Hawkes Bay Hawks
Encyclopedia
The Hawke's Bay Hawks are a professional basketball
team represents the Hawkes Bay region in the New Zealand
National Basketball League
.
They play their home fixtures at the Pettigrew Green Arena
in Taradale, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
.
, Wellington Saints
and Canterbury Rams
.
. It was a huge transformation from a club struggling to keep their place in the league to a team who were genuine title contenders. The next two years in 1996 and 1997, the Hawks continued their playoff streak but lost comprehensively both times.
's Waikato Pistons side the Hawks finished second last and the next year third last. The teams name was then changed from the Mighty Hawks to the Bay Hawks which they are still known as.
Scott McGregor
and local heroes Adrian Majstrovich
, Paora Winitana
, Paul Henare
and Aidan Daly
, the Hawks began to re-earn their status as title contenders. 2004 saw them lose after a second place regular season finish in the semi-final to the Nelson Giants
69-51. Majstrovich
was the competition Most Valuable Player
and CEO Jeremy Bayliss was named administrator of the year.
2005 saw the Hawks add United States
born Willie Burton
and American
-Australian
Dusty Rychart
to achieve another second place regular season finish and eventually lost in a dramatic grand final 69-68. CEO Jeremy Bayliss was once again administrator of the year with Paul Henare
winning another assists title and making the competitions All Star Five.
In 2006 Hawke's Bay won their first ever NBL championship with a resounding win over the Auckland Stars
84-69. It was Hawks player Willie Burton
's, first ever NBL championship, after 21 years playing in the league. It was also Burton's last game in the New Zealand NBL. The Hawks tremendous season saw them dominate the awards night with Paora Winitana
picking up the Most Valuable Player
, Most Valuable Guard, Most Valuable Kiwi Guard, was a member of the All Star Five and was named finals MVP after an outstanding defensive show case.
On February 22, 2007, the Hawks played the 2006 ABA
champions, the Geelong Supercats
at Pettigrew Green Arena. This was a challenge match initiated by the Hawks as a battle for Trans-Tasman Supremacy. The final score was 84-69 in favour of the Bay Hawks. The 2007 season was another successful one. The Hawks made the final before losing the best of three finals series 2-0.
2008 was disappointing for the hawks losing to the Nelson Giants
in the newly revamped quarter finals 78-75.
and Paora Winitana
to the Christchurch Cougars
in 2009, the Hawks were forced to rebuild with the likes of Jeremy Kench
and Jarrod Kenny
. They surprised many with the side making the quarter finals where they lost to the Wellington Saints
80-75.
In 2010 the Hawks lost Jeremy Kench
and imports Jamil Terrel (later replaced by Jon Rogers) and David Langrell would be forced to carry a huge load. The team lost to the Christchurch Cougars
and beat the debutant Southland Sharks
in round one of the 2010 New Zealand NBL season
. They had another two wins and two losses in the rounds to come. They continued to secure wins and managed a playoff berth in 2010. A loss to the Wellington Saints
meant they could not finish any higher than third in the regular season but their 11 win, 6 loss record should be enough to achieve a home quarter final spot.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team represents the Hawkes Bay region in the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
National Basketball League
National Basketball League (New Zealand)
The National Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NBL, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in New Zealand.There were 10 teams in the 2010 season with teams based in Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Nelson, New Plymouth, North Shore, Palmerston North,...
.
They play their home fixtures at the Pettigrew Green Arena
Pettigrew Green Arena
Pettigrew Green Arena is a multi-purpose indoor sports and entertainment centre in Taradale near Napier, New Zealand. The centre opened in April 2003, and regularly hosts volleyball, basketball and netball matches for Hawke's Bay representative teams. The main court has a capacity of 2,500...
in Taradale, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
1986-1992: establishment
The Bay Hawks were established in 1986 as the Hawke's Bay Hawks. They struggled in the early years of the franchise having trouble attracting star players and quality imports mainly because of the appeal of the city based sides such as the Auckland StarsAuckland Stars
The Auckland Pirates are a New Zealand professional basketball team that represents the Auckland region in the New Zealand National Basketball League. They play their home games at the ASB Stadium in Kohimarama, Auckland, New Zealand....
