LACEY LOWDOWN

From James Lissaman

It’s beginning to look like Rangi Ruru and Middleton Grange are on a collision course to meet in the #McDsWT Final, as both teams are 4-0, although last year’s beaten finalist (Christchurch Girls’) are also unbeaten at 3-0 and more than capable of knocking the mantle of favourite from one of those two teams.

Division II is much closer, though Avonside and St. Margaret’s are both unbeaten, and will be favoured to reach the final. Villa Maria’s play has improved over the season under Kenny Perkins’ direction, and they had a strong 61-45 win over Hillmorton, where balance was key. Four players reached double figures: Georgia Knowles (15p); Casey Robinson (14p); Hannah Glen (12p); and Rose Clarkson (11p). Hillmorton’s Michelle Scott (15p) and Holly Iafeta (14p) helped the Hillmorton team get back in the game (down 13-33 at the half, but closing the gap to eight a handful of times in the third and fourth quarter).

On the boys’ side, Division II has three teams battling for supremacy, with Hillmorton leading the way at 7-0, while Papanui and St. Thomas are right behind at 6-1. Linwood was no match for Hillmorton’s dominance here, going down 107-46, as all 12 Tigers scored, led by Maoluma Sakaria (17p). Mahonri Tauiliili-Pau (16p), Ihaia Kendrew (14p), Jovin Fabic (12p), and Rhys Kershaw (11p) also hitting double figures for Hillmorton.

Rhoi Sanchez was held in check for Linwood, only just managing to reach 10 points. St. Thomas scored a 118-42 win over Hornby, where they raced out to a lead thanks to a 42 point first quarter. Jacob Sue (who had been scoring over 40ppg recently) was unavailable, but eight players from STC reached double figures in the win.

In Division I, Cashmere, Christ’s College and Burnside are leading the way, but Middleton Grange will be one team none of these want to face early in the playoffs, as Junior Tall Black Angus McWilliam will be back from his international duty by then for Tim Bennetts’ team.

Shirley Boys’ is another team with the potential for a strong postseason run, proving so as they dispatched Christchurch Boys’ 82-71. Point guard Sean Kelly finished with 23p and three steals, young big man Josh Thomson showed he’s been studying the dream shake (16p), while his post partner Joel Jeffrey scored 11p.

St. Bede’s is still searching for a Division I win, falling to Burnside 97-64. Rchi Lugtu (15p) and Tom Hughes (11p) performing admirably in a game that got away from the Bedeans, partly due to their inability to keep possession (24 turnovers).

All Results:

Whelan Division I

Cashmere 73-69 St. Andrew’s (Double OT)

Ashburton 72-34 Kaiapoi

Rangi Ruru 79-39 Rangiora

Ladder

Whelan Division II

St. Margaret’s 61-32 Ellesmere

Avonside 64-56 Lincoln

Villa Maria 61-45 Hillmorton

Ladder

Thompson Division I

Burnside 97-64 St. Bede’s

Cashmere 84-44 Rangiora (Dowson Cup defended)

Shirley 82-71 Christchurch Boys’

Christ’s 98-62 St. Andrew’s

Ashburton 82-71 Middleton Grange

Ladder

Thompson Division II

Hillmorton 107-46 Linwood

St. Thomas 118-42 Hornby

Kaiapoi 65-54 Ellesmere

Papanui 88-57 Cathedral

Riccarton 84-69 Lincoln

Ladder

In the latest round of the Auckland Secondary Schools Girl’s Premier Grade there were wins on Monday night for Orewa College, Westlake Girls, Auckland Grammar and Mt Albert Grammar.

Westlake Girls inflicted just the second loss of the season on Massey High School winning 63-57 in the game of the round at WBHS.

Mareta Davidson opened the scoring for Westlake with a couple of baskets, Sylvia Wieczorek replied in the same fashion for Massey.

Shauna Povey landed a couple of treys but Jordyn Maddix’s floater gave Lake an 18-14 quarter time lead.

A long three from Alyesha Schuster opened the Massey account in the second but Jess Moors, picking holes in the visitors defence with strong drives gave Westlake a 29-22 lead.

