Congratulation to Will Heather and Dallas Baptist University Patriots. The Patriots were one of the 48 teams announced on the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Selection Show on Sunday evening in the States.

The former Rosmini College and Harbour representative centre, in his sophomore season at Dallas Baptist, will be the sole Kiwi playing at the Division II Tournament. Will has averaged 9.8 points per game starting all 20 games for the Patriots this season.

DBU (16-4) are drawn to meet Southern Arkansas (15-5) in the South Central Region quarter-finals on March 13.  

Congratulations to Akienne-Tera Reed who was amongst the athletes bestowed All-Atlantic 10 Conference honours earlier in the week.

Tera, named to the All-Atlantic 10 Third Team, is averaging 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and a career high 3.9 assists per game. She also led the Atlantic 10 free throw percentage at 82.9%. She and her Fordham teammates begin tournament play on Friday. 

Unfortunately Dan Fotu and Kruz Perrott-Hunt suffered disappointing defeats in NCAA Division I conference semi-final action.

Gonzaga underlined their #1 status in Men’s Division I basketball by comfortably beating St Mary’s 78-55. Dan scored 5 points and claimed 3 rebounds in the contest.

Kruz played all but one minute scoring 14 points (4/5 3PG, 2/2FT), dishing 3 assists and snaring 3 boards but the University of South Dakota Coyotes went down 79-75 to North Dakota State in the Summit League semis.

Despite a career best rebounding effort from Chanel Brodeur-Muir, St Thomas Aquinas College were defeated 62-56 by Roberts Wesleyan College in NCAA Division II East Coast Conference semi-final action. In a terrific defensive effort the former Harbour guard bagged 10 rebounds, a steal and a block to accompany 3 points.

Even though Williston State College suffered a couple of losses Keeley Tini and Jazz Kailahi-Fulu continue to stack up the numbers for the Tetons. 

The pair both produced double-doubles to continue their productive seasons. Keeley had 11 points and 11 rebounds while Jazz produced 10 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Miles College.

Both pair were in fine form a couple of days later despite Williston suffering an agonizing 64-63 loss to Dakota.

Jazz had 12 points (6/10FG), 9 rebounds and 4 assists while Keeley reeled off 18 points (4/8 3PG) and 11 rebounds.

Parehuia Delamere snared a team high 8 rebounds and Jordy Maddix scored 6 points (2/3FG) as Western Texas College went down 68-51 to Midland College.

According to the box score Rashaan Smith only played 2 minutes in the 70-46 win by Dawson College against Bismarck. However in that time she had a game high 3 blocks!