Category Archives: College Hoops

Nov 24 2022
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College Hoops, Tall Blacks

Cameron brothers go head to head – one posts career high

November 24

The Cameron brothers Flynn and Tobias were in opposition for the first time in their long NCAA careers as Abilene Christian University took on the University of California Riverside UCR)  at the Vegas 4 Tournament in Las Vegas on Thursday (NZT). Younger brother Flynn, the Riverside combo-guard, took the opportunity to pour in a career high 26 points to carry UCR to a 76-65 victory.

Tobias tallied 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal in response but it was a game when Flynn grabbed the plaudits. He made 7 from 12 threes, all three freebies and also grabbed a team high 8 rebounds to go with 2 assists, 2 steals and a block. Nailing seven triples he became the first Highlander to achieve that feat for four seasons. 

Both Cameron’s are fifth year seniors having first played their freshman years back in 2018-19. Tobias has played all five years at Abilene Christian while Flynn played two years at De Paul University before transferring to Riverside.

The game in Vegas was the 118th career game for Tobias while for Flynn, capped by the Tall Blacks for the first time earlier this year at the FIBA Asia Cup, it was game number 96.

When game number 100 ticks over for Flynn he will become the 16th kiwi to play a century of Men’s NCAA Division I games – the duo the first New Zealand brothers to reach the notable milestone and also the first to play against each other at Division I level. Tall Blacks head coach Pero Cameron you imagine has been watching the careers of his sons unfold with immense pride.

Callum McRae played on the same Junior Tall Blacks team as the Cameron’s at the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup. In his latest outing he was within a point of a double-double grabbing 10 boards to go with 9 points as Sacramento State went down 82-71 to UC Davis. Those 9 points took McRae past 900 career points and up to 4th on the all-time list of New Zealand scorers in Men’ NCAA Division I basketball.

Hartford University Hawks had a comfortable 82-45 win against FDU Florham with Tom Webley claiming 8 points (4/6FG) and 4 rebounds.

Akiva McBirney-Griffin scored a season best 6 points as UC Irvine pounded Life Pacific 116-54.

In women’s NCAA Division I play Helen Matthews helped Wofford to the narrowest of wins, a 67-66 triumph against UNC Wilmington. The Cantabrian combo guard tallied 14 points, one shy of her season best 15, and added 4 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal.

Amiee Book is on the verge of the double of 100 games and 1,000 points in NCAA Division I basketball. In her 99thappearance she scored 9 points as Fresno State won a one sided contest against UC Merced 71-28. Book has now scored 990 career points.

Barring injury that 100th game will be on Saturday (NZT) when Fresno play Delaware at the Daytona Beach Invitational.

BYU had little problem overcoming Carroll College recording a 71-47 win. Kaylee Smiler made 3 from 5 threes to equal her season high of 12 points with Arielle Mackey-Williams scored sored 7 points on 2 from 4 from the field.

Mckenna Dale took just the one shot, that missed, but she did pull down a team high 8 rebounds and garnered a couple of steals as Virginia defeated Campbell 62-41.

Tara Manumaleuga scored 3 points and had a brace each of rebounds, assists and steals as Texas Christian slipped to a 62-54 loss to Sam Houston.

Nov 22 2022
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College Hoops

Latest college news with Callum McRae and Kaylee Smiler amongst the grinners

November 18

At the North Shore Showcase in Hawaii a couple of former Waikato rep standouts Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kaylee Smiler were in opposition as Washington State University (WSU) took on BYU. Given BYU were 0-3 entering the contest and Washington unbeaten it was expected that the Cougars of Washington would be too good for the Cougars of Brigham Young. CL-W once again top scored for Washington with 21 points but it was Smiler (7 points and 2 assists) with the grin as BYU prevailed 67-57.  Arielle Mackey-Williams also chipped in with a valuable 9 points for BYU.

BYU couldn’t quite repeat that success 24 hours later going down to Troy 68-62 with Smiler nabbing 5 points and a couple of rebounds.

When WSU took their turn to play Troy they took care of business winning 87-72. CL-W settling for a quiet 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists!

Olivia Williams scored a team high 16 points, making 4 from 8 threes, as UC Irvine edged Seattle 54-53 to improve to 3-1 this season.

Portland Pilots were beaten 55-53 by a San Diego buzzer beater. Emme Shearer made a couple of threes on her way to 13 points to sit alongside a couple of rebounds an assist and a steal for Portland.

