Keeping up to date with the numerous Kiwis playing Junior College basketball in the States is a little challenging.
However, with the Junior College (NJCAA) season just getting underway, here is our first roundup of the actiona and already there have been some standout efforts from New Zealand players.
On Waiaaria Rogers scored 18 points (4/73PG) as Marshalltown College Tigers defeated Southeastern 63-50. The former Rangitoto shooting guard made 4 from 7 from three-point land whilst fellow kiwi Heeni Blakey tallied 6 points.
The pair were in double figure scoring form a couple of days later despite Marshalltown going down 73-55 to Southwestern, Blakey scored 13 points and Rogers 11 points.
Grace Hunter was all business as South Plains College opened their campaign with a pair of wins. The Wellingtonian tallied 19 points (7/11FG), 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 blocks in the two games.
Three Kiwis were on show as Weatherford College defeated Western Texas 80-67. Briarley Rogers scored 10 points for Weatherford whilst Jordyn Maddix and Parehuia Delamere lined up for Western Texas College. Delamere came up with a massive 6 steals to add to 5 points and 4 rebounds.
A couple of days earlier the Maddix and Delamere had faced off against sisters Leah and Jenna Rose Mafua. Leah notched a team high 8 rebounds and added 4 points whilst Jenna Rose scored 6 points but the Harbour duo were the grinners on the day with Western Texas beating Otero 54-40.
Williston State, with a trio of Kiwis haven’t made the best start to the season losing their opening three games.
In their most recent loss, 74-48 to North Dakota, Jazz Kailahi-Fulu (19 points and 8 rebounds) and Keeley Tini (12 points) were the only Williston players in double figures whilst Kararaina Pene dished 3 assists.
Utah State Eastern claimed the double over Arizona Western to begin their campaign. In the second win Ella Bradley stuffed the stats line with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. USE followed that with a completely one sided 111-27 win against Christian Community. Brooklyn Pouwhare snared 13 rebounds in that one with Hannah Wentworth knocking down 5 from 9 threes for 15 points..
Also filling the stats line was Ashlee Strawbridge in her first collegiate game for #25 ranked Southern Idaho. The Cantabrian notched 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals in Idaho’s 83-67 loss to Casper College whilst Kyra Paniora chipped in with 6 points.
Southern Idaho bounced back four days later with Kaitlin Burgess scoring 10 points in a comfortable 76-42 win against Western Wyoming.
Former Taranaki rep Izzy Cook scored 4 points as Western Nebraska also won a one sided affair – 113-28 against Central Wyoming.
Samantha Meadows (5 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals) and Miya Riwaka (2 points and 2 rebounds) for Central Wyoming.
Yzabelle Tevao scored her first college points making 3 from 4 from the field as Lake Region State defeated University Jamestown 83-73, Zoe Ebbitt was also on the scoresheet with 5 points.
Dejan Schuler played 4 minutes for Casper College in their narrow 64-62 win against Snow College.
Harata Coleman made a brief appearance for Barton College as they cruised past Highland 78-41.
Likewise Molly Cockburn came off the bench as Miles made a winning start (8160) against Bismark.
LACEY LOWDOWN 