Basketball New Zealand

Eric Devendorf (Photosport)

No surprise as Waikato Pistons Eric Devendorf wins NBL Round One Player of the Week with his 49 point outburst

Devendorf’s stat line consisted of 49 Points, 17-26 FG, 7/10 3pt, 8/8 FT, 7 rebounds in a 92-73 win over the Fico Finance Nelson Giants.

Devendorf has broken the Pistons record (since 2000) knocking out Clifton Bush’s 46 against the Nelson Giants in 2001. It is also the highest points total a player has scored since 2003 when John “The Pope” Whorton scored 50 points against the Bay Hawks.

Other notable performances around the league were from sophomore for the Harbour Heat Corey Webster scoring 34 in their win against the OcenaGold Nuggets whose import Antoine Tisby had a monster 32 points and 19 rebounds.

But Tisby is currently second in the league in rebounding, behind the Pistons Alex Pledger who grabbed 20 rebounds to equal the team record also with Clifton Bush.

Heat player Dillon Boucher nearly grabbed a triple double (12 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists), while his teammate with the Heat and New Zealand Breakers Rick Rickert collected a double double of 18 points and 11 rebounds.

2009 MVP Phil Jones scored 37 against the Airs and former All Star Five Nick Horvarth scored 29 on his return to the league.
Horvarth’s fellow teammate Leon Henry assisted with 28 points at a field goal percentage of 76.9%.

Down south Cougars Paora Winitana had 27 in the win against his home town Hawks, while his team mate Jeremy Kench tallied 20 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and four steals.

In Invercargill Sharks import Mike Rose had 29 in the overtime loss versus the Hawks.

Imports Jack Leasure (Mountainairs), Demarshay Johnson (Mountainairs), Darryl Hudson (Saints) and Richard Jeter (Jets) have also impressed.

Click on pdf below to check out Top 50 Player Power Rankings

Top 50 Player Power Rankings (92KB pdf)