Back to back baskets from Kataleena Leslie reduced the deficit to three points – 36-33 at half-time. Moors led all scorers with 13 points at the break – Leslie close behind with a dozen.

Massey opened the second half with an 11-0 run, Lake coach Jody Cameron needing a timeout. Maddix scored on the resumption but Wieczorek replied immediately.

Rosie Dil scored five points on the bounce, her team nine straight, and Lake ended the third ahead, but only just, 49-48.

Two Maddix triples stretched the Lake lead to 59-51 at the mid point of the fourth before Povey landed back to back baskets as Massey closed to within four points with four minutes to play.

Moors snared an important offensive rebound and the resulting basket took the hosts to 62-55 with two minutes remaining.

Ramona Fuaivaa gave Massey some hope but Moors had the final say from the foul line as Westlake strengthened its top four position with the win.

Westlake 63 – Moors 19, Maddix 16, Shearer 15, Davidson 8

Massey 57 – Povey 18, Leslie 15, Wieczorek 11, Nikolaison 6

Despite 34 points from Maclani Michael Orewa College was able to defeat Avondale College 68-53.

Avondale led by six points early in proceedings but Orewa, a little slow out the starting gate, struck back to lead at the first mark 14-13.

Hannah Wentworth scored 8 consecutive points for Orewa in the middle of the second and with Megan Hoare making the last two baskets in the stanza they led 34-24 at half-time. Maclani Michael led all scorers at the break with 17 points and Melissa Edwards backed her up with 6 points of her own.

Orewa still led 45-33 after a low scoring third frame although the shackles were shed in the final quarter as both teams found some scoring rhythm.

Michael continued to be the main threat for Avondale but Wentworth, Hoare,Holly Kagan-Downer and Janke Pretorius ensured Orewa sailed home with a second win of the season under their belts.

Avondale 53 – Michael 34, Edwards 9, Nwere 6

Orewa 68 – Wentworth 21, Hoare 14, Kagan-Downer 12, Pretorius 10

Also sailing home was Mt Albert Grammar School.

It was a tough night out for Carmel College as they found themselves down 73-29 down to Mt Albert at half-time.

MAGS continued to rack up the points in the second half but it was a much more even contest in the final two periods thanks to 32 points from Tayla Dalton and 19 points from Millie Simpson.

Trinity Paeu is in good form and the MAGS forward ran up 40 points in this one ably supported by the likes of Sharne Pupuke-Robati, Jada Manase and Tessa Talo-Tomokino.

Mt Albert 132 – Paeu 40, Manase 25, Talo-Tomokino 20, Pupuke-Robati 18

Carmel 70 – Dalton 32, Simpson 19, Cattermole 8

 Auckland Girls Grammar School continue to sit top of the table with MAGS after defeating Rangitoto College 85-56 with forward Mele Latu scoring 30 points.

 Grammar made a fast start racing to a 23-13 first period lead. Kaitlin Burgess and Bella Elgar had six points each in the quarter for Rangitoto but Latu had 10 points of her own.

Latu scored 6 straight points early in the second and Rionne Papa chimed in with 6 as the AGGS lead climbed to 41-19 by the break.

A Kaitlin Burgess triple did little to slow the Grammar momentum – Latu was scoring inside and out, Zhanay Hettig joined the party, and the visitors were 64-33 to the good at the three-quarter break.

Ella Moore converted a couple of threes for Rangi early in the fourth but Grammar were always in control coasting to a comfortable win.

Score: Rangitoto 56 – Elgar 13, Burgess 13, Spooner 13, Moore 9

AGGS 85 – Latu 30, T Ropati 14, Hettig 11

The final round of games before the July school holiday break will be played on Friday, Mt Albert versus Massey the pick of the games.

Premier Standings

8-1 AGGS, Mt Albert

6-2 Massey

5-4 Westlake

4-5 Rangitoto

2-7 Carmel, Orewa

0-8 Avondale

There were a full round of games in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade competition on Monday night. The feature game was Auckland Grammar School’s visit to Rangitoto College and it lived up to its billing with Grammar finishing strongly to win an entertaining encounter 82-71.

