LACEY LOWDOWN

May 29, 2023

After the Boy’s Senior A Round 4 action Northcote College and Mt Roskill Grammar remain a perfect 4-0 with their upcoming Round 5 match up one to look forward to. 

The individual performance of the round belonged to Selwyn College guard Ashton Muraahi.

Muraahi scored a stunning 49 points to pace Selwyn College to a 102-78 win at Avondale College. He scored 21 points in the opening quarter as Selwyn eased to a 27-13 lead and he had 33 as the half-time lead stretched to 60-29.

The Selwyn guard had good support from Charlie Barnfield and Alfred Casiple while for Avondale Liam Takenaka-Wesley scored a team high 20 points.

Avondale 78 – Takenaka-Wesley 20, Deul Lelaulu 16, AJ Tsukada 13, Akram Al Wakeel 8, Raymond Korboe 6

Selwyn 102 – Muraahi 49, Barnfield 11, Casiple 10, Zavier Atatoa 9, James MacDonald 8

Northcote won a high scoring affair at home against Liston College 104-82 with Aaron Sievert lighting up proceedings with 45 points.

Liston, led by Rasheed Ieremia’s 30 points, had few issues at the offensive end but couldn’t keep Northcote at bay. The hosts, after opening a 25-19 lead won every quarter as they claimed a fourth straight victory.

Northcote 107 – Sievert 45, Tane Cook 15, Shunta Shinzaki 13, Jake Talaic 9, Ethan Ray 8

Liston 82 – Ieremia 30, Gia Helu 15, Dhon Lao 14, Manuel Tuaere 11, Jeyden Ale 8

Mount Roskill Grammar are also unbeaten after a 68-52 home win against Kelston Boys High School.

Roskill put the defensive clamps on in the first half restricting Kelston to just 19 points to lead by 20 at the interval.

17 points from Sam Tuitupou and 16 from Real Wheaton helped Kelston shade the second half but the damage had been done earlier.

Haisem Osman had a game high 18 points for Roskill with Mitch Greenaway posting 16. 

Mt Roskill 68 – Osman 18, M Greenaway 16, Dan Greenaway 9, Ezra Ogbuze 7, Ngawaka Rakete 6

Kelston 52 – Tuitupou 17, Wheaton 16, Alec Phillips 7, Rodman Fuaivaa 7

The Dilworth v Manurewa High School fixture has been postponed to Thursday June 1

Standings

4-0 Northcote, Mt Roskill

3-1 Selwyn

2-2 Liston

1-3 Manurewa, Kelston

0-3 Dilworth

0-4 Avondale

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In the Auckland Secondary Schools Girls Senior A competition Rangitoto College and Manurewa High School sit atop the table with perfect 4-0 records.

Rangitoto won the North Shore derby on the back of a stunning fourth quarter effort. Trailing Carmel College 48-37 at three-quarter time they outscored their opponents 24-7 down the stretch to claim victory. Maddy Skelton was the instigator of the recovery scoring 12 of her 19 points in the closing ten minutes.

Earlier, on the back of 23 points from Ruby Railton and a dozen from Imogen O’Rourke, Carmel had made all the running leading at the end of every quarter except the all-important fourth.

Rangitoto 61 – Skelton 19, Esther Roberts 9, Tamsin McAsey 7, Mela Andrews 7, Kyree Rakena 6

Carmel 55 – Railton 23, O’Rourke 12, Annie Gaylard 9, Zahara Tibbotts 7

Manurewa High School joined Rangitoto at the top of the table after an 85-44 away win at One Tree Hill College.

Manurewa got off to a good start establishing an 18-8 lead at quarter time.

Beautiful Campbell, headed to a game high 35 points, and Bella Manu Moore dominated the middle stages as Manurewa steadily built a match winning lead.

Harriate Heta led the way for One Tree Hill with 16 points. OTH scored almost half their points from beyond the three-point arc – Melaia Tuisuva knocking down a trio of treys!

Despite having just five players Manurewa were able to close out a fourth straight win.

One Tree Hill 44 – Heta 16, Tuisuva 11, Sophia Govind 5

Manurewa 85 – Campbell 35, Moore 22, Shirley Tuilimu 14, Zhendy Li 8, Alyssa Uluheua 5

With five players scoring in double figures Auckland Girls Grammar School eased to a comfortable 85-39 win at Avondale College.

AGGS built a 10-point cushion in the opening quarter, gradually increasing their advantage in each period.

Hayley Abbott scored a game high 18 points for Avondale but the balanced AGGS effort, led by Ryn Nikoia (17 points), proved to be the recipe for success.

Avondale 39 – Abbott 18, Shiloh Caffery 10, Zion Mann 4

AGGS 85 – R Nikoia 17, Julia-Rose Fiesher-Martin 16, Faith Hurt 16, Grady Nikoia 12, Harmony Hurt 10, Zara Leavasa-Avauli 6, Geavani Barnes 6

Bree and Nelly Ioane scored all of Mt Roskill Grammar’s first quarter points as they opened up a 17-6 lead over Massey High School.

The pair would go on to dominate proceedings with 20-point games as Roskill went on to win 70-29.

Lucy Ward was a standout for Massey tallying 13 points.

Mt Roskill 70 – N Ioane 22, B Ioane 20, Allie O’Callaghan 8, Tamara Viviani 8, Havana Iaea 8

Massey 29 – Ward 13, Cyntalia Schuster 8, Valentine Tausi 4

Standings

4-0 Rangitoto, Manurewa

3-1 Carmel

2-2 Mt Roskill, AGGS

1-3 One Tree Hill

0-4 Avondale, Massey

May 28

Season bests from Bailey Flavell (45 points) and Anna Dyachenko (19 points) propelled Takapuna Grammar School to a commanding 91-53 away win against Baradene College.

Takapuna scored the first seven points of the contest and after Amy McKenzie, Flavell and Dyachenko made threes Takapuna had raced to a 33-11 quarter-time lead.

Baskets from Ritorya Tamilo, Deyna Topia and Poppy Cavanagh-Briggs reduced the deficit immediately after the restart although it didn’t take long for Takapuna to get back in the scoring groove to close the half with a 48-24 advantage.

Tamilo and Cavanagh-Briggs did some inside damage in the third but another 9 points from Flavell helped Takapuna to a game winning 64-38 lead at the three-quarter mark.

Natalja Burton impressed for Taka in the closing stages with Odile Dolon getting valuable minutes for the hosts.

Ritorya Tamilo will be missing from the Baradene lineup for the next couple of rounds following her selection for the SKY Sport Tall Ferns European Tour – congratulations Ritorya.

Baradene 53 – Topia 17, Cavanagh-Brown 13, Tamilo 12, Amelia Nathan 6

Takapuna 91 – Flavell 45, Dyachenko 19, McKenzie 13, Natalja Burton 6

Mt Albert Grammar School bounced back from their defeat at the hands of Westlake last week in emphatic style pounding St Mary’s College 120-37 with Waimanu Clarken posting a career high 51 points.

The tone was set early on as MAGS carved out a 27-10 first quarter lead which ballooned to 66-22 by half-time.

MAGS enjoyed other double figure contributions from Te Arina Roberts, Gezreyal Maiu’u and Lara-Poppy Cocker-Lemalie while India Nash battled gamely for 10 points for St Mary’s.

MAGS 120 – Clarken 51, Roberts 15, Cocker-Lemalie 13, Gezreyal Maiu’u 10, Jorjia Fiu 8, Peyton Uri 8

St Mary’s 37 – Nash 10, Layla Aholelei 7, Teuila Salesa 6, Tamzin Jakeman 5

Westlake Girls High School made it four wins from four outings with a 77-53 victory at St Kentigern College.

Seven points from Emma Schroeder helped propel Westlake to a 16-10 first quarter lead.

Anamia Rangihaeata landed a triple and Ashleigh Tuumaialu scored 8 points as the hosts went toe to toe with the defending champions in the second frame.

However consistent scoring from Lily Fotu and Brennah Latoalevi-Nosa ensured Westlake headed to the main break with a 36-27 advantage.

The highest scoring period of the match ensued in the third. For the hosts Sophie Jones and Rangihaeata knocked down threes while Tiffany Thompson and Tuumaialu added to their tallies. 

Westlake also had a pair of 3-point makes courtesy of Latoalevi-Nosa and Katie Moors while sister Rebecca had 8 points in the paint – Westlake 55-47 to the good at three-quarter time.

Restricted to just 6 points in the fourth period St Kentigern could only watch as Westlake stretched their lead into the twenties and close out win number four.

St Kent’s 53 – Tuumaialu 17, Rangihaeata 11, Kilani Tuineau 8, Thompson 6 

Westlake 77 – Schroeder 21, R Moors 18/8rebs, Latoalevi-Nosa 13, Fotu 12/6 assists

A big third quarter put the seal on Epsom Girls Grammar’s 67-39 win at Northcote College. 

Although they had the better of the second quarter the visitors lead was only six points (29-23) at the interval with the contest fairly evenly poised.

However 8 points from Leah Patuwarua and 9 from Draun Forbes tilted the balance firmly in favour of Epsom as they pulled away to a 52-30 lead.