, Wellington Saints
Wellington Saints
The Wellington Saints are a professional basketball team that play in the New Zealand National Basketball League. They play their home games at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington, New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Exodus Saints....
and Canterbury Rams
Christchurch Cougars
The Christchurch Cougars are a professional men's basketball team based in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. They play in the New Zealand National Basketball League....
.
1993-1997: playoff streak
After not qualifying for one playoff game in eight years the Hawks managed to break their hoodoo and for the first time in 1993 the Hawks made the semi-finals and received all round praise from those who had been suggesting in previous years they should be removed from the competition. The next year the Hawks continued their good form finishing third for the second straight year. It was only one year they had to wait and in 1995 the Hawks got their first taste of the NBL finals before losing to the dominant Auckland StarsAuckland Stars
The Auckland Pirates are a New Zealand professional basketball team that represents the Auckland region in the New Zealand National Basketball League. They play their home games at the ASB Stadium in Kohimarama, Auckland, New Zealand....
. It was a huge transformation from a club struggling to keep their place in the league to a team who were genuine title contenders. The next two years in 1996 and 1997, the Hawks continued their playoff streak but lost comprehensively both times.
1998-2003: fall from grace
The Hawke's Bay side began their slow decline from the heights of the last five years. In 1998 and 1999 the side was disappointed with mid table finishes. At the start of a new millennium the side finished in eighth place out of ten teams. 2001 saw the Hawke's Bay Hawks become known as the Mighty Hawks but their did not reflect the name. At the time were the league was dominated by Pero CameronPero Cameron
Sean Pero MacPherson Cameron MNZM, known as "Pero", is a former New Zealand professional basketball player. Cameron captained the NZ National Team from 2000 - 2010...
's Waikato Pistons side the Hawks finished second last and the next year third last. The teams name was then changed from the Mighty Hawks to the Bay Hawks which they are still known as.
2004-2008: Hawks take flight
In 2004 with the likes of AustralianAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Scott McGregor
Scott McGregor (basketball)
Scott McGregor is an Australian basketball player.McGregor began his NBL career with the Newcastle Falcons, where he won the NBL Rookie of the Year award. In 1997, McGregor played in the Australian Under 22's team that won a gold medal in the FIBA World Championships in Melbourne...
and local heroes Adrian Majstrovich
Adrian Majstrovich
Adrian Majstrovich plays forward in the National Basketball League of Australia. He played for the Perth Wildcats 1999-2000; Brisbane Bullets 2001; Perth Wildcats 2005; New Zealand Breakers 2006; Adelaide 36ers 2007. He joined the NBL in October 1998. Perth's Most Improved Player award in 2000...
, Paora Winitana
Paora Winitana
Paora Winitana is a professional New Zealand basketball player. He was ordained as a Mormon bishop in 2005 and chooses not to play basketball on Sundays. He currently plays for the New Zealand NBL team Hawke's Bay Hawks...
, Paul Henare
Paul Henare
Paul Donald Henare is a former New Zealand professional basketball player who last played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australasian National Basketball League....
and Aidan Daly
Aidan Daly
Aidan Craig Daly is a New Zealand basketballer. He is currently playing with the Hawke's Bay Hawks in the NZL NBL and previously played with the Manawatu Jets, Wellington Saints and Christchurch Cougars. He is a 1.85 m tall point guard....
, the Hawks began to re-earn their status as title contenders. 2004 saw them lose after a second place regular season finish in the semi-final to the Nelson Giants
Nelson Giants
The Fico Finance Nelson Giants are a basketball team that play in the National Basketball League in New Zealand. Their home games are played at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson....
69-51. Majstrovich
Adrian Majstrovich
Adrian Majstrovich plays forward in the National Basketball League of Australia. He played for the Perth Wildcats 1999-2000; Brisbane Bullets 2001; Perth Wildcats 2005; New Zealand Breakers 2006; Adelaide 36ers 2007. He joined the NBL in October 1998. Perth's Most Improved Player award in 2000...
was the competition Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and CEO Jeremy Bayliss was named administrator of the year.
