In our latest review of Harbour players performances in US college basketball we begin by highlighting the fine form of former Westlake Boys forward Alex Talma.

Alex was named PacWest Defensive Player of the Week after his recent rebounding efforts for Biola University in NCAA Division II action.

Biola are 3-2 in the first five games of the season with Alex averaging an impressive 14.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He recorded a career high 24 points in the 99-68 win against West Coast Baptist and added 11 rebounds. That made five straight double-doubles for the former Westlake big man dating back to the end of last season.

Also in Division II prolific shot blocker Denhym Brooke has tallied nine swats for Hawaii at Hilo in their opening three games. He had two in the narrow 76-71 win against Simpson University and also added 8 points and 5 rebounds as Hilo improved to 2-1.

In Division I action Matt Freeman scored at almost a point a minute as Oklahoma Sooners won their home opener 75-64 against Wofford. Matt scored 11 points in 12 minutes, knocking down three from four from beyond the arc.

Matt and the Sooners have headed to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament this week which will also be attended by Jack Salt and the Virginia Cavaliers. We will bring you news of that event and all the other Thanksgiving Weekend play in the roundup next week. 

Sam Waardenburg has been entrusted with a starting spot at Miami where the Hurricanes have begun the season with a trio of wins after pushing past Bethune-Cookman 78-70. The second year forward scored 8 points (4/6FG) and totalled 4 rebounds in 27 minutes in the win.

St Mary’s College Gaels, after three straight wins, fell to their first loss of the season going down 80-63 to Utah State. However it was a good outing for Dan Fotu who knocked down a pair of threes (4/6FG) on his way to 11 points. The former Rangitoto standout also added three rebounds including two at the offensive end 

Isaac Letoa was 3 from 3 from the field as Dartmouth Big Green handed Elms a hiding. A reverse lay-up from the Tall Blacks guard brought up the ton as Dartmouth won100-54.

Yanni Wetzel scored a couple of points for Vanderbilt in the 79-54 win against Alcorn – the Commodores off to a 3-0 start.

In Division I Women’s games Tera Reed scored a dozen points as Virginia Commonwealth Rams won a low scoring affair against Wake Forest 53-40. The Rams only gave up eight final quarter points as they improved to 3-1 for the season.

The Kiwis were prominent as Fordhan University Rams improved to 2-2 after a 71-64 win against Charlotte 49ers. Zara Jillings scored 7 points with Cantabrian Mary Goulding making 16 points and Waikato’s Kendell Heremaia scoring 14 points.

In Division II play Tiffin University Dragons, where Georgia Perrott-Hunt is a starter, have had two wins and a loss in the past week with all three games decided by just two points!

Georgia had a storming game as the Dragons fired past Urbana for a 77-75 win. The former Westlaker stuffed the stats sheet with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and a block. She then had 8 points and 4 boards in the loss to Wayne State (73-71) after the Dragons had begun the week with a 76-74 victory over McKendree.

In Junior College Keeley Tini has made a promising start to her career at Hutchinson Community College. Keeley is averaging 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds as the Blue Dragons have begun their season with four straight wins.

Olivia Bell is in her second season at North Dakota State College of Science and is averaging 8.5 points and 5.8 rebounds with the Wildcats off to a 3-1 start to their campaign.