11 points in the final quarter from Maya Fowler, on her way to a game high 21 points, put the seal on a third win of the season for EGGS.

DJ Hannah returned to the Northcote lineup to post a team high 19 points – the next best were Nikki Gear with 9 points and Lily Morgan with 8 points

Northcote 39 – Hannah 19, N Gear 9, Morgan 8

Epsom 67 – Fowler 21, Patuwarua 11, Forbes, 11 Talia Vea 11, Kiyara Te Amo 5

Standings

4-0 Westlake

3-1 MAGS, Epsom 

2-2 St Kent’s, Baradene, Takapuna

0-4 St Mary’s, Northcote

May 27, 2023

Mt Albert Grammar School and Rosmini College remain unbeaten after Round 4 victories in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade competition.

It was gripping in Glendowie as Sacred Heart College saw an opportunity for a notable victory slip through their fingers as they were pipped 66-64 in overtime by Rosmini College.

Heart after keeping Rosmini to just 20 first half points led 43-26 midway through the third quarter before being pegged back and in overtime, after scores by Preston Tuaputa and Tyrell Cocker, were 64-59 in the ascendancy.

At both points of the game a home win looked the most likely outcome but on both occasions Rosmini fought their way back into the contest. With a second overtime period looking likely Rosmini guard Josh Wyllie made the game winner with just 4 seconds left in the overtime period.

Earlier a baseline drive and two handed flush from Noah Johns put Rosmini 11-9 ahead before Heart closed the first quarter with a 12-3 run to lead 24-16, with Tuaputa, Sam Snowdon and Matt Fautuaalii-Taia to the fore.

If the Heart scoring was pedestrian in the second the Rosmini effort was in slumberland as defences dominated – the quarter won 9-4 by the hosts to lead 33-20 at the break.

Tuaputa continued to trouble the Rosmini defence and when Matt Fautuaalii-Taia nailed a triple Heart were 17 points clear (43-26).

Rosmini responded with a strong finish to the third period – a three from Bart Jackowski and 6 points apiece from Josh and Chris Wyllie saw them trail by just 4 points (45-41) with ten minutes to play.

It was neck and neck throughout the fourth – Josh Wyllie’s late score cancelling out Tuaputa’s effort to send the game into an extra period.

Cocker and Tuaputa put Heart in overtime ascendancy before Jameer Reed and Josh Batty tied proceedings – cruelly for Heart the Josh Wyllie winner was the first time Rosmini had led since early in the opening period.  

Sacred Heart 64 – Tuaputa 23, Fautuaalii-Taia 16, Snowdon 8, Cocker 7

Rosmini 66 – Reed 21, C Wyllie 14, J Wyllie 12, Batty 9

There was also action aplenty on Alberton Ave as Mt Albert won the “Grammar Grapple” against Auckland 89-76.

With ten minutes to play, and a close finish in prospect, Auckland Grammar held a 57-55 lead after Josh Howes, George Milburn and Mikaere Tait had turned a 4 point half-time deficit into 2 point three-quarter time lead.

Faced with a first defeat of the season MAGS put together a scoring avalanche in the fourth running up 34 points with Dante Matakatea doing most of the damage. 

The 2022 New Zealand U17 representative scored 16 points in the quarter and with Louis Uri, Romani Keith-Peraua and Kade Cartwright lending good support the hosts pulled away for a decisive win.

Early on a low scoring opening period was edged 12-9 by Auckland before MAGS got the better of the second. The two number 5’s led the scoring at the break – Cartwright had 14 points for MAGS with Howes making a dozen for AGS. 

MAGS 89 – Cartwright 23, Matakatea 21, Uri 14/11rebs, Keith-Peraua 13, Harri Coker-Grey 11, Dante Tapulaaia 5/8rebs/6 steals

AGS 76 – Howes 21, Milburn 19, Ryan Hunt 11, Tait 8, Kalid Petzer 6

With Old Boy and new Perth Wildcats signing Dontae Russo-Nance in the house St Kentigern College, and Merrick Rillstone in particular, got off to a flying start against Westlake Boys High School. Rillstone had a couple of triples, and 16 points in total, as the home team forged ahead (26-17) in the opening spell.

St Kent’s continued their dominance in the second period with George Turner and Hunter Te Ratana joining Rillstone in the double figure scoring column.

Hadi Alshami led the Westlake scoring at the main break as the visitors faced a 50-28 deficit.

Lake enjoyed the better of the third quarter cutting the arrears by four to trail 68-50 at three-quarter time – Noah Rasmussan’s 10 points a feature of the frame.

Max Riechelmann and Andre Bautista knocked down threes for Westlake in the fourth but St Kent’s were in fine form from deep themselves – particularly Turner and Rillstone who combined for nine of the team’s thirteen made threes.

St Kentigern 89 – Rillstone 37, Turner 28, Te Ratana 14

Westlake 68 – Rasmussan 17, Alshami 11, Riechelmann 10, Malachi Book 9, Braden Gibb 7

Rangitoto College were boosted by the return of Michael Ropotini, for his first game of the season, and his 24 points were a significant contribution in the 104-74 defeat of St Peter’s College.

Both teams were looking for their first win of the season and it was Rangi that made the better start forging a 29-17 opening quarter advantage. Gus Dallow, on his way to a game high 36 points, had 10 at that stage for St Peter’s – Joel Brown with 8 points and Elyas Taher 6 for the hosts.

Rangi enjoyed another productive quarter to rack up 60 points by the interval and with it a lead of 27. Jackson Mills, Jimmy Kim, Arnold Nam and Ropotini each made multiple scores in the period.

Dallow and Caleb Afeaki upped the scoring tempo for St Peter’s but 9 third quarter points from Ropotini meant Rangi were out of sight at the last break with an 88-58 lead.

Dallow posted his second successive 30-point game but significant support was in short supply for the St Peter’s guard as Rangitoto cruised to the win. 

Rangitoto 104 – Ropotini 24,Taher 18, Nam 13, Max Mudford 11, Brown 10, Mills 9, Kim 7

St Peter’s 74 – Dallow 36, Afeaki 9, Milan Tolich 9, Bryan Curtis 7

Standings

4-0 MAGS, Rosmini

3-1 St Kentigern

2-2 AGS

1-3 Westlake, Sacred Heart, Rangitoto

0-3 St Peter’s

In a Boys Senior A Round 3 contest played on Monday night Mt Roskill Grammar School joined Northcote College as the only two teams with perfect 3-0 records after a convincing 85-59 home win against Dilworth School.

What shaped to be a tight contest, after just four points separated the two teams at quarter time, turned into a comfortable victory for the home side after they bossed the middle periods.

A triple from Finlay Edwards and 7 points from Kingston Kai’lahi-Aso meant Dilworth entered the second quarter just 18-14 adrift.

That deficit increased in the second with Mitch Greenaway and Josh Wadams inflicting most of the damage as Roskill established a 40-29 half-time advantage.

Despite the efforts of Ezrah Eagle, Ikahui Mahe and Kai’lahi-Aso the Roskill lead continued to climb. A Haisem Osman triple pushed the lead out to 20-points and it was 22 at three-quarter time (66-44).

Both teams gave opportunities to their bench players in the closing minutes – a three from Lincoln Tupa’i Samuel capping off a fine Roskill performance.

Mt Roskill 85 – M Greenaway 19, Wadams 18, Osman 12, Daniel Greenaway 8, Wai Tonga 7

Dilworth 59 – Kai’lahi-Aso 17, Eagle 14, Mahe 14 

The full roundup of Round 3 games can be found here: https://laceylowdown.com/2023/05/22/the-auckland-secondary-schools-senior-a-round-3-wrap/

May 22nd

Carmel College put together a dominant first half display to lead Massey High School 49-14 at the main break.

Hannah Bellett scored 27 points for the visitors with Ruby Railton tallying a massive double-double of 24 points and 24 rebounds. Zahara Tibbotts and Millie Lloyd also posted double-doubles.

Lucy Ward and Cyntalia Schuster, with 17 points apiece, were outstanding for Massey. 

Massey 42 – Ward 17, Schuster 17

Carmel 99 – Hannah Bellett 27, Ruby Railton 24/24rebs, Zahra Tibbotts 18/11assists, Millie Lloyd 18/13rebs, Leighton Esera 8

After trailing 42-24 at half-time Auckland Girls Grammar reduced the deficit to 57-53 with ten minutes to play.

However 9 fourth quarter points from the game’s leading scorer Eva Veale and 6 points from Mela Andrews steered Rangitoto to a third straight win.

Faith Hurt led the way for AGGS with a team high 18 points.

AGGS 61 – Hurt 18, Ryn Nikoia 10, Zara Avauli 10, Grady Nikoia 9, Julia-Rose Fiesher-Martin 7

Rangitoto 74 – Veale 19, Andrews 14, Sienna Maurice 12, Tamsin McAsey 9, Grace Giles 6

Manurewa High School have joined Carmel and Rangitoto at the top of the table, with 3-0 records, after defeating Avondale College 87-34.

Bella Manu-Moore scored 11 first quarter points as Manurewa forged a 23-3 lead.

Daisy Ducloux and Maya Loomes knocked down triples for Avondale but with Shirley Tuilimu joining Manu-Moore in double figures the Manurewa half-time lead was a comfortable 40-14.

