Mitchell Dance's 37 points make him top New Zealand player abroad of the week

Here is the weekly review of the top performing New Zealand players, who play currently abroad.

Mitchell Dance

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced international swingman Mitchell Dance (192-1, currently plays in Australia). He led Bandits to a victory over the 17th-ranked Sabres (1-8) 89-83 in the Australian State League (second division) in Sunday night's game. Dance was MVP of the game. He scored 37 points (!!!) and grabbed 4 rebounds in 38 minutes on the court. in group NBL1 South. Albury Wodonga Bandits (3-8) are placed 14th. Dance has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 21.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 53.1%, 3FGP: 31.9% and FT: 62.1% in 11 games he played so far. Dance is currently a member of the New Zealand senior national team.

Reuben Te Rangi

   #2. Second place goes to an international swingman Reuben Te Rangi (198-94, currently plays in Australia). He contributed to an easy victory against the ninth-ranked Ringwood Hawks (5-4) crushing them 103-80 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game. Te Rangi scored 11 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. It was his first game for Knox Raiders this season. in group NBL1 South. His team are placed fifth. Te Rangi played for the New Zealand national team in 2020.

Sioeli Vaiangina

   #3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former U18 international forward Sioeli Vaiangina (202-98, college: Panola JC, currently plays in Australia). He could not help Wanneroo (8-1) in their last game. Despite Vaiangina's good performance the first-placed Wanneroo (8-1) were badly defeated 93-75 on the road by the lower-ranked (#4) Flames in the NBL1 West group. He scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 28 minutes. Vaiangina has relatively good stats this year: 10.8ppg, 5.3rpg, 2FGP: 58.0%(47-81), 3FGP: 22.2% and FT: 53.7% in 12 games. He played for the New Zealand U18 national team seven years ago.

Mike Karena

   #4. Center Mike Karena (210-93, college: Wright St., currently plays in Australia) was the main contributor in a NW Tasmania Thunder's victory against the seventh-ranked Bendigo Braves (6-6) 82-70 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night. Karena was the best player in that game. He scored 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. It was his first game for NW Tasmania Thunder this season. in group NBL1 South. His team is placed first. Karena used to play for the New Zealand national team back in 2016.

Zac Carter

   #5. International swingman Zac Carter (203-89, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Rockets (0-11) crushing them 108-86 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game. He scored 8 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 22 minutes. in group NBL1 North. Brisbane Capitals (6-3) are placed third. It's Carter's seventh season with the team. This year Carter's overall stats are: 7.9ppg, 5.6rpg and 1.3apg in nine games. He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian. Carter plays currently for the New Zealand national team.

Ezra Nikora

   #6. Guard Ezra Nikora (183-91, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help Redbacks in their game against Hawks (10-2) in the Australian State League (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Nikora scored only 3 points in 5 minutes on the court. His team were crushed 97-74 in Floreat by the leading Hawks in the NBL1 West group. This year Nikora's total stats are: 1.5ppg, 1.4rpg and 1.4apg in 10 games. He is a former international player as he played for the New Zealand senior team eight years ago.

Zane Meehl

   #7. International guard Zane Meehl (188-86, college: Mid-Continent, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for Phoenix (6-2) in their game against Mackay Meteors (6-2) in the Australian State League (second division). Meehl scored 7 points. Phoenix (#4) was defeated 102-93 in Mackay by the second-ranked Meteors in the NBL1 North group. They ended the series of five consecutive victories. Meehl has averaged so far 8.8ppg, 3.3rpg and 3.5apg. He is also New Zealand national team player.


The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams:

   #1. Javaan Mumtaz (193-G, college: ENMU, currently plays in Australia) led Bendigo Braves to a victory over the 14th-ranked Bandits (3-8) 87-83 in the Australian State League (second division) last Friday. He was the best player in that game. Mumtaz scored 22 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. in group NBL1 South. Bendigo Braves (6-6) are placed seventh. It was his team's first victory after five consecutive loses. It's Mumtaz's first season with the team. He has relatively good stats this year: 11.8ppg, 1.9rpg and 1.5apg.

   #2. Taine Wattie (190-G-98, currently plays in Australia) could not help Buccaneers (3-8) in their last game. Despite Wattie's very good performance the 11th-placed Buccaneers (3-8) were crushed 101-58 on the road by the lower-ranked (#12) Cougars in the NBL1 West group. He was the top scorer with 22 points. Wattie also added 4 rebounds in 23 minutes. It was Buccaneers' third consecutive loss in a row. Wattie has relatively good stats this year: 10.5ppg, 2.0rpg and 1.8apg in six games he played so far.

   #3. Brandon Watkins (198-F, college: Mars Hill, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help Devils (8-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Devils (#2) were crushed 94-71 in Cranbourne by the lower-ranked Cavaliers (#6) in the Big V group. Watkins was the top scorer with 13 points. He also added 7 rebounds. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Watkins' total stats this season are: 7.8ppg, 5.8rpg and 1.3apg.

   #4. Matthew Wilson (200-F-92, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Rockets (0-11) crushing them 103-76 in the Australian State League (second division) on Sunday night. He scored 7 points in only 8 minutes. in group NBL1 North. Southern Districts Spartans (8-0) are placed second. So far his team won all eight games in the Regular Season. This year Wilson's total stats are: 5.0ppg and 2.4rpg in eight games.

   #5. Mason Bragg (182-G-93, currently plays in Australia) managed to help NW Tasmania Thunder to win against the seventh-ranked Bendigo Braves (6-6) 82-70 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game. He scored only 4 points, grabbed 7 boards, passed 4 assists and added 3 steals. in group NBL1 South. NW Tasmania Thunder (9-2) is placed first. Bragg's total stats this season are: 6.2ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.4apg and 1.5spg.

   #6. Dion Collins (203-F, college: CSC, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for Giants in their game against Magic in the Australian State League (second division). Collins cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 3 points in 6 minutes on the court. His team lost 89-99. Collins has averaged so far 6.3ppg and 3.9rpg in 12 games.

   #7. Experienced Zeke Meehl (181-G-88, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help Phoenix in their game against Mackay Meteors in the Australian State League (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Meehl scored only 3 points. His team was defeated 102-93. Meehl has averaged so far 3.9ppg, 1.1rpg and 1.3apg. He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.