Academy POTW: Round and Loberto put in big time performances

The Academy Leagues have moved into week six and some players are in scintillating form.

The latest round of action included five EABL games and a pair of WEABL games, with a healthy dose of high-quality performances to choose from for Player of the Week accolades.

Have your say on this week's picks and give a shout-out to the players you think deserve one using the links below.

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How it works 

Player of the Week will be selected by paying attention to the following criteria:

• Efficiency  
• Stats  
• Team and opposition strength  
• Periods of influence in the game 
• Being on a winning team (exceptional performances from players on losing teams will be considered)

Other players will also receive a shout out as honourable mentions as well.

WEABL 

Itchen College's forward Fernanda Loberto is this week's WEABL POTW, with her high-level double-double of 22 points and 15 rebounds the icing on the cake of a 78-41 drubbing of JMA Reading Rockets.

Loberto shot 9-17 from the field (52%), recorded five assists and three steals, and her efficiency, at 28, was miles ahead of her teammates and her opposition. 

Loberto said:

"We went into the game with a goal and ambition, playing as a team, moving the ball around using our own strengths and giving it our best."

Itchen College Head Coach Vicky Milner said:

"Fernanda is working really hard in all sessions to improve her game, the resilience she is showing through games and training has been refreshing. 

"By no means is she a finished article, but the work rate put in to improve her game is starting to pay off. She worked hard in this game to take care of the ball and be aggressive offensively. It paid off!  A great player and person to coach."

Honourable mentions

Faith McDowall (ITC) - 13P/6R/3A/13EFF

Caitlin Ryan (OAK) - 18P/6R/0A/15EFF

Rosie Porter (OAK) - 17P/5R/2A/10EFF

Alice Woodward (BAR) - 16P/8R/2A/10EFF

EABL

There were many contenders for POTW in the EABL this week, with more double-doubles than you can shake a stick at, including Larry Duru's for the BMet Rockets, who recorded their first win of the season, and a buzzer-beating performance from 'Sco's Lewis Smith to take down Manchester Magic.

But the plaudits have been given to JMA's Isaac Round for his 30-point strong arming of Itchen College, as JMA beat the South coast outfit 88-73. 

In nearly 35 minutes of play, Round also recorded seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block, giving him an efficiency of 29.  

JMA are now third in the South standings on six points, and will no doubt be buoyed by Round's professionalism to push on and close the gap between them and the league leaders Canterbury Academy. 

Round said:

“Wednesday was a good chance for me to be aggressive and my teammates had trust in me to get to the basket and score. Hopefully, I can keep taking the opportunities given, whether that’s scoring more or looking to create for others.”

Honourable mentions

Larry Duru (BMET) - 13P/12R/1A/21EFF

Daniel Nwauzu (MYE) - 21P/13R/3S/3B/26EFF

Lewis Smith (MYE) - 19P/5R/5A/26EFF

Tyrese Lacey (MYE) - 21P/6R/9A/17EFF

Tim Oboh (CAN) - 22P/14R/1A/25EFF

Matt Goodwin (MAN) - 7P/5R/13A/11EFF

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