Southern Methodist defeated Texas A&M Commerce 86-57 with freshman guard Ella Brow scoring a season best 12 points.

Also producing a season best was Helen Matthews who was one rebound away from a double-double as Wofford triumphed 88-79 at High Point. The Cantabrian guard tallied 15 points and 9 rebounds.

Boise State beat Portland State 71-61 with freshman Danni Bayes posting 13 points (5/8FG), 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Grace Hunter was immediately thrust into the starting point guard spot in her first outing of the season for California State University Bakersfield. The Wellingtonian guard connected with her first two jump shots and added a block, assist and rebound but unfortunately succumbed to injury after just 5 minutes. Bakersfield struggled without Hunter and went down 74-42 to UNLV.

McKenna Dale scored 6 points on 3 from 4 shooting, as well as securing 5 rebounds as Virginia won 74-60 on the road at American.

In Men’s Division I play…..

Tafara Gapare scored his first collegiate points – a made three – as UMass defeated Murray State 71-69.

Sacramento State improved to 3-1 winning their home opener 58-43 against UC Merced with Callum McRae again in excellent form. The Manawatu forward produced a big double-double of 14 points (7/14FG) and 14 rebounds – 6 offensive boards a highlight. 

At the Charleston Classic James Moors followed up his career high 24 points against South Carolina with 6 points and 3 rebounds in a 74-64 loss to Charleston.

Also at the Classic Sam Mennenga scored 23 points as Davidson College saw off Old Dominion 66-61. It was quite a weekend for the Tall Blacks forward in the three games at the Classic he tallied also 57 points, and was named to the Charleston Classic Tournament Team. That’s now 500 Division I career points for the former Westlake and Harbour player.

Tom Webley scored 9 points, and added 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a block as Hartford University pummeled Houghton 98-32.

UC Riverside flogged Occidental 106-30 with Flynn Cameron adding 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and a block to half a dozen points.

Other Results:

Fresno State 47 (Amiee Book 3pts, 2rebs) Cal Poly 48

St Mary’s 66 (Tayla Dalton 2pts, 3rebs, 1 steal) University of California 69

Nov 18 2022
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College Hoops

James Moors, Callum McRae and Kaylee Smiler set career marks

November 18

In our NCAA Division I midweek roundup the headlines go the way of former New Zealand age-group internationals James Moors, Callum McRae and Kaylee Smiler. 

James Moors posted a career high 24 points, on 10 from 12 shooting (2/2 3PG), as Colorado State accounted for South Carolina 85-53 to improve to 4-0 this season. The former Junior Tall Black also grabbed 9 rebounds in the Charleston Classic victory.

Also at the Charleston Classic are Sam Mennenga and Davidson College but they didn’t meet with the same success as Colorado State – beaten 89-66 by hosts Charleston.

However Mennenga posted numbers not far short of Moors, his former Westlake and Harbour teammate, he finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds.

Callum McRae enjoyed his most productive outing of the season as Sacramento State won 73-69 at Denver. The former Junior Tall Black centre, in just his third game for Sacramento since transferring from California Riverside, scored a game high 20 points (9/14 FG) along with 8 rebounds, 7 assists and a block – he is now just 19 points short of 900 career points.

Abilene Christian guard Tobias Cameron filled the stats line in the 104-46 demolition of McMurry – he posted 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks and a steal.

In women’s action Kaylee Smiler, in her first collegiate start, posted 11 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists as BYU fell to a third straight loss – defeated77-66 by Oklahoma. The former Waikato representative had previously played 72 games for BYU without ever previously named to the starting five.

Ashlee Strawbridge played a major role as New Mexico State won the rivalry game against New Mexico, in overtime, 73-63. Strawbridge finished with a team high 8 rebounds to go with 9 points while playing a team high 33 minutes.

Amiee Book knocked down her first two 3-point attempts and eventually finished with 3 from 5 for 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals as Fresno State defeated UC Riverside 54-40.

Dejaan Schuler filled the stats line in Stetson’s one sided 92-22 win against Johnson. The Te Aroha native scored 6 points (2/5 3PG) and claimed 4 rebounds as well as an assist, steal and block.

Former Massey High School standout Yzabelle Tevao scored a season best 6 points, along with 3 rebounds, in Chicago State’s 87-62 loss at University of Illinois Chicago. 