2005 saw the Hawks add United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
born Willie Burton
Willie Burton
Willie Ricardo Burton is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Miami Heat in the 1st round in the 1990 NBA Draft from the University of Minnesota. Burton played for numerous NBA teams as a journeyman from 1990 to 1999. He was born in Detroit, Michigan where he...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-Australian
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Dusty Rychart
Dusty Rychart
Dusty Mike Rychart is a naturalised Australian professional basketball player, originally from the United States...
to achieve another second place regular season finish and eventually lost in a dramatic grand final 69-68. CEO Jeremy Bayliss was once again administrator of the year with Paul Henare
Paul Henare
Paul Donald Henare is a former New Zealand professional basketball player who last played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australasian National Basketball League....
winning another assists title and making the competitions All Star Five.
In 2006 Hawke's Bay won their first ever NBL championship with a resounding win over the Auckland Stars
Auckland Stars
The Auckland Pirates are a New Zealand professional basketball team that represents the Auckland region in the New Zealand National Basketball League. They play their home games at the ASB Stadium in Kohimarama, Auckland, New Zealand....
84-69. It was Hawks player Willie Burton
Willie Burton
Willie Ricardo Burton is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Miami Heat in the 1st round in the 1990 NBA Draft from the University of Minnesota. Burton played for numerous NBA teams as a journeyman from 1990 to 1999. He was born in Detroit, Michigan where he...
's, first ever NBL championship, after 21 years playing in the league. It was also Burton's last game in the New Zealand NBL. The Hawks tremendous season saw them dominate the awards night with Paora Winitana
Paora Winitana
Paora Winitana is a professional New Zealand basketball player. He was ordained as a Mormon bishop in 2005 and chooses not to play basketball on Sundays. He currently plays for the New Zealand NBL team Hawke's Bay Hawks...
picking up the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
, Most Valuable Guard, Most Valuable Kiwi Guard, was a member of the All Star Five and was named finals MVP after an outstanding defensive show case.
On February 22, 2007, the Hawks played the 2006 ABA
Australian Basketball Association
The Australian Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the ABA, is the second-tiered semi-professional men's and women's basketball minor leagues in Australia which sit under the professional National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League .The ABA is representative of the...
champions, the Geelong Supercats
Geelong Supercats
The Geelong Supercats are an Australian basketball team, based in the Victorian City of Geelong, that currently plays in the Australian Basketball Association and previously played in the National Basketball League.-NBL History:...
at Pettigrew Green Arena. This was a challenge match initiated by the Hawks as a battle for Trans-Tasman Supremacy. The final score was 84-69 in favour of the Bay Hawks. The 2007 season was another successful one. The Hawks made the final before losing the best of three finals series 2-0.
2008 was disappointing for the hawks losing to the Nelson Giants
Nelson Giants
The Fico Finance Nelson Giants are a basketball team that play in the National Basketball League in New Zealand. Their home games are played at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson....
in the newly revamped quarter finals 78-75.
2009-present: rebuilding stage
After losing Paul HenarePaul Henare
Paul Donald Henare is a former New Zealand professional basketball player who last played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australasian National Basketball League....
and Paora Winitana
Paora Winitana
Paora Winitana is a professional New Zealand basketball player. He was ordained as a Mormon bishop in 2005 and chooses not to play basketball on Sundays. He currently plays for the New Zealand NBL team Hawke's Bay Hawks...
to the Christchurch Cougars
Christchurch Cougars
The Christchurch Cougars are a professional men's basketball team based in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. They play in the New Zealand National Basketball League....
in 2009, the Hawks were forced to rebuild with the likes of Jeremy Kench
Jeremy Kench
Jeremy "Jay" Kench is a New Zealand professional basketball player who plays the point guard position.-Playing career:...
and Jarrod Kenny
Jarrod Kenny
Jarrod Kenny is a New Zealand professional basketball player. The 188 cm point guard was selected to join the New Zealand Tall Blacks squad on 16 July 2009. He is currently playing for the New Zealand NBL team Hawke's Bay Hawks and the New Zealand Breakers.-References:...