Astrid Henricks and Lavinia Liufau helped maintain the Manurewa dominance in the second half – Loomes and Shiloh Caffery the major contributors for Avondale.

Manurewa 87 – Manu-Moore 27, Tuilimu 22, Henricks 13, Liufau 10, Alyssa Uluheua 7

Avondale 34 – Loomes 10, Caffery 9, Zion Mann 7, Daisy Ducloux 5

In the final game of the round One Tree Hill College grabbed their first win of the season defeating Mt Roskill Grammar 93-61. Both teams have a 1-2 record after the first three games.

Unfortunately I don’t have individual scorers from this fixture.

BOYS Senior A Round 3

In the closest game of the round Kelson Boys High and Liston College played out a thriller with Kelston claiming a narrow 75-73 victory.

The opposing number 9’s were prominent in the opening quarter. Rasheed Ieremia scored 9 early points for Liston but Kelston edged the opening period 23-21 with Rodman Fuaivaa tallying 8 points.

Liston had the better of quarters two and three. Jeydin Ale, Zymhon Moreno and Ieremia dominated the scoring in the middle stages as the visitors lead climbed to 61-51 with a quarter to play.

Kelston saved their best to last as both teams had to navigate a heavy foul count that would eventually see five players exit early.

Sam Tutopou (9 points) and Fuaivaa (10 points), with support from Alec Phillips and Sione Filimoehala, wrestled the initiative as Kelston outscored their opponents 24-12 in the fourth quarter and eke out their first win of the season.

Kelston 75 – Fuaivaa 28, Tuitupou 19, Phillips 10, Eyob Hailu 8, Filimoehala 6

Liston 73 – Ieremia 26, Ale 15, Moreno 8, Dhon Lao 8, Manu Tuaere 8

Northcote College won the clash between two of the unbeaten sides prevailing 86-73 at Selwyn College after leading at the end of each quarter.

Nine points from Carlos MacPherson helped Northcote establish a hand 26-19 lead at the conclusion of the first period.

Eleven points from Ashton Muraahi either side of the first quarter break helped the Selwyn cause, as did a triple from Luca Vietri.

14 first half points from Shunta Shinzaki played a major part in Northcote building a 40-32 half-time lead.

The score rattled along in the third quarter as players from both sides found points easier to come by. James MacDonald dropped three triples and with Muraahi adding 13 points Selwyn tallied 29 points in the period. Northcote almost matched that making 27 points with Shinzaki and Aaron Sievert combining for 20 of them – Northcote with a 67-61 advantage ahead of the final period.

The scoring in the fourth became pedestrian in comparison to the previous period as both defences tightened up considerably.

Vietri and Muraahi made a couple of scores apiece for the hosts but a Tyler Aitchison triple and multiple baskets from Ethan Ring, Sievert and Shinzaki meant it was Northcote claiming a third straight victory.

Selwyn 73 – Muraahi 32, Vietri 13, MacDonald 11, Zavier Atatoa 8

Northcote 86 – Shinzaki 26, Sievert 21, MacPherson 9, Ring 8, Jake Talaic 6

Manurewa High School made a great start to the game against Avondale College piling on 27 points to establish a 10-point lead – 9 points for Richard Campbell.

Liam Takenaka-Wesley scored 13 first half points for Avondale but the half belonged to the hosts as they established a 46-32 lead with Jarell Tuhega, Issachar Pati and Campbell to the fore.

Avondale struck back strongly in the third – a triple from AJ Tusukado and more points from Takenaka-Wesley trimmed the Manurewa advantage to four points at the three-quarter break (56-52).

A three from Ray Korboe and half a dozen points from Deul Lelaulu kept Avondale in touch but the exciting contest eventually went the way of Manurewa – 10 points in the fourth from the Campbell brothers sealing Manurewa’s first win of the season

Manurewa 74 – R Campbell 22, Tuhega 12, Pati 11, Gordon Campbell 10

Avondale 69 – Takenaka-Wesley 19, Lelaulu 11, James Tipelu 8, AJ Tusukado 7

Mt Roskill Grammar will entertain Dilworth on Monday night.

21 May 2023

In a high paced, quality encounter Westlake Girls outlasted visitors Mt Albert Grammar to win 86-80 and register a third straight game.

One of the highlights of the contest was the matchup between 2022 U17 New Zealand internationals Wai Clarken and Amy Pateman. The opposing captains were at the centre of the action with Clarken scoring a career high 40 points for MAGS and Pateman a season best 31 for Westlake.

MAGS made the slightly better start with Jorjia Fiu and Nadia-Rosa Enari prominent as they forged a 14-9 lead. However rookies Katie Moors and Imani Rasmussen had an immediate impact off the bench for Westlake as they took a narrow 25-23 lead into the quarter time break.

The second quarter was tied 22 points apiece with Pateman and Lily Fotu to the fore for Westlake and Clarken getting valuable assistance from Fiu and Te Arina Roberts.

Fiu and Clarken shared all 13 of the MAGS points in the third period but with Emma Schroeder tallying 9 points and Rasmussen and Pateman chipping in with scores the hosts had a 70-58 lead at three-quarter time.

The fourth quarter became a shoot-out between Pateman and Schroeder in the red corner and Clarken and Fiu in the blue corner. The foursome scored 36 of the 38 points scored in the quarter with the reds of Westlake just doing enough to hold off the MAGS challenge. 

Westlake 86 – Pateman 31, Schroeder 21, Fotu 11, Moors 7, Rasmussen 6, Kalei Morgan-Tafea 6

MAGS 80 – Clarken 40, Fiu 20, Enari 10, Roberts 7

For the third straight game Northcote College were extremely competitive but couldn’t quite get the W going down 68-58 at St Kentigern College.

A three from Anamia Rangihaeata and 6 points from Ash Tuumaialu propelled St Kent’s to a 19-7 quarter time lead.

The hosts scored another 19 in the second period but smarting from their slow start Northcote tallied 23 to trail 38-30 at half-time. Lizzy May scored 10 second quarter points for Northcote with Tuumaialu making 9 points for St Kent’s.

The scoring slowed in the third with just 12 points apiece posted. Lily Morgan and Nikki Gear made all of the Northcote points – Tuumaialu and Rangihaeata all the St Kent’s scores.

Morgan and Gear continued to trouble the St Kent’s defence but the hosts enjoyed a greater spread of scorers as Gigi Forster and Sophie Jones complimented the scoring supply provided by Tuumaialu and Rangihaeata to close out the win.

St Kentigern 68 – Tuumaialu 26, Rangihaeata 14, Forster 10, Jones 8

Northcote 58 – N Gear 25, Morgan 14, May 12

Fresh of her time at the Tall Ferns Trial Camp Ritorya Tamilo proved the difference maker, scoring 26 points, as Baradene College pipped Epsom Girls Grammar 57-53.

It was Baradene with the superior start – 7 points from Poppy Cavanagh-Briggs helping them establish as 17-13 quarter time lead.

Epsom trimmed the deficit by a point in the second quarter with Maya Fowler and Savana Feite leading the way.

Despite missing two starters Epsom took charge of proceedings in the third quarter with Fowler and Kiyara Te Amo, deputising at point guard, helping them to a 46-42 three-quarter time lead.

Talia Vea’s three kept Epsom briefly in the ascendancy but Tamilo was the dominant force in the final frame scoring 9 points to secure Baradene a second win of the season and match Epsom’s 2-1 start to the season.

Epsom 53 – Fowler 15, Vea 13, Feite 8, Te Amo 7

Baradene 57 – Tamilo 26, Cavanagh-Briggs 16, Amelia Nathan 6

Beginning the game wearing #31 Amy McKenzie finished the contest matching her singlet number with a season best 31 points to propel Takapuna Grammar School to their first win of the season – a 77-47 victory at St Mary’s College.

The Takapuna guard scored 8 points as the visitors raced to a 22-7 lead at the ten minute mark.

McKenzie and Bailey Flavell landed triples in the second period as Taka established a 37-18 half-time advantage.

St Mary’s improved markedly after the break – 7 third quarter points from India Nash and other scores from Teulila Salesa and Tamzin Jakeman meant the spoils were shared evenly at 18 points apiece in the period.

Takapuna dominated proceedings in the final frame with Anna Dyachenko, Carmen Selby, Natalja Burton and Flavell complimenting the fine work of McKenzie. 

St Mary’s 47 – Nash 17, Salesa 9, Jakeman 7, Christiana Setu 6

Takapuna 77 – McKenzie 31, Flavell 19, Dyachenko 9, Burton 6

May 20, 2023

Mt Albert Grammar and Rosmini College are the only unbeaten teams in the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier competition. In Round 3 fixtures the pair had contrasting wins with Mt Albert breezing past Westlake Boys while Rosmini won a nail biter at Auckland Grammar.

MAGS enjoyed double figure scoring contributions from all five starters as they carved out a 101-59 victory at Westlake.

Guard Harri Coker-Grey had 5 early points as MAGS scored the opening 7 points of the contest. Hadi Alashami got Westlake on the board but Dante Matakatea scored 8 points as MAGS strode to a 25-13 quarter-time lead.

