Te Araroa Sopoaga, Samantha Jenkins and Safena Te Nana-Williams have begun their Junior College careers in impressive fashion this week.
Heck of a debut from Safena Te Nana-Williams for Central Maine College Mustangs. The former St Mary’s College, Ponsonby guard amassed 20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals in just 17 minutes!!
Twin sister Leata Te Nana-Williams had 4 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists while Taranaki’s Harata Coleman scored 3 points as the Mustangs butted Northern Vermont – Lyndon 102-67.
Coleman, having transferred from Barton Community College, went even better a couple of days later top scoring with 14 points in the 67-42 win against Villa Martin.
Te Araroa Sopoaga was another to fill the stats line on debut as Cloud County Community College fell agonisingly short in their opening fixture going down 80-79 at Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa.
Wellingtonian guard Sopoaga, who played for Otago Gold Rush last year whilst at Otago University, top scored for Cloud with 20 points and also plundered 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks in an outstanding performance.
Samantha Jenkins made three 3-pointers and totalled 15 points on debut for Dawson Community College as they climbed over Rocky Mountain College 89-46 in their season opener.
Jenkins played at Nayland College, Nelson before moving to Wellington where she suited up for Queen Margaret College.
LACEY LOWDOWN 