Other Results – Men

University of California Riverside 51 (Flynn Cameron 4pts, 2rebs, 2 assists) Creighton 80

South Dakota 42 Kruz Perrott-Hunt (5pts, 5 assists, 3 rebs) Mississippi State 79

Marquette 95 (Ben Gold 3pts, 2 blocks, 1reb, 1 assists) LIU 58

Fordham 79 (Zach Riley 3pts, 1 assist) New Hampshire 61

Hartford 66 (Tom Webley 4pts, 3 steals, 1 rebound) Boston 102

Other Results – Women

Colorado 73 (Charlotte Whittaker 2pts, 1reb, 1 assist) Louisiana 43

Chicago State 57 (Yzabelle Tevao 2pts, 3rebs, 1 block) Evansville 82

Wofford 84 (Helen Matthews 4pts, 4rebs, 1assist, I steal, I block) Coastal Carolina 69 

University of California Irvine 60 (Olivia Williams 4pts, 2rebs, 1 steal) Washington 62 2xOT

Nov 14 2022
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College Hoops, Tall Ferns

Leger-Walker scores her 1,000th point; moves into elite company

Charlisse Leger-Walker moved into elite New Zealand women’s basketball company as Washington State University defeated Prairie View A&M 89-61 (on Monday morning NZT). Leger-Walker scored 24 points in the contest, her fourteenth point taking her to 1,000 career points – the 16th Kiwi to hit that mark in Women’s NCAA Division I college hoops.

By the end of the game the Tall Fern guard had overtaken Chev Paalvast (1,110 points) to move to fifteenth overall and only 22 points shy of sister Krystal’s mark of 1032.

CL-W has reached the milestone just three games into her junior (third) year, at Washington State in just 57 appearances – all of them starts.

The all-time record is held by Cantabrian Erin Rooney who scored 1,647 points in 131 games over four seasons – Monmouth University (2009-11) and Fordham University (2012-14).

Leger-Walker is currently averaging 17.7 points per game meaning, at her current rate of scoring, she would need to play 90 odd games to become the all-time leader. Barring major injuries one would imagine the record is well withing her grasp.

Worth noting from the list below is that Amiee Book, in her senior year at Fresno State University, is within 31 points of becoming the 17th player to join the illustrious group.

The full list of New Zealand women on the 1,000 NCAA Division I points list:

        1,647 Erin Rooney (Monmouth University Hawks, 2009-11/Fordham University Rams, 2012-14)
        1,624 Akiene-Tera Reed (Virginia Commonwealth 2017-21, USC 2021-22)
        1,497 Megan Compain (St Joseph’s University Hawks, 1993-97)
        1,439 Stella Beck (St Mary’s College Gaels 2014-18)
        1,291 Kendell Heremaia (Fordham University 2017-22)
        1,262 Rhaiah Spooner-Knight (Monmouth 17-18, Utah Valley 13-16)
        1,209 Tegan Graham (Colgate Uni 2016-20, BYU 2020-22)
        1,195 Micaela Cocks (University of Oregon Ducks, 2006-10)
        1,167 Ashleigh Karaitiana (University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine, 2012-16)
        1,144 Margaret Johns (Utah State University, 1979-83)
        1,096 Jillian Harmon (Stanford University Cardinals, 2005-09)
        1,089 Tessa Boagni (California State University, Northridge Matadors 2014-18)
        1,081 Josie Stockill (Colgate University Raiders, 2012-16)
        1,032 Krystal Leger-Walker (Washington State 2020-22, Northern Colorado 2015-18)
        1,110 Charlisse Leger-Walker (Washington State University 2020-present)
        1,006 Chevannah Paalvast (Monmouth University Hawks, 2010-14)
            969 Amiee Book (CSU Fullerton 2018-21, Fresno State University 2021-present)

In other news Dani Bayes filled the stats line as Boise State beat Weber State 63-52. The 2021 Tall Ferns trialist made 16 points (7/15FG) and added 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block in 33 minutes.

Tayla Dalton scored 10 points (2/3 3PG) to help St Mary’s College to an 88-81 win at California Baptist. She also tallied 4 rebounds and 2 assists while Jade Kirisome dished 5 assists to go along with 4 points as the Gaels made a 2-0 start to the season. 