MAGS took complete control of the contest scoring 14 unanswered points – including threes from Kade Cartwright and Ethan Lay – to open the second frame.

Westlake skipper Malachi Book scored 8 first half-points but his team were in a spot of bother at the interval trailing 46-20.

On his way to a game high 25 points Coker-Grey helped MAGS maintain momentum in the third. With further contributions from deep from Lay and Cartwright, plus one on the three-quarter time buzzer from Romani Keith-Peraua, the margin was out to 41 points (78-37).

Both teams took the opportunity to give extended minutes to their bench players in the closing minutes – Westlake’s Harper Wilson catching the eye with 11 fourth quarter points.

Westlake 59 – Book 13, Alashami 11, Wilson 11, Troy Supple 5, Oscar Neville 5

MAGS 101 – Coker-Grey 25, Matakatea 22/17rebs, Keith-Peraua 14, Louis Uri 13, Cartwright 10, Lay 9

Far less straight forward was Rosmini’s 79-76 win at Auckland Grammar School.

AGS guard Josh Howes had tied the scores at 76 points apiece with just 1.5 seconds remaining in the contest.

After Rosmini advanced the ball to the front court following a timeout a skip pass found Chris Wyllie, who attempting a corner three as time expired, was fouled. The combo guard made no mistake from the free-throw line making all three attempts to clinch the win.

Rosmini had begun the final period with a 63-61 lead but scores from Howes, George Milburn and Roera Tipene gave the hosts a 69-64 advantage.

Josh Batty and Zion Anderson responded for Rosmini but an inside finish from Kalid Petzer enabled AGS to regain the lead (73-71). 

A Batty three was countered by a Ryan Hunt two before Anderson gave Rosmini a 76-75 advantage with 3:30 to play. Both teams had good chances to seal the contest in the ensuing time but failed to capitalise on their opportunities before the Howes drive earned him that trip to the foul line.

His one from two from the charity stripe looked to have forced the game into overtime before Josh Wyllie had the final say.

Earlier Hunt’s 7 points had helped AGS to a 21-19 quarter-time lead before Anderson, Chris Wyllie and Noah Johns took the visitors to 43-39 half-time lead.

It remained tight in the third and fourth before the exciting closing seconds decided the contest. 

AGS 76 – Howes 30, Hunt 13, Milburn 8, Petzer 8, Tipene 8, Roman Ma’afu-Moerua 7

Rosmini 79 – Anderson 19, C Wyllie 19, Johns 10, Jameer Reed 10, J Wyllie 8, Batty 7

Just down the road Sacred Heart College earned their first win of the season with an 87-77 success at St Peter’s College.

Preston Tuaputa scored 10 points as Sacred Heart narrowly won the opening spell 22-19.

A couple of threes from Gus Dallow and 5 points from Bryan Marsters was countered by Matt Fautuaalii-Taia and Jamie Vile as the two teams split 38 points – 41-38 in favour of the visitors at the break.

Sacred Heart made the decisive and ultimately match winning move in the third frame winning it 27-18. Sam Snowdon’s 6 points and Jerome Jakeman’s dozen were the difference makers, the pair instrumental in taking Heart to a 68-56 lead with ten minutes to play.

Montana Ekeroma and Dallow – headed to a career high 30 points – did their best to reduce the deficit but Jakeman and Fautuaalii-Taia paced Sacred Heart through the closing minutes to secure the win.

St Peter’s 77 – Dallow 30, Bailey Smith 12, Ekeroma 7, Marsters 6, Milan Tolich 6

Sacred Heart 87 – Jakeman 24, Fautuaalii-Taia 19, Tuaputa 18, Snowdon 11, Josh Tengblad 6

In a high scoring opening period nine threes were knocked down as St Kentigern College established a 30-25 lead against Rangitoto College. Joel Brown and Cooper Allen were successful for Rangi from beyond the arc with Hunter Te Ratna, George Turner and Merrick Rillstone hitting from deep for the hosts.

St Kent’s dominated the second quarter 25-8 as Rillstone, Cooper Lepou and Turner continued the bombardment from beyond the three-point arc.

Arnold Nam and Elyas Taher led Rangi’s third quarter revival but Rillstone, on his way to a season best 42 points, saw St Kent’s to a 74-48 lead with ten minutes to play.

St Kent’s further extended their advantage in the final period with Max Johnson and Lepou adding the finishing touches to their second win of the season.

St Kentigern 102 – Rillstone 42 (6 x 3-pointers), Turner 15, Lepou 12, Te Ratna 10, Johnson 9

Rangitoto 59 – Nam 21, Taher 13, Brown 11, Jaren Reiri 5

In a game featuring two former Tall Ferns in the head coach roles Epsom Girls Grammar conceded the first 16 points of the game before recovering to post a 64-52 away win at Takapuna Grammar School on Tuesday night.

Katelin Noyer would have been delighted with her team’s start as Takapuna began the contest in hot shooting form making their first seven scoring attempts with scores from Bailey Flavell, Amy McKenzie and MacKenzie MacKereth.

Following a timeout by Jelena Vučinić, Leah Patuwairua and Talia Vea eventually got the scoreboard ticking over for Epsom before McKenzie and Flavell nailed threes to give the hosts a 28-20 quarter time lead.

The torrent of points in the opening period turned into a trickle in the second although Epsom, via a Draun Forbes triple, gained the lead as half time approached (33-30).

Flavell and McKenzie made baskets in the third frame but pickings were slim against a stifling Epsom defence that only conceded 10 points in the middle two periods. A three from Vea and transition baskets from Forbes pushed the EGGS lead out to 46-38 at three-quarter time.

Epsom increased their lead via Forbes, Patuwairua and the play of the game from Vea. The agile forward capitalised on her own steal by absorbing contact to make a tumbling reverse layup whereby pushing the visitors advantage to 53-38.

A MacKereth triple, and further points from Flavell, kept the Takapuna hopes alive but they were quashed by Forbes who scored 14 points in the final term to post a game high 30.

Congratulations to Bailey Flavell who has been named to the New Zealand team to attend the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship in Amman, Jordan from 10-16 July. 

Takapuna 52 – Flavell 21, McKenzie 14, MacKereth 11

EGGS 64 – Forbes 30, Vea 13, Patuwairua 13

If you missed it here is the wrap on the three Girls Prems games played on Friday night:

There were wins for Mt Roskill Grammar, Carmel College and Manurewa High School in the second round of the Girl’s Senior A competition.

Bella Manu-Moore scored 28 points to pace Manurewa High to a 69-44 home win against Auckland Girls Grammar School.

Six of those points came in the opening spell and with Wai Hetaraka-Brown knocking down a triple Manurewa had an 18-14 quarter time lead. 

Ryn Nikoia responded with a couple of threes for AGGS but points from Hetaraka-Brown and Manu-Moore extended the hosts lead to 40-27 by half-time.

That advantage was extended to 57-37  by three-quarter time with Beautiful Campbell getting in on the scoring action.

Zara Leavasa-Avauli joined Nikoia on 14 points for AGGS but it was Princess Alim with the last say as Manurewa moved to 2-0 in the win-loss columns.

Manurewa 69 – Manu-Moore 28, Campbell 15, Hetaraka-Brown 10, Shirley Tuilimu 6

AGGS 44 – R Nikoia 14, Leavasa-Avauli 14, Grady Nikoia 8

Carmel College also have two wins after a 76-57 home success against One Tree Hill College with Ruby Railton bagging 25 points to follow her 28 in the opening round.

Railton scored 11 points and Hannah Bellett 9 as Carmel poured in 30 first quarter points to lead by 17.

Harriate Heta nailed 11 second quarter points as OTH enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the second spell to cut the deficit to 42-29 at half-time.

The two teams tied the third with 16 points apiece before Railton and Millie Lloyd sealed the deal for Carmel in the closing quarter.

Carmel 76 – Railton 28, Bellett 13, Zahara Tibbotts 11, Imogen O’Rourke 10

One Tree Hill 57 – Heta 26, Amy-Jo Ligaliga 7 Jesse-Lee Upu 5 

Mt Roskill Grammar School secured a valuable away win with a 75-47 victory at Avondale College on the back of 30 points from Nelly Ioane.

It was Bree Ioane who kick started the Roskill effort with half a dozen first quarter points as they opened up an 18-5 lead.

Shiloh Caffery led the Avondale response with 9 points in the second spell but triples from Allie O’Callaghan and Tamara Viviani helped propel the visitors to a 40-18 half-time lead.

Maya Loomes and Caffery scored regularly for Avondale in the second half but Nelly Ioane was in formidable form and along with Bileeana Koonwaiyou and Adra Kaufusi Roskill continued to build their advantage.

Avondale 47 – Caffery 22, Loomes 12, Zion Mann 7 

Mt Roskill 75 – N Ioane 30, Koonwaiyou 10, B Ioane 10, Annelliesse Folaumoetao 10, Kaufusi 7

Unfortunately Massey High School forfeited their game against Rangitoto College.

May 15, 2023

There were wins for Mt Roskill Grammar, Northcote College, Selwyn College and Liston College in the second round of the Boy’s Senior A competition.

