New Zealand Breakers’ star guard Kirk Penney once again comes out on top, taking his fourth Player of the Week honours this week for Round 19 of the iiNet NBL Championship. He was also awarded the honours in consecutive rounds 9 and 10.

Penney helped put out the Blaze in an intense game that went into double overtime last week, scoring an impressive 35 points shooting 66.7% from the field and scoring 6 of 7 three-pointers (85.7%), as well as one free throw (25%). The shooting guard also had one assist and seven rebounds. The New Zealand Breakers won 123-115 against the Gold Coast and currently stand as the top team on the NBL Championship Ladder.

Worthy of mention is also Penney’s outstanding performance in the Breakers vs Wildcats game where he scored 21 points, shooting 63.6% from the field, scoring three three-pointers (42.9%), and four free-throws (100%). The Breakers won 82-79. In that game he also had one assist, one steal, and one rebound. Penney is on fire and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Other remarkable performances in Round 19 did not go unnoticed, and it was difficult to choose just one player for this week’s Player of the Week.  Matthew Burston (Melbourne Tigers) was the runner up for the award, and James Harvey (Gold Coast Blaze) and Adam Ballinger (Adelaide 36ers) were also hot contenders.

During the game versus the Taipans on Saturday, Matthew Burston shot an impressive 80% from the field and nailed 3 free-throws (100%) for a total of 19 points. He also had one block, one assist, four steals, and three rebounds. In the overtime game against Adelaide, Burston scored 24 points at 63.2% from the field and had two blocks, one assist, three steals, and 13 rebounds, helping the team take the win by three points.

Harvey was on fire in the double-overtime game against the Breakers, scoring 27 points at 56.3% from the field, sinking two three-pointers (33.3%) and seven free throws (87.5%), and also had one assist and three rebounds.

36ers’ Adam Ballinger had another high-scoring game with 23 points against Melbourne, scoring 55.6% from the field and making two three-pointers (40%). He also had three blocks and eight rebounds. Versus Perth, Ballinger scored 17 points at 60% from the field, scored three three-pointers (100%) and two-free throws (100%). He also had two blocks, one steal, and seven rebounds.
 
2010/11 iiNet NBL Championship Player of the Week Winners
Round 1 – Julian Khazzouh (Sydney Kings)
Round 2 – Gary Ervin (Wollongong Hawks)
Round 3 – Luke Schenscher (Townsville Crocodiles)
Round 4 – Gary Wilkinson (New Zealand Breakers)
Round 5 – Shawn Redhage (Perth Wildcats)
Round 6 – Oscar Forman (Wollongong Hawks)
Round 7 – Michael Cedar (Townsville Crocodiles)
Round 8 – Corey Williams (Melbourne Tigers)
Round 9 – Kirk Penney (New Zealand Breakers)
Round 10 – Kirk Penney (New Zealand Breakers)
Round 11 – Luke Schenscher (Townsville Crocodiles)
Round 12 – Corey Williams (Melbourne Tigers)
Round 13 – Mark Worthington (Gold Coast Blaze)
Round 14 – Kirk Penney (New Zealand Breakers)
Round 15 – Ira Clark (Gold Coast Blaze)
Round 16 – Julian Khazzouh (Sydney Kings)
Round 17 – Julian Khazzouh (Sydney Kings)
Round 18 – Cameron Tragardh (Melbourne Tigers)
Round 19 – Kirk Penney (New Zealand Breakers)