
Thabo Manyere
The feature game of round 7 of the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Prem competition was the match up between two old rivals Westlake Boys High School and Auckland Grammar School. AGS looked in control at three-quarter time leading 54-43 but were outscored in the final quarter by a rampant Westlake 34-7 to lose 77-61.
A Leroy Brown three punctuated four points from Isaac Letoa in the opening stages and a dunk from the impressive Connor Flanagan gave AGS a 7-6 lead.
Reuben Fitzgerald’s three tied the scores then eight straight points from Thabo Manyere propelled Westlake to a 17-13 quarter time lead.
Grammar opened the second period scoring through Flanagan and Rua Winitan in transition tied the scores 20-20.
The teams were exchanging baskets as Letoa glided to the hoop, Manyere converted an and 1 play and then fed James Moors for a reverse lay up.
At the other end Flanagan scored with a hook shot and a Samson Aruwa put back gave AGS 32-31 half-time lead.
Early in the second a baseline jumper from Winitana and a triple from Brown extended AGS advantage to 40-32.
Fitzgerald responded with a three for Westlake but Aruwa, dominating the paint, finished the third quarter with a muscular offensive move to keep AGS ahead 54-43.
Westlake needed to respond and respond they did. They began the final period with some extended ball pressure and the move paid dividends as AGS committed a series of turnovers – Fitzgerald cutting the advantage to 58-50 with 7:23 to play.
More turnovers, more Lake points in transition, 59-58 with 4:56 left.
A Moors jumper tied the scores, Manyere scored the go ahead dunk 62-60 to Westlake and an AGS timeout required.
Further Manyere points and an intercept from the athletic forward for a Fitzgerald basket, AGS without any answers 70-60 down with only 2:30 to play.
Westlake had all the momentum as a Letoa assist fed another Manyere dunk before Letoa himself capped a remarkable final quarter for his team with a late triple.
Westlake producing a stunning last period, Grammar left to ponder what might have been.
Final Score: Westlake 77- Letoa 17/10, Manyere 28pts/14rebs, Fitzgerald 17, Vukets 7. AGS 61 – Brown 14, Flanagan 12, Winitana 10, Aruwa 9.

Rangitoto College remains in equal top spot with Westlake after a 92-65 victory at Kelston Boys HS.
The scores were locked at 20 points apiece, with Linus Jakzst nabbing 10 early points in the first period. However Rangi made the necessary adjustments to contain Jakzst in the paint and when a Cam Stone block set up a spectacular and 1 play for Harry Clarke Rangi were 10 points clear.
Rangi won each of the subsequent quarters by margins of 10, 3 and 14 to record a sixth win of the season. Zac Te Puni top scored for Rangi after a 14 points final quarter haul but there were contributions right across the board for the victors.
Kelston were well served by Liam Milne and Kale Lawson who scored 18 points each.
Final Score: Kelston 65 – Milne 18, Lawson 18pts/7rebs, Jakzst 12/14, Matangi Prescott 8. Rangitoto 92 – Te Puni 20, Clarke 14, Kaycee Anibueze 13, Hyrum Shin 10, Dan Fotu 10

In a scrappy match at St Kents, Rosmini College resisted an improved Onehunga High School side, winning 108-82. Rosmini were out of the gates early capitalising on turnovers from the Onehunga guards and using their full court defense to full effect, leading 74-44 at the half.
A stand out performance from Onehunga guard Zarne Leuluai-Hughes (44 points) kept the game interesting in the second half but Rosmini, winning their third game on the trot, were always in control.
Rosmini, paced by twenty points contributions from Taine Wattie and Mitchell Dance, gave Premier debuts to Deimar Cruz and Tyler Martin.
Final Score: Onehunga 82 – Leuluai-Hughes 44, Joe Tufuga 15. Rosmini 108 – Dance 24, Wattie 22, Nathan Curran 16pts/9rebs. Will Heather 14pts/8rebs.

Mt Albert Grammar grabbed the win against Liston College 61-42 but it took a last quarter 17-6 charge for MAGS to see off their feisty opponents.
Michael Gardner, 27 points on the night, and Mandela Baledrokadroka shared twelve final period points to stifle the Liston challenge.
Final Score MAGS 61 – Gardner 27, Baledrokadroka 10pts/11rebs, Theo Hurdley 6
Liston 42 – Emmanuel Maagdenburg 13, John Fabian 9, Lev Prokefyeu 8 Kim Estonactor 7,
Boys Standings after 7 rounds;
6-1 Westlake Boys HS, Rangitoto College
4-3 Auckland Grammar, Mt Albert Grammar, Rosmini College
3-4 Kelston Boys HS
1-6 Liston Coll
0-7 Onehunga HS