There were also wins for Mt Albert Grammar, Westlake Boys and Rosmini College.

At Rangitoto Rua Winitana and Logan Anderson exchanged threes in the early skirmishes – Campbell Green and Thomas Whyte knocking down a brace of them as Grammar forged a 25-17 quarter time lead.

Winitana was prominent early on and he stretched the Grammar lead into double figures – 36-28 prompting Rangi coach Kenny Stone to call a timeout.

Zack Te Puni kept the score moving for Rangi, an inside move peeling the Grammar lead back to 40-34 with 2:30 left in the half. The same player reduced the advantage to three points and it was Grammar coach Dave Mackay’s turn to call a time out.

Tom Higgins scored on the next offence but Te Puni capped off a 21 points half to give Rangi a 45-44 lead.

Anderson opened the second half with a sideline three – Whyte mirrored that for AGS – a Cam Stone jumper taking Rangi out to 57-51.

Six straight points from Sam Aruwa reduced the lead to a single score before Rissetto tied the game at 62 apiece. Aruwa was dominating the offensive boards and he scored his tenth point of the quarter to edge the visitors ahead.

Winitana had the last say of the period – his buzzer beating three earning AGS a 68-63 lead.

As he had at the start of the previous period Anderson opened up with a triple but Green pushed the Grammar lead out to 74-66 with 6:30 to play.

Anderson landed yet another three, his fifth of the game, but Rangi were struggling to penetrate the active Grammar defence and when Higgins scored again the visitors led 80-71 with two minutes to play.

Grammar locked in on the Rangi shooters denying easy looks and wound down the clock efficiently – the win emphasising their title credentials.

Rangitoto 71 – Anderson 25, Te Puni 24, Clarke 10, Stone 8

Grammar 82 – Higgins 20, Winitana 18, Aruwa 12, Whyte 10, Green 8

Mount Albert Grammar have suffered a number of agonisingly close defeats in recent weeks but on there home court they dispatched Macleans College 110-84 in a high scoring game.

It looked like another close encounter at three-quarters with MAGS just ahead 82-75. However a 28 points scoring blitz in the fourth, led by Mandela Baledrokadroka, eased the hosts to a much needed win.

Macleans edged the first stanza by a point but MAGS pulled clear in the second to lead 58-48 at the break. Alex Arthur had 18 points at half time for Macleans but a balanced scoring effort from MAGS swung the advantage their way.

Te Akau Pumpi and Clarke Aiono made early baskets in the third for MAGS but Arthur, Andrew Fei and Blake van Uden ensured Macleans were still in touch at three-quarter time.

The Macleans offence stuttered in the fourth and with the MAGS scoring, led by Baledrokadroka, Jonty Vink and Ryan Laumata, in top gear the hosts grabbed an important second win.

Mt Albert 110 – Baledrokadroka 20, Vink 18/16r, Pumipi 18, Laumatia 14, Morrison 12, Tawera 11

Macleans 84 – Arthur 29, van Uden 16, Kuvelkar 10, Lafotanoa 9

Westlake bounced back from Friday’s defeat at Auckland Grammar defeating a spirited Kelston Boys 71-62.

Jesse Winter opened the Westlake scoring with a three but Matangi Prescott landed a couple for Kelston as they trailed by a point after ten minutes -19-18.

Ethan Martin and James Moors kept Westlake ahead in the second but a triple from To’o Mase helped keep Kelston in the hunt at half-time trailing 35-30.

Another close quarter was won by Westlake 19-14 thanks largely to 12 points shared by Moors and Fitzgerald. Matt Cairns-Hita chipped in with a trey and Sam Brooking did the same for Kelston, 54-44 they trailed at three-quarter time.

Prescott and Kale Lawson kept the Lake defence busy in the fourth but the reliable Moors and Fitzgerald were again on the mark to keep Westlake’s unbeaten home record intact.

Westlake 71 – Fitzgerald 21, Moors 19, Cairns-Hita 10, Malingin 8

Kelston 62 – Prescott 21, Lawson 11, Mase 8, Brooking 7

Rosmini College travelled over the Bridge and picked up a 95-76 victory at St Kentigern College.

