Mainland Eagles Men Finish USA Tour with Winning Record

The Mainland Eagles Basketball Academy's men's team has finished its inaugural U.S. tour with a winning record of 9-7. Despite going on a five-match losing streak in the elite prep division of the Tarkanian Classic to finish the tour, it remained competitive in the majority of its outings.

Head coach Mark Dickel said that the team remained in each of its tournament games until the final five minutes and were hindered by the team's lack of size. Two of the team's top players, Shou Nisbet and Richard Rodger, carried injuries for the latter part of the tour.

In the games where Nisbet was rested, the team had just one player remaining over 6'7", forcing the rest of the team to play bigger than its size. Indeed, Nisbet himself is a point guard, but he was forced to play the bigger spots, as at 6'5" he was the team's second biggest player.

The team made the most of this, though, playing an uptempo game in which its talented guards were able to flourish. Defensively, the Eagles pressured their opposition and were able to excel in a fast and aggressive transition game.

Their scalps included wins over Foothill H.S., two Impact Academy teams, Quest Academy and a weakened Bishop Gorman H.S. team. Despite going 0-5 at the Tarkanian Classic, they finished four points behind Diego Prep and six behind Urspring from Germany.

Dickel said that all of their games had been played in front of college scouts, with nine of the players receiving interest. Of these nine, Joe Cook-Green, Jackson Stent and Shou Nisbet received Division I looks, while the others were a mix of Division II and junior college prospects.

The tour was a great chance for the players to get a feel for the level they need to be at, while also gaining an understanding of the American system.

Dickel also paid tribute to the other coaches the boys have had over the years, citing the work they have put in as a key reason for the way the team played in Las Vegas.

"The way the team stuck together and fought each game is in large part due to the coaching that each player has received in their own high schools," he said. "The players in Dunedin benefiting from Greg Brockbank and Dean Ruske at the BBO Academy and Gavin Briggs at Otago Boys' High School, in Oamaru Brendon Polyblank at St Kevin's and in Christchurch Caleb Harrison at the CBA Academy, Joe Hammond at Burnside High and Paul Isitt at Papanui High School." 

He also remarked that Jackie Hibbard, Judy Robertson and Carl Stent did a brilliant job as managers on tour.

The men's team now returns home far better for its experiences, while the women will embark on their tour on December 29.

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