The individual performance of the round belonged to Northcote’s Aaron Sievert who dropped a career high 53 points against Kelston Boys. The sharp shooting guard is no stranger to heady scoring performances having scored 51 points against Aorere College last season.

A big night beckoned against Kelston after Sievert scored 16 points in the opening period as Northcote surged to a 38-14 lead.

Kelston found some scoring form in the second with Real Wheaton and Isiah Tulisi knocking down threes.

However Sievert also made a couple from deep and had 35 at half-time with Northcote in full control with a 68-35 lead.

Alec Phillips, headed for his successive 20-point games, scored 7 third quarter points for Kelston – Shunta Shinzake matched that for Northcote, the hosts 91-49 ahead with a quarter to play and a second straight home victory assured.

Northcote 111 – Sievert 53, Shinzake 13, Rico MacPherson 10, Carlos MacPherson 7, Jaden Lula 6

Kelston 65 – Phillips 20, Wheaton 10, Rodman Fuaivaa 8 Eyob Hailu 6

Selwyn College warmed up for next week’s clash with Northcote with a solid 86-60 win against Manurewa High School.

Richard Campbell was impressive for Manurewa with a game high 33 points while Charlie Barnfield and Ashton Muraahi both enjoyed 20-point outings for Selwyn.

Campbell and Issachar Pati shared Manurewa’s 14 first quarter points although Luca Vietri’s 8 points helped the visitors to a 17-14 lead. 

The Manurewa offense stalled badly in the second and Selwyn took full advantage to carve out a 38-18 half-time lead.

Campbell scored 7 third quarter points but 9 from Muraahi meant the Selwyn lead had increased to 60-36 at the three-quarter mark.

A high scoring fourth period ensued with the two teams sharing 50 points.

Manurewa 60 – Campbell 33, Pati 12

Selwyn 86 – Muraahi 28, Barnfield 20, Vietri 14, Jerry Hing 10, James MacDonald 7

At Avondale College a slow scoring opening quarter favoured Mt Roskill (14-8) before the pace quickened in the second period.

Threes from Mitch Greenaway, Ryan Aramoana and Haisem Osman helped Roskill forge a 38-20 lead at the interval.

11 third quarter points from Duel Lelaulu helped Avondale accumulate 19 third quarter points but Roskill increased their advantage by six as their balanced scoring received contributions from nine players in the period.

Lelaulu went on to record a game high 25 points with Greenaway (22 points) and Ngawaka Rakete (16 points) topping the Roskill effort.

Mt Roskill Grammar 90 –  M Greenaway 22, Rakete 16, Aramoana 10, Wai Tonga 9, Alfred Kerr 9, Osman 7, 

Avondale 65 – Lelaulu 25, Nate Muller 11, AJ T 7, Liam Takenaka-Wesley 6

Despite 31 points from Kingston Kai’lahi-Aso Liston College were able to secure a valuable 74-61 victory against Dilworth.

The two teams tied the opening frame 16 points apiece before Liston edged a low scoring second quarter to lead 31-28 at half-time.

The third quarter was even tighter – Liston won it by two to carry a 49-44 lead into the final ten minutes.

Dilworth got great production out of Nepia Moore and Kai’lahi-Aso but, giving up too many turnovers, Dhon Lao, Rasheed Ieremia and Zymhon Moreno were able to capitalise and carry Liston to the win.

Liston 74 – Ieremia 26, Moreno 14, Jeydin Ale 9, Lao 9

Dilworth 61 – Kai’lahi-Aso 13, Ikahui Mahe 13, Moore 9

Waimanu Clarken and Emma-Kay Schroeder had 30-point games to lead Mt Albert Grammar and Westlake Girls, the 2022 Grand Finalists, to Auckland Secondary Schools Round 2 Prems victories.

Clarken scored 35 points as Mt Albert Grammar School won an entertaining game at Northcote College 86-73.

Peyton Uri got proceedings underway with a corner three for MAGS who were quickly out to a 15-5 lead. That was pegged back to 21-17 at the quarter time break – a three from Lisa Gear late in the period helping the Northcote cause.

A couple of scores from DJ Hannah cancelled out efforts from Sienna-Rose Tawera and Gezreyal Maiu’u before a brace of threes from Clarken again stretched the MAGS lead – the visitors ahead 41-30 at the interval.

Triples from Hannah and Lizzie May in the third kept Northcote in the hunt but a balanced MAGS scoring effort held them at bay; 71-50 to the visitors at three-quarter-time. 

Hannah and May combined for 16 points in the fourth as Northcote kept the pressure on the MAGS defence but Jorjia Fiu, Clarken and Tawera would have the final say as MAGS closed out a second successive win.

Northcote, having pushed the top two teams from last season in the opening two rounds, can take heart from their performances ahead of a trip to St Kentigern College next week while MAGS will meet Westlake in a blockbuster match up.

Northcote 73 – Hannah 28, May 20, Lily 10, Nikki Gear 9

MAGS 86 – Clarken 35, Fiu 15, Tawera 8, Uri 6, Maiu’u 6

Emma-Kay Schroeder landed 11 first quarter points as Westlake Girls High established a 22-13 quarter-time lead at home to St Mary’s College.

Tamzin Jakeman and India Nash were doing good work for St Mary’s but Schroeder, on her way to a career high 36 points, and Amy Pateman were taking the game away from the visitors as Lake led 47-24 at half-time.

Christiana Setu and Jakeman kept the scoreboard ticking over for St Mary’s but Rebecca Moors and Schroeder were also accelerating the scoring rate for the hosts – Westlake 69-37 to the good at the third break.

Points in the fourth from Imani Rasmussen and Kalei Morgan-Tafea capped off a convincing Westlake victory.

Congratulations to Westlake player Kodee Williams-Sefo who has been named to the New Zealand team to attend the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship in Amman, Jordan from 10-16 July. Kodee is currently sidelined as she recovers from a leg injury.

Westlake 87 – Schroeder 36, Pateman 19, Moors 10, Morgan-Tafea 7 Rasmussen 6

St Mary’s 49 – Jakeman 8, Nash 8, Sefu 6, Olive Maling 6, Felolina To’ua-Kalava

Despite a game high 28 points from St Kentigern College guard Ashleigh Tuumaialu the three pronged scoring threat of Deyna Topia, Ritorya Tamilo and Poppy Cavanagh-Briggs combined for 57 points to propel Baradene College to a 62-53 win.

Tuumaialu scored 7 points in the opening ten minutes but it was Baradene that edged the period 17-14.

That lead evaporated quickly as Tuumaialu and Kilani Tuineau picked holes in the Baradene defence to take the visitors to a 33-25 half-time lead.

St Kent’s kept Baradene to 8 second quarter points but the third saw a complete reversal as it was the visitors turn to be kept to 8. At the offensive end Tamilo scored 8 points on her own while Cavanagh-Briggs tallied 7 as Baradene headed to the final quarter with a narrow 43—41 advantage.

Baradene would again have the better of the quarter with the triple threat of Topia, Tamilo and Cavanagh-Briggs, aided by Daisy Parke, outscoring St Kent’s 19-12 in the period to close out a bounce back win. 

Good luck to Ritorya who is attending the Tall Ferns Trial Camp at Pulman Arena this weekend.

Baradene 62 – Tamilo 22, Topia 18, Cavanagh-Briggs 17

St Kentigern 53 – Tuumaialu 28, Kilani Tuineau 8, Tiffany Thompson 6

The Takapuna Grammar v Epsom Girls Grammar fixture has been postponed until Tuesday.

May 13, 2023

The three North Shore schools in Prems hosted opponents from across the Harbour Bridge in Round 2 fixtures with only Rosmini College able protect home court advantage – Mt Albert Grammar and Auckland Grammar securing valuable road victories.

Westlake Boys appeared to be doing likewise at three-quarter time leading Auckland Grammar 66-57.

However the hosts succumbed to a fourth quarter onslaught from Grammar and in particular Ryan Hunt. The AGS skipper, on his way to a game high 34 points, dropped 18 in the fourth quarter as his team piled on 31 points in the period to win 89-78.

Even at the mid-point of the fourth, after a couple of three-point makes from Andre Bautista, Westlake appeared in control as they retained a double figure lead.

However, Roman Ma’afu- Moerua and Lisione Tupou kick started the revival before Hunt took charge of proceedings to propel AGS to a second straight win.

Eight quick points from Max Riechelmann had helped Westlake to a 19-16 quarter time lead before the two teams split 48 points in a free scoring second stanza.

Sharp shooter Bautista added to his tally and Pelu Figotoa scored 6 third quarter-points as Westlake wrestled the initiative to carry a nine point lead into the final ten minutes. 

However it wasn’t enough to hold off Hunt and Co.

Westlake 78 – Bautista 25, Figota 13, Riechelmann 9, Noah Rasmussan 7, Malachi Book 7

AGS 89 – Hunt 34, Josh Howes 15, Ma’afu- Moerua 12, Brigham Hakaraia 8, Tupou 7

Rosmini College got the better of St Peter’s downing last year’s Senior A champions 91-61.

Gus Dallow opened the scoring for the visitors before Zion Anderson and Chris Wyllie quickly pushed Rosmini into a double digit lead – the quarter-time advantage 27-15.

