Harbour’s superstar guard Kirk Penney has taken out the National Basketball League’s Player of the Week award for Round 14 of the iiNet NBL Championship after leading his side to a tough win over the Cairns Taipans in their top-of-the-table clash last Thursday.

The first-placed Breakers ground out a 94-88 win over the second-seeded Taipans at the North Shore Events Centre to consolidate their position at the top of the iiNet NBL Championship ladder before New Zealand’s biggest home crowd in over six and a half years. 

Penney was a standout for the Breakers in the win, scoring 24 points and adding six rebounds, five assists and two steals.  His haul included hitting five three-pointers for the match. 

This is Penney’s third Player of the Week award this season, having also taken out back-to-back honours in Rounds Nine and Ten as well as the Player of the Month award for December.

Townsville Crocodiles’ big man Russell Hinder was narrowly beaten out for the award in Round 14 after a sizzling shooting performance.  Hinder rose to the occasion as Prime Minister Julia Gillard watched on, scoring 26 points and adding eight rebounds and three assists in the Crocs’ 94-78 home victory over the Melbourne Tigers on Friday night.  The man known as ‘Rusty’ made 8-of-10 shots from the field, including 3-of-4 threes, and connected on all seven of his free throw attempts.

 Also a serious contender for the award in Round 14 was Perth’s Cameron Tovey.  The athletic Perth star ignited the Wildcats in the first quarter of their Grand Final rematch with the Wollongong Hawks on Friday, finishing the 92-58 win with 16 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. 

Others who were considered for the weekly award included Tim Coenraad (Wollongong), Ronald Dorsey (Cairns), Adam Gibson (Gold Coast), Adam Ballinger (Adelaide), Corey Williams (Melbourne),  Eddie Shannon (Adelaide), Rhys Martin (Wollongong), Mark Worthington (Gold Coast), Brad Williamson (Townsville) and Gary Wilkinson (New Zealand).

 

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)