CBA 2015 Basketball awards by Bruce Martin

 

Lionel Hopgood, a former Canterbury Ram and Wolverines Men’s premier basketball player, and Canterbury Wildcat and North Canterbury Women’s Premier player Hayley Gray, have been awarded the MVP Premier grades awards for Canterbury Club basketball at the Association’s annual awards night last Thursday.

 

Hopgood, now 38, is in his 21^st basketball season, having started with the old Aranui club in 1996. He played second Division basketball for the Kaikoura Whale Riders in 2000 and 2002 and played for Canterbury basketball teams in U18, U20 and U23 age groups, as well as represented New Zealand in an Under 22 team.Hopgood was a Canterbury Ram in the 1996-98 era and became a Christchurch Cougar in 2009 and 2010. Hopgood was also part of the team that represented Canterbury in Argentina at the Patagonia Cup in 2014.

 

He joined the Wolverines club in 2008 where he picked up the nickname ‘Train’.  Coach Jamie Graham describes Hopgood as a natural leader and has the utmost respect from his team mates. He is a dominating player in the paint and has developed a 3pt range shot over the last few years. He is now coaching the Wolverines Year 5/6 Allstars.

 

Other nominations up against Hopgood for the Men’s Premier first team were Marty Davison (Pioneer), Jeremy Hancock (University), Ethan Rusbatch (Checkers) and Rusty Thomson (Atami).

 

Hayley Gray won the coveted MVP award for Women’s Premier grade after having a great season as inspirational captain in the newly formed North Canterbury women’s team.

Gray, now 26, has played basketball since she was nine, was a former Halswell player (2005-2007) and Minties player (2008-2014) and a regular Canterbury Wildcat representative. She went to Australia on a Koru tour in 2006 and in 2007 played U19 and U21 for Canterbury and was chosen as a Junior Tall Fern to play Australia. In 2014 Gray was a reserve for the Tall Ferns. This year Gray won the award against tough opposition from close ally and former team-mate Pip Connell (Wildcat-University), Victoria King (Pioneer), Tessa Morrison (Wildcat –Lincoln University) and Bridgett Salkeld (former Wildcat - Halswell).

Gray’s respect among the Canterbury basketball community has seen her nominated numerous times and has now won the award on three occasions. After North Canterbury lost the Premier grade Grand Final to University she reflected that it was her fifth final, two of which were with Minties, but has yet to be on a champion winning team.

 

The North Canterbury Basketball Association also received the award for ‘Club of the year’ for its efforts in re-establishing a Women’s Premier team and efforts by its administrators, Coaches, Team Managers, Players, and all their passionate supporters in building participation levels and strengthening the grass roots of basketball in the North Canterbury region.

 

 

The guest speaker for the evening was Canterbury Ram Marques Whippy who spoke emotionally about learning to play basketball in his home country of Fiji and the difficulties he faced in being recognised in the various places he played around the world before coming to New Zealand and playing for the Otago Nuggets and now the Canterbury Rams.

 

 

Other MVP’s selected from the ‘First team’ nominations by clubs were:

Men’s U23: Aled Jones (Lincoln University Bulls), Men’s U20: Toby Gillooly (Burnside HS), McDonald’s Thompson Trophy: Sam Timmins (Middleton Grange), Boys’ U17 A Grade: Isaiah Morris (Burnside HS), Boys’ U17 Development: Will Hollings (St Andrews Coll), Boys’ U15: Josh Thomson (Shirley Boys’ HS), Men’s Division One: Ariel Mepana (2 Cheap Cars),

Women’s U20: Tsubasa Nisbet (Burnside HS), Girls’ U16: Grace Eglinton (Rangi Ruru GS),

Women’s Division one: Letitia Mullaly (University), Mid-week Men: Nigel Buchanan (Checkers White), Mid-week Women: Tracey Buchanan (Halswell Red).

 

 

Other awards presented were:

Administrator of year: Bronwyn Manderson (Pioneer), Coach of year: James Lissaman (Lincoln University, CBA Community Basketball Manager, Allenvale School and CBA Hoops Academies), Services to basketball: Raelene Forde (Fordie) former Canterbury Wildcat, a NBL and senior club referee and former CBA Board member.