Boyhood mates reunited at Buccs

Zack Te Puni says Geraldton is a pretty good place to be. The 2.03m-tall basketballer is one of the Buccaneers’ new signings for the upcoming season, and he might not be here without friend and teammate Brayden Inger. They’re the same height, from the same hometown and have known each other for years, playing junior basketball together. Now, after Inger was part of the Buccs team that won its first State Basketball League title for 19 years last season, they’re back on the same team again. “I’ve been playing for a while,” Te Puni said. “I’ve put a lot of effort into finding something to do with it, and the opportunity came up here. I watched his (Brayden’s) success and the games he had; I’m trying to do the same thing, get my name out there and take the next step. Depending how this year goes, something might come up.” Te Puni has already had a pre-season with New Zealand Breakers in the National Basketball League, after coming back from playing for Golden Knights at College of Saint Rose in the US. For now, he says Geraldton is a pretty good place to be. “People you don’t know will say ‘Hey, how are you going?’,” he said. He said the Buccs had also made him feel at home. “We’ve got a good bunch of guys.” Te Puni and Inger are from the North Shore of Auckland and attended Rangitoto College secondary school. They have been on the same teams since age 12. Inger said he was encouraged to join the Buccs last season by former Basketball WA Mid West development officer Marcus Alipate, also a member of the title-winning squad.