In this bumper edition of the Weekly Wrap we have championship play-off games to report on,  individual milestones to highlight and call-ups to New Zealand international squads to recognise.

We begin with the international recognition for current and former Harbour representatives.

At the senior national level Chris McIntosh has been named in the 3x3 Tall Blacks team to contest the FIBA Asia Cup in Singapore at the end of the month. The 3x3 Tall Ferns will also contest the event with Ella Fotu making a welcome return to the international arena after being sidelined from the game for the past twelve months due to injury.

Of the 24 athletes named to attend the New Zealand U15 Women’s Selection Camp six are from North Harbour.

Congratulation to Mia John, Olive Maling, Sienna Maurice, Katie Moors, Imani Rasmussen and Maddison Skelton . Natalja Burton was also added as a reserve to the squad.

In addition six Harbour reps (out of 24 in total) have been named to attend the New Zealand U15 Men’s Selection Camp – Antonio Malak, Noah Duncan, Malakhai Joyner, Daley Poiho, Mitchell Thorpe and Lincoln Wilson.

Both Selection Camps will be held during the July school holidays.

The biggest news from American college basketball this week is that Hannah Wentworth  and Jess Moors are headed to the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament commencing this coming weekend.

Hannah Wentworth and Eckerd College Tritons, earned their passage to the major championship of the year after claiming the Sunshine State Conference Tournament title with a 65-57 win against the higher ranked University of Tampa.

Hannah scored 6 points and added a couple of assists and 4 boards in the grand-final victory.

 A couple of days earlier, scoring 14 points, Hannah reached 1,000 career points as Eckerd topped Florida Southern 73-65 in the conference semi-finals.

Nova Southeastern University Sharks, with sophomore guard Jessica Moors in their ranks, also play in the Sunshine State Conference. The Sharks were the regular season champions and enter Nationals with a 23-5 record.

NCAA Division I

Emme Shearer and the Portland University Pilots are one win away from NCAA Division I National Championship Tournament after a pulsating 63-61 come from behind West Coast Conference (WCC)Tournament semi-final win against Santa Clara.

Emme had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the win that earns the WCC defending champions a Grand Final match-up with Gonzaga University Bulldogs, ranked 14^th in  the nation.

It’s been a notable week for Emme having been named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team a few days earlier.

Emme has led the Portland University Pilots in scoring (12.1ppg) and steals (2.3spg) as well as averaging 3.9 rebounds per game. Her steals average and total (70) leads the WCC. 

During the season Emme became the 18^th Kiwi to eclipse 1,000 points in a Women’s NCAA Division I career. Currently, with 1,067 points, she sits 16^th on the all-time list.

Tayla Dalton and a depleted St Mary’s Gaels bowed out of the WCC at the first hurdle downed 78-62 by Loyola Marymount. Tayla scored 5 points and had a game high 4 steals in the contest. Tayla, received an Honourable Mention when the WCC All-Academic Team was named after averaging 10.3 points per game this season while shooting a career-high 37.5% on threes. She only missed three games this year and that was to play for the Tall Ferns. 

Taine Murray scored 12 points as Virginia University rounded out regular season play with a 72-57 home win against Virginia Tech.

NCAA Division II

Hannah Wentworth and Jess Moors will be flying the flag for North Harbour and New Zealand when the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament swings into action at the weekend.

Hannah and Eckerd College Tritons, earned their passage to the major championship of the year after claiming the Sunshine State Conference Tournament title. Eckerd defeated Tampa University 65-57 in the Grand Final with Hannah contributing 6 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

Nova Southeastern University Sharks, with Jess in their ranks, also play in the Sunshine State Conference. The Sharks were the regular season champions and enter Nationals with a 23-5 record.

Seeded 4^th in the South Region of the National Tournament the Sharks will take on #5 Lee University. Eckerd, also playing in the South Region carry the 7^th seeding into their contest with #2 seed Union University.

Junior College

Boston Caldwell was named to the Yankee Small College All-Conference First Team after averaging 18.8 points per game for Central Maine College Mustangs. He played all 26 games for the Mustangs starting on all but two occasions.

Qaizden Stephano scored 15 points as Gillette College beat Northwest 85-68 in conference play-off action.

Professional Players

Akiene-Tera Reed and the Melbourne Boomers lost the deciding game in their best of three Australian Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) semi-final series against Southside Flyers 93-77.

Tera finished her debut season in the WNBL averaging 8.2 points per game whilst shooting the three-ball at a team best 41% (24/58) in 22 games.

In the Men’s Australian NBL the Perth Wildcats, featuring Tai and Corey Webster, are locked at 1-1 with Tasmania Jack Jumpers ahead of the semi-final series decider in Perth on Wednesday night. Tai had 9 points and Corey 5 in the 102-94 game two loss on Monday night.

Further afield Isaac Fotu added 13 rebounds to a season high 22 points (8/9FG) as Tochigi Brex defeated Sunrockers Shibuya 73-67 to improve to 35-7 at the top of the Japanese League Eastern Conference.

Brayden Inger made his fourth 20+ score of the season as Hemel Storm edged Reading Rockets 90-87 in a British NBL contest. Brayden scored 21 points and corralled 9 rebounds as the storm improved to 14-4 and third place on the competition ladder.

James Moors made 17 points (7/10FG) and pulled down 7 rebounds as Leeuwarden went down 106-92 to Belfius Mons in the Dutch League.

Matt Freeman tallied 13 points and 9 rebounds as Craiova beat Galati in Rumanian League action.

Finally for this week, Yanni Wetzell scored 10 points for ALBA Berlin in their EuroLeague loss to Spanish club Baskonia (88-71).