Olivia Williams scored 8 points as UC Irvine edged a thriller against Sacramento State winning 60-58.

Kaylee Smiler made 3 from 3 from beyond the arc on her way to 12 points and Arielle Mackey-Williams added 7 points but BYU slipped to a 69-60 home defeat to Montana State.

Portland University Pilots found the going a little tough against Stanford, the second ranked team in Women’s Division I basketball, going down 87-47. Emme Shearer scored 9 points and Melika Samia 4 points in Portland’s first loss of the season.

In Men’s action South Dakota scored an 82-64 home win against Dakota State with Kruz Perrott-Hunt scoring 15 points to move to 717 career points – up to 10th spot amongst Kiwi points scorers in NCAA Division I Men’s basketball passing Sam Waardenburg (711 points).

Sam Mennenga continued his good early season form with 10 points, 6 rebounds and a couple of steals as Davidson College won a third straight game holding off Virginia Military Institute to win 75-71.

Other Results:

Sacramento State (Callum McRae 2pts, 6rebs, 4 assists)

Hartford 53 (Tom Webley 6pts, 4rebs, 1stl, 1 assist) St Francis 77

Nov 12 2022
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College Hoops, Tall Ferns

Charlisse Leger-Walker scores a career high

November 12

Charlisse Leger-Walker is closing in on 1,000 NCAA points after she scored a career high 35 points (11/26 FG, 9/10FT) in Washington State’s 65-59 come from behind win at San Francisco.

WSU overcame a 15-point deficit to claim their second win in as many outings, with CL-W now just 14 points shy of joining the 1000 points club. It’s the 24th time she has scored 20 points or more in 56 career games. She also had 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block in the game.

Washington State have a quick turnaround and play Prairie View A&M on Sunday November 13 (Monday morning NZ time) and one imagines the 1,000 points mark will be under threat in that contest.

Leger-Walker will become the 16th Kiwi to score 1,000 points in Women’s NCAA Division I college hoops joining such luminaries as Micaela Cocks, Megan Compain, Stella Beck, Tessa Boagni, and more recently Krystal Leger-Walker, the older sister of Charlisse.

In other games in the States on Friday (Saturday here) freshman Dani Bayes scored 12 points and grabbed 5 boards along with an assist and steal as Boise State were defeated 83-74 by Eastern Washington.

In Men’s Div I hoops James Moors was a perfect 5 from 5 from the field – including a made triple – as Colorado State beat Southeastern Louisiana 80-69. The junior forward filled the stats line with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, an assist and a block in 18 productive minutes

Virginia were far too strong for Monmouth winning 89-42 with Taine Murray scoring 7 points on 3 from 6 shooting.

Tobias Cameron also scored 7 points to add to 4 steals, plus a trio of assists and rebounds, in Abilene Christian’s 77-58 loss to Texas A&M.

Other Results:

Southern Methodist 74 (Ella Brow 2pts, 3rebs, 1 assist) Oklahoma 97

Cal State Bakersfield 56  Fresno State 53 (Amiee Book 6rebs, 1 assist, 1 steal)

Fordham 48 (Zach Riley 1 reb, 1 assist) Arkansas 74 

Nov 11 2022
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College Hoops, Tall Blacks

Latest Div I College news – Perrott-Hunt passes significant milestone.

Four young Tall Blacks have been in action in college hoops in the last couple of days and the quartet all posted double figures with Kruz Perrott-Hunt passing a significant milestone.

Perrott-Hunt had just the 5 points in South Dakota’s 85-77 come from behind win against Lipscomb. However it was enough to carry him past 700 career points in his 80th appearance for the Coyotes. Perrott-Hunt is just the 11th Kiwi to score over 700 points in Division I Men’s basketball.

It took double overtime to separate Davidson College and Wright State before the Wildcats edged to a 102-97 victory. Following on from a double-double in the opening game Sam Mennenga posted 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists as Davidson overcame a 21-points first half deficit to record a second straight win to open the season.

Ben Gold scored his first collegiate points, in just his second game, as Marquette defeated Central Michigan 97-73. Gold tallied 11 points (4/9FG) and also added a couple of rebounds and steals. 

Flynn Cameron and UC Riverside worked their way back from a 20-point first half deficit to pip Loyola Marymount 81-79. Cameron finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.

Tom Webley was a perfect 4 from 4 from the field for his 8 points as Hartford recorded a dominant 85-43 victory over Northern Vermont-Lyndon.