The second quarter began the same as the first with Dallow making the initial points but that was a prelude to a 12-0 Rosmini run – 6 of those to Noah Johns.

Luke Thompson replied with consecutive buckets for St Peter’s before Anderson again went to work inside. Dallow made a tough off balance buzzer beater to take his first half tally to 16 points but Anderson’s 18 helped Rosmini to a significant 44-25 half-time lead.

Milan Tolich started to find his scoring touch for the Saints after the break although Rosmini were taking the game away from them as they progressed their scoring in threes. Josh Batty made three consecutive shots from behind the arc, Matty Dalton netted from deep also, while Liam Bates and Jameer Reed both made And-1 plays.

Rosmini led 71-38 at three-quarter time and although St Peter’s had the best of the later exchanges the result was never in doubt. 

Rosmini 91 – Anderson 23, Batty 14, C Wyllie 11, Bates 10, Johns 10, Dalton 9, Reed 9

St Peter’s 61 – Dallow 19, Tolich 17, Thompson 9, Bryan Marsters 7

A couple of triples from Kade Cartwright and 10 points from Louis Uri got Mt Albert Grammar off to a flying start at Rangitoto College.

Up 25-6 at quarter time MAGS posted another couple of dozen points in the second with Uri taking his tally into the twenties and Ethan Lay and Harri Coker-Grey scoring from deep.

Ahead 49-15 at half-time MAGS were in no mood to take their foot off the gas adding  another 31 points in the third – Cartwright and Dante Matakatea sharing 16 of those.

On a night when Rangi struggled to make shots Joel Brown was a shining light with 10 points. 

Rangitoto 33 – Brown 10, Elyas Taher 6, Jimmy Kim 5

MAGS 91 – Uri 25, Cartwright 20, Coker-Grey 15/6 assists, Romani Keith-Peraua 14, Matakatea 13/11 rebounds, Ethan Lay 6, Dante Tapula’aia 11 rebounds

Preston Tuaputa scored a game high 24 points for Sacred Heart College but it was St Kentigern College that won the East Auckland clash 70-63.

It was close throughout with St Kent’s carrying a 50-46 lead into the three-quarter-time break. Tuaputa did his best to get Sacred Heart the W with 8 last quarter points, and Matt Fautuaalii-Taia chimed in with 6, but Merrick Rillstone saved his best until last.

Only having arrived back in the country on Friday morning, after attending the NBA Academy Asia Development Camp in Singapore, Rillstone scored 12 fourth quarter points to steer St Kent’s to the narrow victory.

Earlier Hunter Te Ratana dropped three triples to give the visitors a 17-13 quarter-time advantage.

Sacred Heart edged the second frame by a single point with triples from Jerome Jakeman and Matt Fautuaalii-Taia helping reduce the deficit to 32-29 at the interval.

The third period was also won by a single point although this time it was St Kentigern that shaded it. George Turner and Te Ratana shared 14 points for the visitors with Fautuaalii-Taia, Tyrell Cocker and Tuaputa the go-to men for Heart.

St Kent’s led 50-46 with ten minutes to play and by 13 points inside the last minute. Despite Heart narrowing the deficit to single digits it was Rillstone, shaking off the effects of jet lag, that had the decisive say.

Sacred Heart 63 – Tuaputa 24, Fautuaalii-Taia 16, Cocker 10, Jerome Jakeman 6

St Kentigern 70 – Te Ratana 20, Rillstone 16, Turner 16, Charlie Hughes 8

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In Girls Senior A action on Monday night Carmel College travelled across town to take on Avondale College and emerged as 94-47 winners. The victory means both teams relegated from Prems had comfortable wins to begin their quest for a quick return to the top flight, with Rangitoto College recording an almost identical scoreline.

Carmel enjoyed double figure contributions from all five starters with three of them (Annie Gaylard, Ruby Railton and Zahara Tibbotts) in double figures by half time when Carmel led 45-30.

Shiloh Caffery scored 9 of Avondale’s first half points. She got good support from Aniva Leala, Maya Loomes and Zion Mann but the second spell was also dominated by Carmel as Imogen O’Rourke and Hannah Bellett made telling contributions in a dominant performance.

Avondale 47 – Caffery 19, Leala 8, Loomes 8, Mann 8

Carmel 94 – Railton 28, Gaylor 20, Tibbotts 16, O’Rourke 12, Bellett 11

In case you missed it here is a roundup of the two games played on Friday:

Rangitoto College comfortably saw off the challenge of visitors One Tree Hill College to open the season with a 92-46 home win.

Syriah Muipu was outstanding for OTHC with a game high 22 points but it was Rangi, with five players with 8 points or more, that claimed the win. Eva Veale, with 20 points, top scored for the hosts.

Rangitoto 92 – Eva Veale 20, Amelia Andrews 17, Tamsin McAsey 15, Maddy Skelton 10, Zaara Sain 8

One Tree Hill 46 – Syriah Muipu 22, Harriate Heta 5, Melaia Tuisuva 5

Manurewa High School were quick out the gate at Mt Roskill Grammar establishing a 16-7 lead.

Shirley Tuilimu scored 14 second quarter points and Beautiful Campbell 6 as the Manurewa lead ballooned to 45-9 at half-time.

Annelliesse Folaumoetao scored 8 second half points for Roskill but it was Manurewa with the comfortable win.

Mt Roskill 31 – Folaumoetao 8, Brooklyn Koonwaiyou 6, Emily Talosaga 6

Manurewa 67 – Tuilimu 23, Bella Manu-Moore 10, Waimihi Hetaraka-Brown 8, Campbell 8, Zhendy Li 6

Massey High School defaulted their game against Auckland Girls Grammar School.

The Lowdown acknowledges the support of Northern Kāhu. The Kāhu season begins in July with memberships and game tickets available shortly at https://www.kahu.basketball

May 8, 2023

The opening round of Senior A Boys fixtures featured a game between the two promoted teams as Selwyn College took on Kelston Boys High. 

Selwyn emerged clear winners 82-50 on the back of 24 points from Ashton Muraahi and 16 from Luca Vietri. Alec Phillips played the leading hand for Kelston with 22 points.

Selwyn 82 – Muraahi 24 Vietri 16, Elijah Vaealiki 9, James MacDonald 8, Robby Turnbull 7

Kelston 50 – Phillips 22, Sam Tuitupou 9, Sione Mapu 6

A young Avondale College team were no match for Liston College going down 90-44. Liston, boasting a number of players with Premier grade experience from last year, led 43-21 at half-time and never looked like giving up the lead.

Dhon Lao (27 points) and Rasheed Ieremia (20 points) led the way for Liston – Liam Takenaka-Wesley the best for Avondale with 13 points.

Avondale 44 – Takenaka-Wesley 13, Deuel Lelaulu 7,  AJ Tsukada  6, Nate Muller 5

Liston 90 – Lao 27, Ieremia 21, Jeydin Ale 15, Manu Tuaere 7, Ronnie Juan 6

Dilworth ventured over The Bridge to take on Northcote College but came away empty handed with Aaron Sievert entertaining the sizeable home crowd with 37 points. Shunta Shinzaki, Jake Talaaic and Rico McPherson were also in double figures for Northcote.

Kingston Kai’lahi-Aso and Ikahui Mahe were the double digit contributors for an under strength Dilworth side.

Northcote 110 – Aaron Sievert 37, Shunta Shinzaki 14, Jake Talaaic 12, Rico McPherson 11, Tzion Manoa 8, Carlos MacPherson 8

Dilworth 63 – Kingston Kai’lahi-Aso 18, Ikahui Mahe 10, PJ Ainoa 9, Nepia Moore 10

Mt Roskill Grammar School protected home court advantage to see off the Manurewa High School challenge with a 97-61 victory.

Mitch Greenaway and Ezra Ogbuze with 27 points and 17 respectively led the Roskill offensive effort. Richard Campbell top scored with 22 points for Manurewa but his time on the bench, after picking up three first quarter fouls, certainly hindered their progress.

Mt Roskill 97 – M Greenaway 27, Ogbuze 17, Ryan Aramoana 10, Daniel Greenaway 10, Ngawaka Rakete 10

Manurewa 61 – R Campbell 22, Gordon Campbell 12, Tana Ihaka 9, Mark Harrison 6

In Girls Senior A action Rangitoto College comfortably saw off the challenge of visitors One Tree Hill College to open the season with a 92-46 home win.

Syriah Muipu was outstanding for OTHC with a game high 22 points but it was Rangi, with five players with 8 points or more, that claimed the win. Eva Veale, with 20 points, top scored for the hosts.

Rangitoto 92 – Eva Veale 20, Amelia Andrews 17, Tamsin McAsey 15, Maddy Skelton 10, Zaara Sain 8

One Tree Hill 46 – Syriah Muipu 22, Harriate Heta 5, Melaia Tuisuva 5

Manurewa High School were quick out the gate at Mt Roskill Grammar establishing a 16-7 lead.

Shirley Tuilimu scored 14 second quarter points and Beautiful Campbell 6 as the Manurewa lead ballooned to 45-9 at half-time.

Annelliesse Folaumoetao scored 8 second half points for Roskill but it was Manurewa with the comfortable win.

