Both Sam Waardenburg and Isaac Fotu made significant contributions as the Tall Blacks scored an emphatic 110-63 win over Saudi Arabia in Christchurch on Friday evening. Whilst Isaac was the most experienced member of the New Zealand squad with 68 caps it was Sam’s debut appearance.

Both as well as being former Harbour reps are also Rangitoto College old boys and the pair combined in style for one of the plays of the game. In the second period an Isaac steal and assist led to a two handed flush from Sam much to the delight of the Cantabrian crowd.

Isaac finished with 12 points and Sam 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Sam was unavailable for the game on Monday night against Lebanon as he has headed to Germany to play on a short term contract for MHP Riesen Ludwsburg in the Bundesliga. Ludwigsburg are sixth on the ladder, the Bundesliga headed by Yanni Wetzell and ALBA Berlin.

However Isaac remained for the Lebanon tie and led all scorers for the Kiwis with 23 points on 10/12 shooting and also snared 7 rebounds.

Meanwhile in American college Division I play Sam Mennenga scored 24 points (9/13FG, 3/4 3PG) as Davidson eased past St Bonaventure for a 74-61 win. It was the seventh 20+ score of the season for the former Westlake Boys big man.

Sam followed that with his sixth double-double of the season – adding 11 rebounds to 14 points – as Davidson (7-9) gained a 71-67 win over Duquesne.

James Moors made 4 from 8 from the field and 8 out of 9 free-throws in his 16 points as Colorado State (5-11) beat Wyoming 84-71. Moors has a season high 24 points with the 16 points his highest tally in Mountain West Conference play this season.

Kruz Perrott-Hunt and South Dakota enjoyed a monster win to conclude the Summit League regular season. Making 4 from 8 threes KP-H finished with 21 points to pass the 400 points mark for the season.

Emme Shearer scored a baker’s dozen - her 13 points came on 5 from 10 shooting, as  Portland (14-3) fell 74-58 at San Diego. She followed this up with 9 points as Portland defeated BYU away from home. Emme is now approaching 300 points for the 2022/23 season.

Tayla Dalton contributed 9 points as St Mary’s College Gaels concluded the West Coast Conference regular season with a 68-53 loss to Pacific.

In NCAA Division II play Jordyn Maddix was 3 of 5 from long range for 11 points as Auburn University at Montgomery fell 79-63 to Montevallo in their final game of the season.

Eckerd Tritons finished second in the Sunshine State Conference after a 76-69 win against St Leo – 7 points for Hannah Wentworth in the win.

Eckerd will now host Embry-Riddle in the quarter-finals of the conference tournament.

In the quarter-finals of the Yankee Tournament Boston Caldwell top scored with 20 points (4/8 3PG) as Central Maine dominated Albany College of Pharmacy winning 84-56.

Also in Junior College Rashaan Smith scored an efficient 15 points (5/10 FG, 5/5FT) as Western Nebraska Cougars defeated Northeastern 78-60. The Cougars will have time off before hosting the Region IX play-off tournament beginning March 9.

Kiani Saxon scored 11 points (4/9FG) as Louisiana State University, Eunice eased to an 81-49 win against Southern-Shreveport. Eunice have been named number two seed for the Region 23 tournament. They receive a first round bye before hosting a second round fixture on March 1^st. 

In Europe Akiene-Tera Reed continued her good scoring form. Following her sensational 48-points haul last week Tera followed it up with 21 points and 25 points (averaging 21 points per game) as Pyrinto recorded a win and a loss in the Finnish League.