In women’s NCAA Division I play sophomore guard Arielle Mackey-Williams drained a long three to open the BYU scoring for the 2022-23 season. Mackey-Williams, making her first ever start for BYU, went on to score a collegiate best 18 points (6/11FG, 4/7 3 PG) but there was little joy for the Cougars as they went down 82-62 to Colorado State.

Olivia Williams also scored a collegiate best as UC Irvine thumped Whittier College 98-33 in a one sided affair. Williams finished with 14 points along with 5 rebounds and a couple of steals.

Ashlee Strawbridge was a perfect 2 from 2 from both the field and the foul line for 6 points  as New Mexico State overpowered New Mexico Highlands 80-39.

Emme Shearer also scored half a dozen as Portland defeated University of Hawaii 70-54. Shearer added a couple of steals while freshman Melika Samia was a perfect 2 from 2 for her 4 points.

McKenna Dale also scored 6 points as Virginia dominated University of Maryland, Baltimore County to win 101-46. Dale also had 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Helen Matthews grabbed a team high 7 rebounds to accompany 4 assists and 3 points but couldn’t prevent Wofford falling to a 79-68 loss at Clemson.

Other Women’s Results:

Chicago State 57 (Yzabelle Tevao 2pts, 2rebs, 1 steal) Butler 84.

Stanford 104 California State University Northridge 40 (Rochelle Fourie 1pt, 1reb)

Stetson 56 (Dejaan Schuler 1 assist) Miami 80

Nov 08 2022
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College Hoops

Massive day of Division I hoops

It was a massive day of NCAA Division I college hoops today with no fewer than 29 Kiwis in action.

Tobias Cameron equaled his career best points tally and Sam Mennenga posted a double-double – here is a review of the action beginning with the Women’s action.

Charlisse Leger-Walker filled the stats line as Washington State proved much too good for Loyola Marymount winning 93-41. The Tall Ferns guard added 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and a block to 16 points on 7 from 12 shooting.

Tayla Dalton scored the first basket of the season for St Mary’s College as they went on to defeat Nevada 67-58. The 2022 Tall Ferns 3×3 guard scored 12 points (4/7FG, 4/6FT) and had 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

Amiee Book scored 11 points as Fresno State beat Fresno Pacific 66-49. The Grad Senior also snared a couple of steals and 4 rebounds in the win.

Emme Shearer made 4 from 6 from the field for her 10 points while also adding 6 assists, 5 rebounds and a couple of steals as Portland University Pilots beat Willamette 92-56. Melika Samia had 2 points, 2 steals, 3 rebounds and an assist on debut for the Pilots. 

Freshman Dani Bayes made 4 from 7 threes amongst her 12 points as Boise State swept past Multnomah 110-59. Bayes also added 2 assists and 3 rebounds in just 16 minutes.

Just short of double figures was Helen Matthews as she tallied 9 points in Wofford’s 81-72 loss to Youngstown State. Those points take the Cantabrian past the 300 career points mark.

A couple more Cantabs were in action as New Mexico State took on Colorado.

Ashlee Strawbridge, on debut, played a team high 37 minutes for New Mexico as they fell 85-55 to Colorado. Strawbridge finished with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a steal.

For Colorado Charlotte Whittaker, working her way back to match fitness following five operations on hip injuries and a 20-month layoff, claimed a couple of rebounds, a block and a single point in 11 minutes.

Freshman Ella Brow didn’t score any points but she did dish a game high 6 assists as Southern Methodist University defeated Texas A&M International 88-54.

Another freshman Rochelle Fourie scored with her first shot in Cal State University Northridge colours. The Palmy North forward scored just the 2 points on 1 from 2 shooting as CSUN were overpowered 88-56 by the University of California.

The Schuler sisters each scored on their Division I debuts also.

Breeje knocked down one from two free throws as Eastern Washington got an 86-47 win against Corban while Dejaan made a three for Stetson as the Hatters defeated Flagler 79-52.

In Men’s Division I action Kruz Perrott-Hunt carried the scoring load for South Dakota in their 85-59 loss at Wisconsin. KP-H scored 12 of South Dakota’s first 15 points before going on to register 21 points on 10 from 20 from the field. He also had a pair of steals plus triples in rebounds and assists.