Mt Roskill 31 – Folaumoetao 8, Brooklyn Koonwaiyou 6, Emily Talosaga 6

Manurewa 67 – Tuilimu 23, Bella Manu-Moore 10, Waimihi Hetaraka-Brown 8, Campbell 8, Zhendy Li 6

Massey High School defaulted their game against Auckland Girls Grammar School while Avondale College will entertain Carmel College tonight (Monday May 8).

The Girls 2023 Premier season tipped-off on Friday with Mt Albert Grammar, Epsom Girls Grammar, St Kentigern College and Westlake Girls High recording wins although Northcote College came very close to causing an upset.

In a game where 200 points were scored newcomers Northcote College gave defending champions Westlake Girls High all they could handle before going down 105-95.

In a game with extreme changes in momentum the opening swing favoured Westlake. After Lily Fotu opened the scoring Amy Pateman ran up 14 points to propel the visitors to a 31-21 lead. However in a sign of things to come Westlake were pinged for 11 first quarter fouls.

Pateman continued on her merry way in the second quarter before Northcote Head Coach Gareth Teahan called a halt to proceedings with his team trailing 50-34.

Whatever was said in the timeout worked a treat as his team scored 19 of the next 23 points. Lily Morgan and Nikki Gear were in the thick of the action and with Lizzy May and Lisa Gear dropping threes the Westlake lead was whittled down to just one point at half-time (54-53).

On the resumption Nikki Gear and DJ Hannah continued to ride the home team’s momentum propelling Northcote to a 64-54 lead. This time it was Westlake Head Coach Bronwen Davidson (named 2022 Women’s Coach of the Year at the BBNZ Awards ceremony on Saturday) that needed the timeout.

Her words steadied the Lake ship – an Emma Schroeder triple and 6 points from Fotu set up a likely tight finish with Westlake trailing 77-76 with a quarter to play.

That tight finish didn’t eventuate as Westlake opened the fourth period with 17 unanswered points as Rebecca Moors, Elin Vincent, Schroeder and Fotu bossed proceedings.

Hannah and May provided the necessary spark for Northcote but it was too big a deficit to claw back in the closing minutes.

It was Northcote’s first game in Prems since 2007 and they can take great heart from the performance despite the defeat.

Northcote 95 – N Gear 27, Hannah 22, Morgan 18, May 14, L Gear 11

Westlake 105 – Pateman 29, Moors 24, Fotu 20, Schroeder 13, Vincent 11

Fellow newcomers Takapuna Grammar, Senior A champions in 2022, also suffered defeat going down 72-57 at St Kentigern College.

Ash Tuumaialu scored the first 10 points for the hosts and had 18 of St Kent’s 24 as they led by 15 at the first break.

Kilani Tuineau became the second St Kent’s player in double figures as the hosts stretched out to a 38-19 half-time lead.

Takapuna improved after the break as they found their Premier League legs – a triple from Bailey Flavell and other scores from Amy Mckenzie and Manaia Watson got the scoreboard moving.

However St Kent’s weren’t going to give up their advantage – Sophie Jones and Tuumaialu knocked down threes to increase the margin to 24 points (57-33) at three-quarter time.

Takapuna had the better of the final frame to reduce the deficit but it remained a comfortable victory for St Kent’s.

St Kentigern 72 – Tuumaialu 22, Tuineau 18, Jones 11, Anamaia Rangihaeata 7

Takapuna 57 – Flavell 20, Watson 12, McKenzie 12, Mackenzie MacKereth 6

Mt Albert Grammar, Premier Girls beaten finalists in 2022, won every quarter in defeating visitors Baradene College 84-46.

Deyna Topia and Ritorya Tamilo scored all 15 of Baradene’s first quarter points but that was trumped by 23 points from MAGS with 12 of those courtesy of Waimanu Clarken.

Clarken added another 10 points in the second and with Jorjia Fiu and Te Arina Roberts chiming in with scores the home team’s advantage was 48-31 at half-time. 

Tamilo added to her tally in the third but more points from Clarken and Fiu sealed the deal for MAGS who led 62-42 at the last break.

The fourth period was all MAGS with Gezreyal Maiu‘u producing a nice 7-point cameo.

MAGS 84 – Clarken 28, Fiu 19, Maiulu 7, Roberts 7, Emina Tiatia 6

Baradene 46 – Tamilo 20, Topia 12, Amelia Nathen 6, Poppy Cavanagh 5

Epsom College made the short trip over to College Hill to face St Mary’s College and completely dominated proceedings winning 84-33. 

Epsom rattled in 23 first quarter points to lead by 14 points with Talia Vea in fine scoring touch. The advantage was a healthy 36-13 at half-time.

India Nash played a strong hand for St Mary’s with 12 points but Draun Forbes and Leah Patuwairua bossed proceedings in the second half as Epsom cruised to victory.

Epsom 84 – Forbes 24, Patuwairua 23, Vea 14, Ivy Tino 7

St Mary’s 33 – Nash 12, Felolina To’ua-Kalava 6, Olive Maling 4

The Lowdown acknowledges the support of Northern Kāhu. The Kāhu season begins in July with memberships and game tickets available shortly at https://www.kahu.basketball

May 6

The Boys 2023 Premier season tipped-off on Friday with Auckland Grammar, Mt Albert Grammar, Rosmini College and Westlake Boys recording wins.

Defending champions Rosmini College got their season off to a winning start with an 80-65 win at St Kentigern College.

Merrick Rillstone scored 7 points in the opening quarter but the hosts trailed 18-14 after 10 minutes.

Triples from Josh and Chris Wyllie helped Rosmini extend their advantage in the second – 38-31 the half-time score.

Cooper Lepou and Hunter Te Ratana made scores for St Kent’s after the interval but Noah Johns and the Wyllie’s combined for all 22 of Rosmini’s third quarter points as they stretched out to a 60-49 lead ahead of the fourth period.

Rillstone took his tally into the twenties but Zion Anderson did likewise – a Rosmini win confirmed after a couple of Josh Batty threes. 

St Kentigern 65 – Rillstone 22, Lepou 14, Te Ratana 11, George Turner 9  

Rosmini College 80 – Anderson 23, C Wyllie 20 (4/9 3PG), J Wyllie 14, Batty 11, Johns 9

The first North Shore derby of the season saw Westlake Boys High win a one sided contest against Rangitoto College 102-53. Both teams have a new head coach – Karl Noyer has taken the reigns at Westlake while Chanel Pompallier has taken charge at Rangitoto and it was Pompallier with the furrowed brow at quarter time as Westlake established a 32-10 lead thanks largely to 16 points from Malachi Book.

Andre Bautista knocked down three triples in the second – Westlake with 10 made triples in the half led 52-26 at interval. Joel Brown was the best for Rangi with 8 first half points.

Lake continued to dominate the contest in the third piling on 28 points with Noah Rasmussen, Book and Max Riechelmann doing most the damage.

Despite Rangitoto putting together a stronger showing in the fourth – with Cooper Allen, Elyas Taher and Arnold Nam making contributions – Westlake were untroubled as they strolled to victory.

Rangitoto 53 – Brown 13, Taher 13, Nam 10, Max Mudford 8, Allen 6

Westlake 102 – Book 27, Rasmussen 19, Riechelmann 17, Bautista 15, Oscar Neville 13

The Mountain Rad rumble was won 105-83 by Auckland Grammar as they saw off the challenge of newly promoted St Peter’s College. The first half was a tail of contrasting fortunes. Grammar scored 27 first quarter points to lead by 10 at the quarter mark with St Peter’s reversing momentum in the second period to lead 43-42 at half-time.

Josh Howes, Ryan Hunt and Lachlan Kennedy were in good scoring touch for Grammar in the early stages before St Peter’s hit back through Milan Tolich, Bryan Curtis-Marsters and Caleb Afeaki.

The third stanza was something of an arm wrestle with neither side able to gain full control. Tolich and Bailey Smith shared 20 points for Saints in the spell but the more balanced scoring from Grammar saw them edge ahead 75-71 at the third break. In that period Mikaere Tait, George Milburn, Hunt, and Howes each knocked down threes.

Despite 7 points from Smith it was Grammar that held all the cards in the fourth. Milburn scored 10 points and Hunt 8 as Grammar reeled off 30 points to ease to a 22 point win. 

AGS 105 – Hunt 23, Howes 21, Milburn 19, Tait 13

St Peter’s 83 – Smith 26, Tolich 18, Curtis 10, Afeaki 9

Against Sacred Heart College it was host Mt Albert Grammar that prevailed winning 91-59 with Dante Matakatea, Harri Coker-Grey and Kade Cartwright amassing a combined 68 points.

Tyrell Cocker scored six early points for Sacred Heart but a couple of threes from Dante Matakatea and incisions from Harri Coker-Gray helped MAGS forge a 19-13 first quarter lead.

Matt Fautuaalii-Taia and Sam Snowdon carried the scoring load for Heart in the second however Kade Cartwright delivered four triples in the period and Stepan Kosenko and Coker-Gray half a dozen points apiece as MAGS ran up 34 points to lead 53-31 at the interval.

The third period was a much more even affair (15-17). Fautuaalii-Taia and Preston Tuaputa produced scores for the hosts although those were cancelled out by Matakatea and Coker-Grey as MAGS headed to the fourth with an unassailable 70-46 lead.

