Onehunga High School came close to upsetting Westlake Boys High School in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Basketball competition on Friday night.
Played in front of a decent size crowd at North Shore Events Centre, Onehunga made the better start and led 21-11 at quarter time – Marvin Brown with 8 of the OHS points.
The second quarter was the Logan Hunt show as he knocked down 16 points in the period including four triples. Onehunga weren’t shy from behind the arc either but theirs was a more balanced approach as Brown, Shem Ili and Lesae Coe all connected from behind the arc.
Despite the Hunt scoring barrage OHS still held the ascendancy at half time, 46-40, Brown leading their effort with 17 points.
In the third quarter Westlake swingman Matt Freeman began to find his scoring touch. His back-to-back threes took the Swans into the lead for the first time in the game, and a put back by Joel Coffey on the buzzer extended the Westlake advantage to 67-61 at three quarter time.
Guard Greg Vukets scored 7 points in the final quarter and with 6:20 remaining and a 77-66 lead, Westlake appeared in total control.
After a time out from coach Anthony Keung OHS initiated a zone press that produced dividends as they narrowed the Lake advantage to 86-80. Denzel Puna caused the Westlake defence some problems with strong moves to the hoop and it took another Freeman triple to ease the nerves of the home bench.
A long Coe three inside the final 30 seconds excited the travelling support but time ran out for the visitors as Vukets and Freeman kept their composure at the free throw line to seal the win.
Final Score:
Westlake Boys 90 – Freeman 28p, Hunt 23p, Coffey 16p/11r, Vukets 15p, Tarbo Manyere 17rebounds. Onehunga High School 86 – Coe 20p, Puna 17p, Brown 17p
In the earlier game Westlake Girls continued their unbeaten run with a 100- 39 demolition of Mount Albert Grammar School in the Girls Premier competition.
Westlake guard Rosie Davison had 10 first quarter points as they built a solid 22-10 advantage.
Captain Georgia Perrott-Hunt and Zara Jillings both made double-digit contributions as Westlake sailed to a 50-23 lead, Rhyannon Poto sank three triples for MAGS but she was fighting a bit of a lone hanThe second half was more of the same as Tiarna Clarke, recently returned from the 3 on 3 Under 18 World Championships in Hungary and Jordan Maddix produced some eye-catching moments.
Final score:
Westlake Girls 100 – Jillings 23p, Clarke 16p, Davison 12p, Perrott-Hunt 12p, Clarke 16p, Noyer 10p, Maddix 10p MAGS – 39 – Poto 16p, Trinity Palu 9p
Standings as at 16.6.15
Girls
- Rangitoto Coll 6-1
- Auckland GGS 6-2
- Westlake GHS 5-0
- MT Albert GS 3-4
- Orewa Coll 3-4
Boys
- Rangitoto Coll 6-1
- Auckland GS 6-1
- Westlake BHS 6-1
- Onehunga HS 5-2
- Liston Coll 3-5
LACEY LOWDOWN 