Another 2022 Tall Black Sam Mennenga had 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the opening three minutes and went on to post a double-double as Davidson College defeated Guilford 87-64. Mennenga finished with 11 each in rebounds and points to accompany 3 assists and a steal.

Fellow Tall Black Flynn Cameron, in his 50th Division I start, scored 11 points to go with 7 rebounds and 2’s in steals and assists in Californai Riverside’s 82-66 loss at Colorado.

Brother Tobias nailed 18 points – equaling his career high – making 4 from 7 threes as Abilene Christian saw off Jackson State to win 65-56. Cameron senior added 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 bocks and a steal in a fine all court game.

Callum McCrae, in his first game for Sacramento State since his transfer from UC Riverside, pulled down 10 rebounds and tallied 6 points in the 76-50 loss to UCLA.

James Moors scored 6 points as Colorado State edged Gardner Webb 65-63 while freshman Akiva McBirney-Griffin had a trio of points and rebounds with a couple of assists as Cal University Irvine comfortably beat Chapman 96-50.

There were also some useful performances in pre-season games last week worthy of mention.

Grace Hunter, fresh off her strong season with the Tokomanawa Queens, dished a game high 5 assists to go with 7 points (3/4FG) as California State University Bakersfield beat Biola 96-57.

Florence Dallow marked her NCAA Division I debut in fine style knocking down 5 threes from 7 attempts to tally 17 points as Portland beat Warner Pacific 94-45. 

Dallow’s New Zealand Junior Tall Ferns teammate Lilly Parke was in equally good form as Auburn University at Montgomery were pipped 81-78 by Southern Mississippi. The former Auckland Basketball and Baradene College forward top scored with 19 points (7/10FG, 4/4 3PG) in just 15 minutes.

Nov 01 2022
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ANBL, College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad

Ili returns plus other news of Kiwis overseas

In our latest wrap we look at Shea Ili’s return to court, a career high for Sam Waardenburg and some early American college news.

Firstly Shea Ili. The dynamic point guard made his first appearance for Melbourne United after missing the opening four rounds of the Australian NBL season with concussion issues. The Tall Black guard made an immediate impact in helping guide Melbourne United, on a three-game slide, to a 94-77 home win against Perth Wildcats.

Ili scored with his first two shots, both threes, and went on to post 9 points (3/4FG), 4 assists and 3 rebounds in just 13 minutes of action. Corey Webster scored 8 points for the Wildcats.

Sam Waardenburg, in his rookie pro season, scored a season high 20 points as Cairns Taipans lost a points-fest at League leaders Sydney Kings 106-103. In a fine all-round game Waardenburg also posted 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of steals. 

In Europe Tai Webster produced 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists as Socar Petkimspor defeated Bursaspor 80-72 to improve to 3-2 in the Turkish Super League.

Finn Delany had a pair of 11-point outings for Bonn as the German club recorded two victories.

Firstly it was a 73-66 European Champions League win against AEK Athens followed by a 94-85 success against Goettingen in the German League.

In the German second division Matt Freeman scored 10 points and added 6 rebounds although his club Bremerhaven suffered a 73-66 loss to Tuebingen.

Isaac Fotu tallied a team high 17 points (8/13FG) but Tochigi Brex were given something of a hiding by Chiba Jets going down 87-58. The Jets (7-2) lead the East Conference of the Japanese League with Brex (3-6) now sixth.

Jillian Harmon, who played on the Tall Ferns 3×3 team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham earlier in the year, has confirmed she has re-joined Basket Landes for the upcoming French League season.

Tera Reed scored 19 points (5/10FG, 4/4FT) but Tampereen Pyrintö were defeated 82-77 by HBA-Marsky in the Finnish League. Pyrintö have slipped to 2-4 on the season although all four losses have been by 6 points or less.

Most American college campaigns commence in the coming days but a handful of pre-season games have already been played.

Flynn Cameron started his season rolling on a high note as UC Riverside defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills 94-79. The combo guard scored 21 points (5 from 9 threes) and added 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.

Asian Cup Tall Black teammate Kruz Perrott-Hunt was also in strong form as South Dakota mauled Simpson 101-55. KP-H finished with a game high 24 points (10/15FG, 4/8 3PG) to accompany 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

James Moors led the Colorado State rebounding count as they inflicted a 91-52 defeat on MSU Denver. The junior forward added 6 points, 2 assists and a steal to 10 rebounds.