MAGS put on another 21 points in the fourth to run out easy winners ahead of a trip to Rangitoto College next Friday. Sacred Heart will lick their wounds before hosting St Kentigern College in Round 2.

Sacred Heart 59 – Fautuaalii-Taia 20,  Cocker 11, Snowdon 10

MAGS 91 – Matakatea 29, Coker-Grey 20/13rebs, Cartwright 19 (5/9 3PG), Uri 10/13rebs

Top quality sports clothing and products are available for purchase 24/7 from our supporter Dynamic Sport New Zealand. Click on this link to view their superb range https://dynamicsport.co.nz

The 2023 Premier and Senior A seasons tip-off on Friday with some juicy match-ups in prospect in both the Girl’s and Boy’s competitions.

Once again the high school reports on Lacey Lowdown will be brought to you in conjunction with our two major supporters. Thank you to Dynamic Sport New Zealand for their coverage of the Boys competitions and Northern Kāhu for their support of the Girls games.

In Premier Boys action the two 2022 trophy winners square off at St Kentigern College. Visitors Rosmini College were the Prems champs last year while St Kent’s were the Zone 1 Tournament winners.

The first North Shore derby of the season sees Rangitoto College entertain Westlake Boy’s High. Both teams have a new head coach – Karl Noyer has taken the reigns at Westlake while Chanel Pompallier has taken charge at Rangitoto.

Newly promoted St Peter’s College take the short trip along Mountain Road to face off against Auckland Grammar School. St Peter’s went unbeaten in 2022 as they dominated the Senior A competition – they would love to start 2023 in winning fashion against their near neighbours.

Sacred Heart College will host Mt Albert Grammar in the other game. Heart won just two games in 2022 but will be hoping the top flight experience gained last year will stand them in good stead for a stronger showing this season.

The Premier Girls competition boasts two new teams in 2023 with both promoted teams facing tough first-up assignments.

Northcote College face the daunting prospect of hosting Westlake Girls High, the 2022 National Champions. Westlake have a much changed lineup with six seniors having moved on so Northcote will relish the early opportunity to cause an upset.

Takapuna Grammar dominated proceedings in Senior A last year and head to St Kentigern College in an attempt to open their campaign with a victory.

Mt Albert Grammar, beaten finalists in 2022, have an away trip to take on Baradene College in a contest that is expected to be extremely close while Epsom College will head over to College Hill to face St Mary’s College.

The opening round of Senior A Boys fixtures features a game between the two promoted teams as Selwyn College take on Kelston Boys High.  

Avondale College, runners-up to St Peter’s last year, will visit Liston College while Dilworth School and Manurewa High School are also on the road. Dilworth head over The Bridge to take on Northcote College while Manurewa will visit Mt Roskill Grammar School.

The Mt Roskill and Manurewa match up is a double header as the respective girls teams will also face off in Girl’s Senior A action.

Carmel College and Rangitoto College begin life in Senior A with challenging fixtures. Both teams recently lost their play-off games to remain in Prems and will be hoping to begin their season with victories. Rangitoto entertain One Tree Hill College while Carmel are away against Avondale College.

Auckland Girls Grammar School entertain Massey High School in the remaining fixture. 

The Northern Kāhu season begins in July with memberships and game tickets available shortly at https://www.kahu.basketball

Top quality sports clothing and products are available for purchase 24/7 from Dynamic Sport New Zealand. Click on this link to view their superb range https://dynamicsport.co.nz

April 6

The Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier Grade Play-off games were completed this week with the results determined in contrasting styles.

St Peter’s earned promotion in a narrow tense encounter while Sacred Heart College were runaway winners as they protected home court and the much coveted spot in the top grade.

In a tense intriguing contest St Peter’s College won a nail-biter in the Auckland Schools Premier Grade Play-off Game defeating Liston College 65-61.

St Peter’s, the 2022 Senior A champions, made a terrific start taking the first quarter 23-14 with Gus Dallow, Bailey Smith and Montana Ekeroma each knocking down triples.

Any suggestion that the first quarter was a sign of things to come were quickly dispelled by the hosts as they made it a three-point game at the half (37-34). A late triple from Zyhmon Moreno and 5 points from Rasheed Ieremia brought Liston back into the game.

The third quarter mirrored the second with Liston having the better of the exchanges – a brace of scores from Marvellous Michael, Dhon Lao and Ieremia helped Liston forge a 53-50 three-quarter time lead.

Both sides struggled to make baskets in the fourth as the tension ramped up, in fact there was only a combined eight field baskets made in the period.

Jeydin Ale made a couple of those for Liston but it was the combination of Dallow (nine final quarter points), Bryan Masters and Mario Nola that got St Peter’s over the line.

Dallow, a 2022 New Zealand U15 international, finished with a game high 17 points while Masters and Nola each made critical threes as Saint Peter’s edged the final period 15-8 to clinch the win and promotion.

St Peter’s 65 – Dallow 17, Ekeroma 13, Smith 9, Manio 6, Masters 5

Liston 61 – Ieremia 12, Ale 11, Moreno 6, Michael 6, Juan 6, Lao 5

In the second play-off game Sacred Heart College overpowered Avondale College to win 120-66 but in the early stages that margin of victory appeared highly unlikely.

In fact it was Avondale that made the early running with Deuel Lelaulu, Jaycob Holmes and, in particular, Liam Takenaka-Wesley causing the hosts defence a few problems. 

Avondale led 25-18 at quarter time and when Takenaka-Wesley scored immediately after the break Avondale had put together a 9-0 run.

Nate Muller kept Avondale in the ascendancy but the tide began to turn in favour of Sacred Heart after back-to-back scores from Tyrell Cocker.

Matt Schuler reduced the deficit further before Jerome Jakeman levelled the tie at 34 points apiece with a basket in transition.

Takenaka-Wesley kept Avondale in the hunt with a pair of threes but after a couple of transition dunks from Cocker (he had 14 points in the second period) and a triple from Jamie Vile it was Heart that were pumping at the half-time break – ahead 56-41.

Lelaulu scored on the resumption but soon after centre James Tipelu picked up his fifth foul. The Avondale centre’s absence was sorely missed as Heart ran in 28 points in the third – Preston Tuaputa, Josh Tengblad and Matt Fautuaalii-Taia the beneficiaries of some sloppy Avondale defence.

With the three-quarter time score 84-51 in Heart’s favour, and the result determined, both teams were able to give extended minutes to their bench players.

In the closing stages the large contingent of home supporters were treated to some fine shooting from Vile and Snowdon while Muller and Raymond Korboe showcased their range from deep for the visitors.

Avondale remain in Senior A for the 2023 season while Sacred Heart will be keen to build on their Prems experience from last season which culminated in a prized first ever appearance at the 2022 Secondary Schools National Championship.

Sacred Heart 120 – Cocker 23, Fautuaalii-Taia 18, Tuaputu 17, Snowdon 14, Jakeman 13, Vile 13, Tengblad 9

Avondale 66 – Takenaka-Wesley 21, Muller 16, Lelaulu 16, Holmes 8

The bottom two Senior A teams in 2022 have both been relegated and replaced by the top two teams from Open Grade.

Selwyn College defeated Aorere College 86-79 while Kelston Boys High School return to Senior A after beating Macleans College 69-56.

Northcote College, after a long hiatus, are back in the Auckland Schools Girls Premier Grade after a commanding 78-48 win against Rangitoto College in the promotion/relegation play-off game on Tuesday.

Games are not won and lost in the opening quarter but Northcote certainly opened the contest with a statement of intent.

Nikki Gear nailed a corner three on the first possession to initiate a 10-0 opening salvo prompting Rangitoto coach Justine Reed to call a timeout.

Zaara Sain’s scooped layup got Rangi on the board but the first quarter belonged to the visitors who led 24-10 after ten minutes.

The large crowd were treated to an exciting second quarter as fortunes ebbed and flowed.

Ester Roberts knocked down a triple and with Maddison Skelton and Mela Andrews making shots the Northcote lead was shaved to 29-21.

Northcote would regain the initiative via Lily Morgan and DJ Hannah only for Roberts and Eva Veale to counter – Northcote ahead 40-28 after a fast paced first half.

The second half couldn’t have started worse for Rangi as Gear stole the restart inbounds pass before converting an uncontested layup while Lizzie May dropped her fourth triple (of five) to stretch the lead to 45-28.

Skelton got the scoreboard moving again for the hosts but it would be a quarter dominated by Northcote, and DJ Hannah in particular. 

The livewire guard was responsible for a couple of steals and 8 points as the Northcote lead stretched to an unassailable 62-34 by the three-quarter mark.

With the result not in doubt both teams gave opportunities to their bench players in the closing minutes – Lisa Gear and Grace Giles taking the opportunity to impress.

After a long absence Northcote – the national champions back in 2006 – will return to the top tier of schools basketball in Auckland for the 2023 season. Rangi will set about their rebuilding in Senior A.

Northcote 78 – Hannah 24, May 15, Morgan 14, N Gear 13, L Gear 6

Rangitoto 38 – Roberts 17, Skelton 9, Andrews 9, Giles 3