The win was built on a solid second half performance after St Kentigern led at half-time 43-40.

St Kent’s captain Kyle Robb scored 23 first half points and with Zac Chan and Max Shorter wading in with handy contributions the hosts were giving Rosmini plenty to think about despite 11 points from Matt Sokol.

Jayden Boucher and Terence Abdon got things going for Rozza early in the third and a three from Marvin Williams-Dunn took the visitors out to a 62-59 three-quarter time lead. St Kent’s were dealt a blow in the period with the influential Robb leaving the game with a knee injury.

Chan, who finished with six triples in the game, and Shorter scored all of the hosts 17 points in the final period but it was not enough to hold off a fast finishing opposition.

Mitch Dance, Boucher and Williams-Dunn ensured that Rozza recorded a third away win of the season.

St Kentigern 76 – Shorter 38, Chan 18, Robb 12, Jones 4

Rosmini 95 – Dance 28, Williams-Dunn 23, Sokol 13, Boucher 10

Heading into the final third of the season the top four teams appear to be solidifying their standings but there is still plenty to play for as we head into the final full round of games before the July holiday recess.

There is also a bumper match up next Monday, July 3^rd, with Rosmini entertaining Rangitoto – both trying to catch league leaders Westlake.

Premier Grade Standings

8-1 Westlake

6-2 Rangitoto, Rosmini

6-3 Auckland Grammar

3-6 St Kentigern, Macleans

2-7 Mt Albert

1-8 Kelston

Senior A Results

Avondale College 83 Manurewa 72

Western Springs 69 St Peter’s 97

Massey 118 Northcote 96

Pakuranga v Liston – result unknown

Kelston Boys gained a much needed first win and Westlake Boys suffered their first defeat in Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade action on Friday night.

Auckland Grammar with something approaching a full strength lineup for the first time this season were able to halt the Westlake winning sequence at seven. Grammar put the clamps on the Westlake scoring to win 79-52.

Anzac Rissetto dominated the early proceedings with 15 points as Grammar raced to a 26-17 opening quarter advantage.

The two teams shared 30 points in the second period – triples from James Moors and Matt Cairns-Hita countered by the interior scoring of the returning Samson Aruwa and Rissetto.

Nine points down at half-time Westlake found themselves in a hole by the three-quarter mark trailing 60-43.

Moors scored a couple of baskets in the period for the visitors but Westlake, missing the rebounding presence of Under 18 3×3 World Cup bound Thabo Manyere, were unable to control Aruwa and Rissetto as they combined for another dozen points in the third.

A triple from Campbell Green and 8 points from Thomas Whyte ensured there would be no Westlake resurgence in the final period. Reuben Fitzgerald led the Lake scoring but their unbeaten run was stopped in its tracks.

Score: Auckland Grammar 79 – Rissetto 27, Whyte 11, Aruwa 10, Green 9, Higgins 7

Westlake 52 – Fitzgerald 13, Moors 10, Winter 8, Hidalgo 5, Cairns-Hita 5, L Mennenga 5

In Takapuna it needed a couple of late baskets from Kruz Perrott-Hunt and Marvin Willaims-Dunn for Rosmini College to see off Mt Albert Grammar.

MAGS looked as if they would steal a win in the Tom Gerrard Gymnasium for the second successive year when the outstanding Ryan Laumatia nailed a jump shot to put his team up 62-61 with two minutes to play.

However Perrott-Hunt made a three as the shot clock expired with 1:25 to play and a couple of possessions later Williams-Dunn, who to that point had had a shooting night to forget, made a crucial left handed drive with 13 seconds to play.

MAGS were unable to create a worthwhile shot in the time remaining and Rozza escaped with a 66-62 win.

Earlier Mitch Dance and Williams-Dunn took Rosmini to an early lead but Laumatia soon balanced the ledger.

Perrott-Hunt, back earlier in the day from the Basketball Without Borders Camp in China, landed a three, as did Terence Abdon – Rozza ahead 26-13 at the first break.

Jonty Vink, Mandela Baledrokadroka and Laumatia produced a 7-0 MAGS run at the start of the second. The run moved to substantial proportions, 15-2, as MAGS players continually found a way to the hoop to level the scores.