Fresh from the Tall Ferns tour to Melbourne Charlisse Leger-Walker filled the stats line with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and a brace of steals as Washington State defeated Westmont 64-40.

Mar 27 2022
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College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad

Waardenburg and Miami still Dancing

Sam Waardenburg produced an outstanding performance as Miami University Hurricanes defeated Iowa State 70-56 in an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 match-up in Chicago.

The former Junior Tall Black finished with 13 points (5/9FG), a team high 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and a steal in 35 minutes of high quality basketball.

The result means10th seeded Miami advance to the Elite 8, at the ‘Big Dance’, for the first time in programme history where they will face a number one seed Kansas for a spot in the semi-finals. 

“Iowa State’s a great team we knew they were going to come out and pressure us. We had the most turnovers we’ve had this tournament but we kept our identity and forced 18 turnovers as well. We did a great job executing the game plan,” said Waardenburg.

“It’s the energy from the bench and the energy from these guys that really swings you,” Waardenburg said of his teammates.

“They’ve been amazing and they’ve been like this all season long.”

Miami’s run in the play-offs means that we have Kiwi representation in the quarter-finals of the Men’s NCAA Division I Championship for the first time since Jack Salt and the University of Virginia Cavaliers won the title in 2019.

The one-time Rangitoto College and Harbour standout eclipsed 700 points and reached 500 rebounds at Miami, scoring in double figures for the 13th time this season and the 25th time in his four-year collegiate career.

Waardenburg now has 706 career points and keen to add more in the quarter-final tie against Kansas tomorrow.

Mar 20 2022
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College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad

Madness latest

Men’s NCAA Division I National Championship, Second Round

Dan Fotu and St Mary’s College Gaels were defeated 72-56 by UCLA Bruins. The West Coast Conference runners-up had few answers for the superior Bruins in the second half, outscored 36-27. In his 120th and final collegiate game Fotu had a single rebound.

Also bundled out in the second round were Yuat Alok and New Mexico State Aggies edged by Arkansas 53-48. The former Rangitoto College forward claimed a rebound and a free throw for the Aggies.

Miami (Sam Waardenburg) and Texas Christian (Harrison Young) play their second round ties tomorrow. 

Women’s NCAA Division I National Championship, First Round

New Zealand’s interest in the Women’s NCAA Tournament ended abruptly with first round defeats for both Washington State and Brigham Young (BYU) despite the best efforts of their Kiwi connections.

Tegan Graham had 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists, while Kaylee Smiler scored with her only shot as BYU were pipped 61-57 by Villanova. Tegan’s final tally of 153 games is a New Zealand record for the number of NCAA Division I appearances.

Krystal and Charlisse Leger-Walker carried a heavy load for Washington State University (WSU) as the Cougars went down 50-40 against Kansas State – the Waikato duo scoring all but eleven of the Cougars points. 

Krystal finished with 9 points and 5 rebounds whilst Charlisse scored a game high 20 points, setting a WSU record for the most points in an NCAA Tournament game in the process.

In what turned out to be her final collegiate game Krystal, in a rarity for her, had zero assists. That meant her amazing sequence of making an assist in every game she had played since January 2018 came to an end – the streak finishing at 94 games!  

Women’s NAIA National Championship

The quest of Rocky Mountain College to secure a semi-final berth at the NAIA National Championships came up agonisingly short as they were edged 60-58 by Thomas More University. Former Waikato and St Peter’s School, Cambridge forward Dominique Stephens scored 9 points and added 4 rebounds. 

Freshman Stephens played her part in the historic run of Rocky Mountain. They have won their first NAIA Tournament games, won their first share of the Frontier Conference regular season title and their first Frontier Conference Tournament Championship, since 1988. 

Women’s Basketball Invitational

St Mary’s College Gaels reached the final of the Women’s Basketball Invitational after defeating Bowling Green University 76-67 in the semi-finals.

Tayla Dalton added 2 assists and a block to 10 points (4/6FG) while Amy West snared a season high 11 rebounds to go with a couple of points.

NJCAA (Junior College) National Championships Second Round

Izzy Cook, Rashaan Smith and Western Nebraska College are through to the Final Four of the Junior College National Championships after Western Nebraska claimed a 63-51 quarter-final victory over South Plains.

Western Nebraska will meet Tyler College in the Championship semi-final tomorrow.

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