Life’s a breeze as Ashleigh Kelman-Poto switches it up from mum to Tall Ferns hopeful

PHOTOSPORT/NBL

Harbour Breeze’s Ashleigh Kelman-Poto in action against the Otago Gold Rush in the women’s NBL.

Harbour Breeze forward and Tall Ferns hopeful Ashleigh Kelman-Poto doesn’t consider herself a trailblazer as she juggles the challenges of being a solo mum with the demands of chasing her hoops dreams.

In fact, she doesn’t even like the term solo mum. It doesn’t cut the mustard in describing her circumstances.

For Kelman-Poto, a star forward for the undefeated Harbour Breeze in the NBL 18IN18 that comes to a close in Auckland on Sunday, there is nothing solo about what she does bringing up her 3-year-old son Jai whilst juggling extensive basketball commitments along with a part-time job for a realty firm.

The 28-year-old Breeze standout, averaging 14.8 points and 7.0 rebounds for Jody Cameron’s side, could simply not do what she does without the support of her family. She knows that, they know that, and everyone is happy to do their bit to help her chase her goals.

READ MORE:* Bouncing back: The courageous story of teenage basketball hotshot Riva Walker-Pitman* Harbour Breeze hold out Otago Gold Rush to go two from two in women’s NBL* Harbour Breeze defeat Capital Swish with second-half charge in women’s NBL* Mum’s the word as Ashleigh Kelman-Poto edges closer to her Tall Ferns dream

Three or so years back when Kelman-Poto, the older sister of leading men’s NBL player Dominique, had her bouncing baby boy, she figured that might be it for her in the game. Never mind that she had been good enough to play college ball in the States. Never mind that she still had ambitions to play at the highest level.

“After I had my son, I was ‘you know what, I have to give it up, stop playing and go to work’,” she tells Stuff. “I started going to Lindsay Tait’s summer jams, and I thought ‘I can’t give this up, I have to go again’.

“I was like, ‘Mum, just help me out a little bit’, and they were fine with it, so I could train, look after him and work. My mum and dad help me out, my cousins – I’ve got a whole support network that make this possible.

“It’s working out well, so I’m just going to play until I can’t play any more, try to make some teams, and when I’m done I can go back to being a fulltime mum and worker.”

Basketball NZ/Stuff

Ferns hopeful Ashleigh Kelman-Poto wants to show you can hoop at a high level while being a mum.

There aren’t that many mums playing at a high level in New Zealand basketball. Kelman-Poto noticed a couple at the national 3X3 league in Invercargill recently, and that cheered her.

“I’m so happy other people are doing it,” she says. “They get to do what they want to do and still have kids. It’s pretty cool.”

Besides, Kelman-Poto doesn’t need a lot from her sport. Just a little understanding.

“Harbour have been great – they let me bring him along because I’m a solo mum. It’s not a big thing. When I played in Australia (she spent two seasons with Gladstone in the Queensland league) they were good about it too. I was like just give me some extra food and we’ll be fine.

“It’s just understanding that you need. Sometimes it gets stressful, you need a few minutes to reset, get him sorted and then I can come out and play. It can be hard mentally and I don’t know how people do it with two kids. But I’m managing.”

Kelman-Poto is doing everything she is in basketball right now because she has a burning desire to play for the Tall Ferns. It’s kind of her guiding light right now..

“That’s the goal, what I’m training for … When I came home from college I knew I wanted do it, but I didn’t know the requirements. I thought I was good but I was told I’m not training hard enough…. So I started training harder… then Jody told me to come home from Australia to get my name out there. So I did that.”

Dave Rowland/Getty Images

Ashleigh Kelman-Poto was part of the Tall Ferns Showcase game during the men’s NBL Showdown in Auckland.

Kelman-Poto is now knocking firmly on the door. She was part of the Ferns training camp and ‘Showcase’ game in Auckland during the men’s NBL Showdown and is considered a cast-iron contender whenever international hoops returns to the calendar in 2021.

In the meantime she’s just rapt to be part of a domestic showcase for the women’s game in this country that she hoped for while watching her brother turn out for the Franklin Bulls in the men’s Showdown earlier this year.

She will kit up for the Breeze in Sunday’s final having led them with 16 points and seven rebounds in the 77-64 semifinal win over the Capital Swish on Friday.

“I went to all my brother’s games, hoping they would notice some basketball girls were there and they would make a competition for us. They did, which was awesome and now my brother is coming to watch us.”

Not only that, but Dom even went as far as organising a men’s game to play as a curtain-raiser to the women at Pulman in a show of solidarity that did not go unnoticed.

“That was so special,” noted Kelman-Poto. “I know a lot of those boys paid to get in to play. I was grateful for everyone who came and played and showed their support.

“What Covid brought sucks but this competition shows that women want to play, we can do so at a high level and we want people to watch us.”

And the Breeze have, well, breezed through qualifying play in impressive fashion, with Brooke Blair (17.8ppg) and Ella Fotu (10.4ppg) joining Kelman-Poto in a productive Harbour triple threat.

“We’ve kinda figured out how to work with each other and we’re trusting each other to make shots and get defensive stops … We’re actually figuring stuff out we didn’t know about each other on the court. It’s been fun.”

And demanding, under Cameron’s firm guidance.

“She’s tough, but it’s tough love, and we love it. She is bringing the best out in us physically and mentally, and really tests us. It’s working so far.”

Nothing that this basketballing super mum can’t handle.

Stuff