Peter Jenkins finally scored from the field for Rosmini but Te Akau Pumipi gave MAGS the lead 32-30. The visitors had dominated the quarter but a Matt Sokol basket on the penultimate possession of the period gave Rozza a slender 34-32 lead.

Taine Murray landed the first triple of the second half but scoring almost ground to a halt as defences dominated. Laumatia had the final say of a period in which both teams struggled to score – his And1 play edging MAGS ahead 46-45.

Jack Morrison gave MAGS its biggest lead of the game, 56-50, four minutes into the fourth.

Dance was becoming to go-to man for the hosts, his triple making it a one-point game.

Pumipi and Sokol exchanged baskets 60-57 to MAGS with 3:55 to play.

Reihana Maxwell –Topia again reduced the MAGS lead to a single point before Dance made it 61-60 to Rozza at the 2:30 mark.

Laumatia’s jump shot appeared crucial but then it was over to Perrott-Hunt and Williams-Dunn for the two key plays and MAGS fell to yet another agonising single figure defeat.

Score: Rosmini 66 – Dance 22, Perrot-Hunt 12, Jenkins 6, Williams-Dunn 5

Mt Albert 62 – Laumatia 22, Pumipi 10, Morrison 10, Baledrokadroka 7

Kelston Boys were able to hustle Macleans College into numerous mistakes to fuel their transition offence led by Matangi Prescott.

With Kale Lawson dominating the boards Kelston secured a valuable 102-89 first win of the season.

Rangitoto College showed resilience in their visit to St Kentigern College. After the team bus was involved in a shunt on the way to the game a couple of players were rested as a precaution after incurring bumps and bruises.

Down to seven players Rangi were still too good for the hosts winning 90-60 with the in form Harry Clarke notching 32 points and Zack Te Puni adding 21 points.

Premier Grade Standings

7-1 Westlake

6-1 Rangitoto

5-2 Rosmini

5-3 Auckland Grammar

3-5 St Kentigern, Macleans

1-7 Mt Albert, Kelston

From James Lissaman

Teams are now starting to jockey for positions in the McDonald’s competitions, with Cashmere High School taking sole possession of the number one spot in Division I of the Thompson Trophy, while only three Whelan teams are without a blemish on their record (Middleton Grange, Rangi Ruru and Christchurch Girls’ High).
Avonside Girls’ High’s young team has begun growing more comfortable on court, coming away with two big wins in Division II, first over a much taller Villa Maria team (54-31), where Molly Cockburn finished with 16p, Bella Digby (12p) and Hayley Forster (11p). Casey Robinson led the charge for Villa Maria with 14p.

Ellesmere was the next victim of the Lady Eagles, going down 63-53 in an exciting game. Molly Cockburn had 32p this time, while Ellesmere’s Kerra Johansen (20p) and Paris Nurse (17p) kept the visitors close throughout.

Middleton Grange ran away from Cashmere 95-46, as Lauryn Hippolite (31p) proved to be too much for her less experienced opponents to handle. Megan Ellis also had 31p for the Gators, and Sofia Kennedy 10p. Cashmere’s Emma Robinson and Samantha Irvine both finished with 11p each in the loss.

Kaiapoi was next up against Middleton, and a promising first quarter gave way to the usual Gator onslaught, ending up as a 77-47 victory for Middleton Grange. Megan Ellis was a force around the rim (38p), with Lauryn Hippolite (16p) playing the supporting role this time. Helen Matthews (19p) handled the Gators pressure superbly, and Olivia Attewell (10p) proved her worth for Kaiapoi too.

Things didn’t get any easier for Cashmere, as they faced Rangi Ruru in Round Six, only going down by a respectable fifteen points (79-64). Alice Sproat (22p) led the way for Rangi Ruru, with Millie Knight (14p), Alida Pohatu-Barnes and Connie Taylor (12p each) scoring in double figures. Rachel Pullan had a twenty point outing for Cashmere, and Samantha Irvine finished with 13p.

