News of a return to Auckland, albeit a brief one, for a former Harbour star, plus more fine performances from our former rep players starring in college basketball and in the professional game.

But we begin this week’s roundup with NCAA Division I college basketball where Sam Mennenga pulled down a career high 16 rebounds as Davidson fell to a 61-57 home defeat at the hands of Richmond. Also scoring 11 points it was Mennenga’s third double-double of the season.

Sam followed that with 13 points – his 17^th double digit outing in 18 games – but couldn’t prevent Davidson (2-3) slipping to a third straight Atlantic 10 defeat going down 67-65 to George Mason.

Kruz Perrott-Hunt tallied 10 points but South Dakota (3-3) were well beaten by South Dakota State 

There were nine of each – points and rebounds - for James Moors as Colorado State (2-4) won a thriller against Nevada, Las Vegas 82-81.

In women’s Division I play Tayla Dalton scored 10 points as St Mary’s (3-3) won 78-64 at Santa Clara. Playing a team high 34 minutes Dalton also had deuces in rebounds, assists and steals.

In Division II action Jordyn Maddix put together a nice scoring line as she top scored for Auburn University at Montgomery as they defeated Alabama in Huntsville 77-73. Jordyn scored 17 points making 4 from 5 threes and all three of her free throw attempts.

Hannah Wentworth scored 12 points, making 4 from 9 threes, as Eckerd College defeated Barry 69-53.

Tessa Talo-Tomokino had 6 points and a team high 4 assists as Northeastern State fell 79-64 to Central Missouri.

Marvin Williams-Dunn dished a career high 9 assists as Ouachita Baptist came away with an 85-73 win against Northwestern Baptist. The former Rosmini and Harbour point guard also scored 2 points and secured a couple of rebounds.

In Junior College play Boston Caldwell top scored with 20 points (making 4 from 7 threes) for Central Maine in their 84-65 victory over Vermont Tech.

Kiani Saxon had 4 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals as Louisiana State Eunice defeated North American University 95-84.

Southeast College beat Peru State 87-55 with Leo Wenham adding 3 rebounds, a steal and a block to 6 points.

Despite Western Texas getting beaten 78-47 by Odessa College Parehuia Delamere put in a strong performance finishing with 11 points, 5 rebounds and a trio of both steals and assists.

Western Nebraska went down to Western Wyoming 75-72 with Rashaan Smith posting 8 points and 4 rebounds in the defeat.

As posted on our Facebook page last week, we extend congratulations to Izzy Pugh who has committed to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to take up an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship for the 2023-24 season and beyond.

Izzy enjoyed an outstanding 2022 both in Harbour colours, playing for our U19 and D League teams, but also the Westlake Girls High team that won both the Secondary Schools National Championship and the Auckland Schools Premier title.

That makes a staggering 27 Harbour players currently on basketball scholarships in the States.

Three former Harbour players, who also played American collegiate basketball, played significant roles in inflicting defeats on the Breakers in the last round of Australian NBL games.

Sam Waardenburg, playing his first game in New Zealand since lifting the 2016 Secondary Schools National Championship trophy with Rangitoto College, anchored the Cairns defence as the Taipans edged the Breakers 85-83 at Spark Arena on Sunday.

Sam scored 7 points, grabbed a team high 10 rebounds and claimed a steal and a block.

Earlier in the week the Breakers had lost an equally close encounter in Perth going down to the Wildcats 93-90. The Webster brothers combined for 30 points with Corey adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists to 19 points while Tai added a pair of assists to his 11 points.

The Breakers game against Cairns was Rob Loe’s 131^st appearance for the club – he is now 10^th all-time moving past Cedric Jackson and Aaron Olson who each played 130 games (Olson 130 consecutive games).

Tom Abercrombie leads the all-time list with 385 appearances, Corey Webster is 5^th (236) and Kirk Penney (160) 8^thmeaning ex-Harbour players fill four of the top 10 berths.