Otago players featuring in college contests

Otago's seniors have continued to put in strong showings as their college basketball careers draw to a close.

The four fourth-year players are reaching the final games of their times in the United States.

In division two, Eckerd College’s Zoe Richards continues to produce impressive numbers.

The forward is averaging 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, including a 16-point, 15-rebound performance last week.

Her 56.7% from the field is impressive, too.

That leaves her on track to finish her career as Eckerd’s all-time leader in field goal percentage.

Her team is also on a six-match winning streak, having lost just once — in overtime — in its past 12 matches.

In total it has a 19-5 record.

Twin sister Brittany is also having a strong senior season at the Alaska Fairbanks.

Her 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds are both career highs, while she has hit 20 three-pointers at 35%.

Earlier this month she had a 17-point game, although her side has struggled with a 7-20 record.

In men’s division one, Washington’s Sam Timmins had his best game of the season earlier this week.

The centre had nine points points and five rebounds against California.

That helped bump up his averages of 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.

His Washington side has struggled since Christmas, when impressive freshman Jaden McDaniels was ruled ineligible.

After going 10-2 to start the season — including being one of only two teams to beat the highly-ranked Baylor — it has slumped to a 13-15 record.

In the Naia championships, Joe Cook-Green has been filling the stat sheet at Texas Wesleyan.

The guard has 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, having top-scored with 24 points last month.

His team has a record of 19-8.

Of the region’s freshmen, former Oamaru player Max de Geest has made the biggest impact.

He has hit 20 three-pointers on the way to averaging 3.4 points per game for Long Beach State in division one.

Ben Reeves has taken the court nine times for division three’s St Joseph’s in Brooklyn, New York, managing four points on one occasion.

Meanwhile Matt Brien is taking a red-shirt season — training with the side but not playing so as to not lose a year of eligibility — at division two’s Nebraska Kearney.

In Switzerland, Benoit Hayman has had a strong season with Nyon in the Swiss top league.

The guard is averaging 7.3 points. 2.6 rebounds and and 2.3 assists per game, having played a key role for his side in many games. Nyon is 10th in the 12-team league.