potential in her defensive ability, Molloy was impressed with her performance and her goal of becoming an effective role player. He calls them “comparatively small as a team” so her 6'4 height and range of athleticism gives the team a range of depth needed going into the tournament.
The Tall Ferns will face China, Korea and the Philippines, three of Asia’s biggest basketball nations November 14–17 at The Trusts Arena in Auckland. The two highest-placed teams will move on to one of four global FIBA Qualifying Tournaments in February 2020.
*Side note* For those interested in a good basketball podcast, I highly recommend the podcast episode of Showtime Balling with Stella Beck. Lots of good insight from a great player.
