Monthly Archives: February 2022

Feb 02 2022
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College Hoops

Pita Maxwell-Topia following in his brothers’ footsteps – but not quite.

Pita Maxwell-Topia will be following in his brothers’ footsteps when he begins a basketball scholarship next month.

However, unlike Reihana who is in his second year of four at St Francis University, Illinois on America’s East Coast, Pita is staying closer to home to be a student athlete at Lincoln University.

Pita’s last two years at Rosmini College were seriously disrupted by Covid. 2020 was almost a non-event and while 2021 was a little better Pita is hoping his move to Christchurch will coincide with a full season of tertiary and club basketball.

At least in 2021 Pita was able to play alongside Reihana for the first time in a couple of years with the pair suiting up in the same North Harbour team at U19 Nationals where Harbour finished third.

Whilst the American college pathway is well documented the Lincoln University route is recognised as a legitimate alternative for those student athletes wishing to remain in New Zealand to realise their academic and basketball ambitions.

Lincoln University Men’s Head Coach Tyla Harrison-Hunt is thrilled that Pita will be headed south for the upcoming academic year.

“Pita has a diverse skill set as a guard from a great programme at Rosmini. Lincoln University is really looking forward to having him down here to make an immediate contribution to our squad. His passing ability and shooting are solid with his keenness to distribute the ball is a real asset.

“The other scholarship recipients are Phoenix Sorenson (Mt Albert Grammar School) and the St Andrew’s College, Christchurch duo of Benji Freeman College and Tanae Lavery.”

Likewise, Rosmini College Head Coach Matt Lacey is delighted to see Maxwell-Topia furthering both his basketball and academic career.

“Pita was a part of our 2019 team that finished runners-up at the Secondary Schools National Championships. It is great to see Pita following many of his teammates in pursuing a collegiate basketball scholarship. 

“The NZ university pathway is one that is becoming more recognized as a legitimate way to continue to pursue your sporting and academic goals. We are all looking forward to watching Pita’s growth down in Canterbury” added Lacey.

Pita becomes the eighth Rosmini student- athletecurrently on a basketball scholarship with the other seven based in the States:

William Heather – junior at Dallas Baptist University

Reihana Maxwell-Topia – sophomore at University of St Francis, Illinois

Sean Murphy – freshman at University of Nebraska-Kearney

Taine Murray – freshman at University of Virginia

Kruz Perrott-Hunt – junior at South Dakota University

Leo Wenham -freshman at Southeast College

Marvin Williams-Dunn – sophomore at Ouachita Baptist University

Feb 01 2022
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College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad

Jordyn Maddix tops a good week for Kiwis in Junior College

It’s been a good week for Jordyn Maddix. She scored a career high 28 points – 7 of those in the extra period – as Western Texas won an exciting overtime contest against Clarendon. The former Westlake guard had an eye catching shooting line of 9 from 17 from the field, 6 of 13 from beyond the arc and 4 straight from the foul line.

That was followed by 14 points in the 77-69 defeat of Howard College. Parehuia Delamere had 8 assists, 8 rebounds and 5 points in that one.

Jenna Rose Mafua played a big part in Dodge City pushing Seward County all the way before going down 63-60. The Wellingtonian guard scored a team high 19 points (7/11FG, 4/6 3PG) and also secured 4 rebounds and a steal.

Central Maine whacked Paul Smith’s College 86-30 with Safena and Leata Te Nana-Williams playing leading hands. Leata stuffed the box score line with 15 points (6/9FG), 7 steals, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Safena was almost as prolific with 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 6 points, 4 steals and a block.

Williston State could only manage 30 points in a 57-30 defeat against Mesa yet Keeley Tini still managed a double-double. She claimed almost half of the teams’ rebounds (15 of 39) and a third of the points (11)!

Cloud County also went down to Seward despite a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds from Kay-Hauata Phillips. Te Araroa Sopoaga had 6 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and a block in the 78-64 defeat.

Maclani Michael poured in 15 points and Ella Bradley threatened a triple-double as Utah State Eastern swamped Community Christian College 93-46. Ella finished with 11 points, 8 rebounds (7 offensive) and 8 assists while Brooklyn Pouwhare had 2 points and 5 rebounds in the win.

Samantha Jenkins enjoyed a 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists outing as Dawson beat United Tribes 73-42.

Kyra Paniora top scored with 12 points (along with 6 assists and 4 rebounds) and Ash Strawbridge contributed 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and a block as Southern Idaho squeezed home 52-49 against Salt Lake. Southern Idaho retain their #5 ranking with the win.

Molly Cockburn scored 9 points (4/7FG) and  Ella Paleaae-Cook 3 points as Miles slipped to a 65-49 defeat against North Dakota SCS. Molly also had 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Briarley Rogers came up with 9 points and 5 rebounds as Weatherford proved far too good for Southwestern Christian winning 81-39.

Izzy Cook scored 8 points as #6 Western Nebraska thumped Trinidad State 106-65. The Taranaki forward also contributed 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal.

Dejaan Schuler scored 6 points as Casper College had a valuable 77-64 victory over East Wyoming. Casper up from 17 to number 20 on the national rankings.

Marshalltown defeated Des Moines 75-49 with Waiaaria Rogers pulling in 8 rebounds to go with 2 points and a couple of steals.

In Men’s action Ollie Hayward put in a strong shift for Midland College in the loss to South Plains amassing 15 points, 7 rebounds and a couple of dimes. Ollie was equally busy in the 56-54 win at Howard grabbing 6 rebounds to accompany 11 points.

Nico Hill was joint top scorer for Missouri State as the Grizzlies defeated St Louis 60-54. The former Opunake standout added 4 rebounds and 4 blocks to a dozen points. He then had 11 points  and 6 rebounds in a high scoring 97-94 loss to State Fair.

Nate Wilson flirted with a double-double with 13 points and 9 rebounds as South Georgia Tech defeated Andrew College 99-73.

Kiani Saxon scored 7 points as Louisiana State Eunice overturned a 14-point half-time deficit to defeat Baton Rouge, in an exciting encounter, 70-68 The former Liston College forward also tallied a season high 9 rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Ezrah Vaigafa tallied 7 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists but Neosho County fell 97-82 to Johnson County.

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