No fewer than seven Harbour players – three men and four women – have been involved in major national collegiate tournaments in the States in the past week. We have had representation at the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Tournaments, the WNIT, the Women’s NCAA Division II Tournament and the NJCAA (Junior College) Division I Tournament.

The big one’s of course are the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Tournaments which draw large crowds and huge TV audiences worldwide.

At the outset we had Zara Jillings (Fordham University), Matt Freeman (Oklahoma University), Dan Fotu (St Mary’s College) and Jack Salt (Virginia University) flying the Harbour flag but into week two only Jack survives.

Jack and his Virginia Cavaliers have reached the Sweet Sixteen at the Men’s Tournament. That last 16 berth came at the expense of Matt and the Oklahoma Sooners as the two former Harbour and Westlake standouts were pitched against each other in a second round matchup.

The Cavs scored the first seven points of the contest and were never headed, eventually prevailing 63-51. Matt knocked down a triple with his only scoring attempt for the Sooners but Jack was only required for two minutes off the bench – only the fourth game he hasn’t started this season and the least amount of court time he has played in the entire campaign.

Virginia next play on Friday against Oregon in the round of sixteen.

Earlier in the first round there was a sense of deja vu for No I Virginia in their clash with Gardner-Webb. Having exited in the first round last year when also carrying the No 1 seed tag, they found themselves 14 points down to the Runnin’ Bulldogs (30-16) at half-time. 

However, the Cavs put the defensive clamps on Gardner-Webb in the second half to eventually claim a 71-56 victory.

The Sooners, with Matt recording an assist, a steal and a block waltzed past Mississippi 95-72 in the first round. The Sooners scored on eight of their first nine positions, led by 17 points at half-time, and went on to post their highest score of the season.

In the third men’s first round tie involving a Harbour player St Mary’s College Gaels led 2018 NCAA champions Villanova at half-time (30-28) and stayed in touch throughout the contest. However the West Coast Conference champions eventually fell 61-57. Dan Fotu captured nine minutes of action hauling in a couple of rebounds for the Gaels.

Zara Jillings and Fordham University Rams were defeated 70-49 by Syracuse in the first round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Zara came up with a couple of assists and a rebound as the Rams finish the year with a 25-9 overall record, tied for the third-most victories in school history and capped with their second ever Atlantic 10 Championship.

At the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Virginia Commonwealth Rams fell 82-72 to Virginia Tech in the second round. Akiene-Tera Reed led the Rams scoring accumulating 17 points, on 6 from 10 shooting, to go with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

In the first round the Rams had defeated Charlotte 65-52 with Reed again leading the scoring, racking up 18 points (5/7FG, 7/8FT). The Tall Ferns wing added 6 rebounds and 5 assists for good measure. 

Chanel Brodeur-Muir and St Thomas Aquinas College Spartans were beaten 55-43 by Le Moyne College at the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Spartans finished an outstanding season with a 26-5 record finishing top four in the East Coast Conference.

Keeley Tini and Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons enjoyed a fine run at the NJCAA (Junior College) Division I National Championships. Hutchinson were attempting to make its fourth National Tournament Final but went down 60-54 to New Mexico College in the semi-final.

Earlier in the tournament Hutchinson had enjoyed a successful run defeating Western Nebraska Community College (81-60) in the first round, Angelina College (72-59) in the second round before easing past Odessa College in the quarters 66-50.

Harbour Basketball congratulates all these athletes on their fine accomplishments during the 2018-2019 college season.