. They surprised many with the side making the quarter finals where they lost to the Wellington Saints
Wellington Saints
The Wellington Saints are a professional basketball team that play in the New Zealand National Basketball League. They play their home games at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington, New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Exodus Saints....
80-75.
In 2010 the Hawks lost Jeremy Kench
Jeremy Kench
Jeremy "Jay" Kench is a New Zealand professional basketball player who plays the point guard position.-Playing career:...
and imports Jamil Terrel (later replaced by Jon Rogers) and David Langrell would be forced to carry a huge load. The team lost to the Christchurch Cougars
Christchurch Cougars
The Christchurch Cougars are a professional men's basketball team based in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. They play in the New Zealand National Basketball League....
and beat the debutant Southland Sharks
Southland Sharks
The Southland Sharks are a professional basketball team based in the Southland region in the New Zealand National Basketball League.The team plays their home games at Invercargill's Stadium Southland where 3,000 of the 4,500 seats are made available for regular season games.-Establishment:The...
in round one of the 2010 New Zealand NBL season
2010 New Zealand NBL season
The 2010 New Zealand National Basketball League was the 29th season of the New Zealand NBL. In the 90-game regular season began on Thursday, 4 March and concluded on Friday, 19 June 2010....
. They had another two wins and two losses in the rounds to come. They continued to secure wins and managed a playoff berth in 2010. A loss to the Wellington Saints
Wellington Saints
The Wellington Saints are a professional basketball team that play in the New Zealand National Basketball League. They play their home games at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington, New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Exodus Saints....
meant they could not finish any higher than third in the regular season but their 11 win, 6 loss record should be enough to achieve a home quarter final spot.
Current Roster
Honour roll
| NBL Championships: | 1 (2006) | |
| NBL Playoff Appearances: | 11 (1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2011) | |
| NBL Grand Final appearances: | 3 (1995,2006,2007,2011) | |
| NBL Most Valuable Player: | Adrian Majstrovich (2004), Paora Winitana (2006) | |
| MVP Non-Restricted Player: | Paora Winitana (2007) | |
| All-NBL First Team: | Paul Henare (2003,2005), Adrian Majstrovich (2004), Paora Winitana (2006) | |
| Most Outstanding Guard: | Paora Winitana (2006) | |
| Most Outstanding Forward/Centre: | Adrian Majstrovich (2004) | |
| Most Outstanding Non-Restricted Guard: | Paora Winitana (2006) | |
| Most Outstanding Non-Restricted Forward/Centre: | Adrian Majstrovich (2004) | |
| Leading Individual NBL scorer: | Troy Coleman (2000) | |
| Leading Assists : | Shaun McCreedy (2000), Paul Henare (2004,2005,2007,2009) | |
| Coach of the Year: | Shawn Dennis (2004) |
Recent final placings
- 2009 = 6th (7-9) Lost quarter final to Wellington SaintsWellington SaintsThe Wellington Saints are a professional basketball team that play in the New Zealand National Basketball League. They play their home games at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington, New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Exodus Saints....
- 2008 = 4th (11-7) Lost quarter final to Nelson GiantsNelson GiantsThe Fico Finance Nelson Giants are a basketball team that play in the National Basketball League in New Zealand. Their home games are played at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson....
- 2007 = 4th (12-6) Lost finals series to Nelson GiantsNelson GiantsThe Fico Finance Nelson Giants are a basketball team that play in the National Basketball League in New Zealand. Their home games are played at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson....
- 2006 = 2nd (14-4) Won NZNBL championship
- 2005 = 2nd (13-5) Lost grand final to Auckland StarsAuckland StarsThe Auckland Pirates are a New Zealand professional basketball team that represents the Auckland region in the New Zealand National Basketball League. They play their home games at the ASB Stadium in Kohimarama, Auckland, New Zealand....
- 2004 = 2nd (13-5) Lost semi final to Nelson GiantsNelson GiantsThe Fico Finance Nelson Giants are a basketball team that play in the National Basketball League in New Zealand. Their home games are played at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson....
- 2003 = 6th (8-10) Missed playoffs
- 2002 = 8th (5-11) Missed playoffs
- 2001 = 8th (4-12) Missed playoffs
- 2000 = 9th (2-14) Missed playoffs