Mainland Eagles Successful in Build Up to Tarkanian Classic

The Mainland Eagles have had a successful lead-in campaign to their inaugural appearance in the Tarkanian Classic. Based in the South Island of New Zealand, the team has spent the past two weeks in Las Vegas scrimmaging against high school and academy teams. 

It has been a successful two weeks. After beginning with a split record of 2-2, they have gone on a four-match winning streak, giving them a record of 6-2 eight games in. They are hitting their stride and have notched impressive wins over teams from the Impact Academy, Foothill HS, Arbor View HS and a weakened Bishop Gorman HS team.

Head Coach Mark Dickel referenced their high-tempo, strong transition game and relentless defence as being key reasons for their success against bigger opponents.

"Our denying defensive pressure and hustle has taken each team we have played out of their game, allowing us to score easy points in transition and push the ball at each opportunity, a style of play that all our players thrive in," the former UNLV AP All-American point guard stated.  
 
"Our success in America thus far has been due to the work our players have put in training over the last three years. Our level of fitness has made bigger, more athletic players struggle to keep up with our fast break tempo. Giving us big scoring runs to blow games open." 

Photograph by Carl Stent.

The team is very much cut out for playing this type of game. With only one player above 6'5", the Eagles lack size, but they boast a roster packed with talented guards. All bring high levels of intensity, while the best of them are fast in transition, capable of getting to the hoop and shooting well.

Defensively they are warriors and will hustle to the max: a hallmark of Dickel-coached teams. Their speed allows them to press their opponents, and their high levels of aerobic fitness allow them to keep going at that intensity when the opposition is tiring.

That has come from the commitment of these players, many of whom have trained religiously at Dickel's early morning academy over the past three years.

Dickel also remarked that several of these players have been receiving real interest from NCAA scouts at each of the Division I, II and III levels. 

The Las Vegas tour is an opportunity for these players to test themselves against some of the best the U.S. has to offer, while also allowing them to experience the American basketball system. As one of the premier high school basketball tournaments in the country, the Tarkanian Classic will undoubtedly act as the pinnacle of that experience.

Their schedule for the tournament sees them face National Prep. (Georgia), Diego Prep. (California), Urspring (Germany), Wasatch Academy (Utah), as well as a yet to be confirmed team. They will compete in the Prep division and will split their games between the Bishop Gorman HS Gym and the Heinrich YMCA Gym.

It is planned that the tour will be a regular occurrence for the recently established Mainland Eagles Basketball Academy. A women's team will also follow the men's team to Las Vegas on the December 29.

All quotes and information obtained from Mark Dickel on a firsthand basis.