Cathedral College and Hillmorton met in a high level Thompson Trophy Division II matchup, but with the game in the balance (five point margin in the fourth quarter), Jibraan Safi went berserk from behind the arc (12p – including three treys in the final quarter). Hillmorton’s Joshua Nickel (21p) was too big for Cathedral to deal with the entire game, Mahnonri Tauiliili-Pau scored 17p, and the sharpshooting Kendrew finished with 20p.

Cathedral’s James Rensulat (21p) carried the brunt of their scoring load, with Graeme Patu-Vaegaau and Ace Dosdos both finishing with 11p each. Oscar Hooper channelled Ben Wallace as he finished with 0p (0/1 fg) and 12r.

Hillmorton followed up with a solid win against a scrappy Kaiapoi team 97-61, where Kendrew (26p), Tauiliili-Pau (20p) and Nickel (14p) again led the way. Kalem Morgan (14p) top scored for Kaiapoi, with Cameron Wilson (12p) and Sam McCartin (10p) reaching double figures.

Linwood fell to St. Thomas 104-70, as they were treated to 28p from Rhoi Sanchez, but came away with a win they travelled to play Hornby (73-61)in Round Six. This time it was Joshua Galang (23p) leading the way, and JC Kabigting notching a double-double (11p 12r).

Cashmere successfully defended the Dowson Cup twice, first in a 103-33 demolition of St. Bede’s, where only Tom Hughes was able to provide any semblance of resistance (11p).

Next up was a slightly shorthanded Christ’s College team (Max de Geest was in China for the Asia Pacific Camp). This game was the one chosen for the New Zealand Broadcasting School to use as part of their practical experience, having use of a $15 million Sky TV truck, to do a fantastic job as they streamed the game on facebook and YouTube.

Maxwell Darling made things very exciting down the stretch as he hit four three-pointers in the final quarter en route to 42p, but Tom Crutchley was the only other teammate to hit double figures (13p). Ultimately, it wasn’t enough as Cashmere hung on 72-65. Tom Russ-Hofmas (22p) and Connor McLaughlin (16p) both proving their class, while Mitchell Mahon scored 10p in the win.

Midleton Grange had somewhat of a surprise win, coming out on top of Christchurch Boys’ 88-69. Ben Carlile-Smith (27p), Jarred Burnett (11p) and Fabian Hoekendijk (10p) building the lead for the Gators. Kurt Feneon had one of his higher scoring outbursts (21p) and Nick Aucutt had 10p.

Shirley Boys’ High had an expected win over St. Bede’s 81-54, after dropping three of their previous four games. Balance was key here, with Josh Thomson (17p) leading the way. Sean Kelly (14p), Wiremu Waaka (10p), and Solomona Nanai (10p) also getting into double figures in the Spartan win.

Whelan Division I

Christchurch Girls’ 74-38 Kaiapoi

Burnside 74-53 Rangiora

St. Andrew’s 54-53 Ashburton

Middleton Grange 95-46 Cashmere

Middleton Grange 77-47 Kaiapoi

Rangi Ruru 79-64 Cashmere

Christchurch Girls’ 82-31 Rangiora

Ladder

 Whelan Division II

St. Margaret’s 51-50 Hillmorton

Avonside 54-31 Villa Maria

Ellesmere 68-59 Lincoln

Hillmorton 49-47 Lincoln

Avonside 63-53 Ellesmere

St. Margaret’s 72-54 Villa Maria

Ladder

Thompson Division I

Cashmere Boys Basketball 103-33 St. Bede’s

Burnside 81-75 Shirley Boys’

Middleton Grange 88-69 Christchurch Boys’

Ashburton 78-66 St. Andrew’s

Christ’s 74-68 Rangiora

Burnside 80-72 Ashburton

Rangiora 89-66 Christchurch Boys’

Shirley 81-53 St. Bede’s

Cashmere 72-65 Christ’s College (Dowson Cup defended)

Ladder

 Thompson Division II

Kaiapoi 100-66 Hornby

Papanui 90-48 Riccarton

Ellesmere 74-52 Lincoln

St. Thomas 104-70 Linwood

Hillmorton 85-65 Cathedral

Hornby 73-61 Linwood

Cathedral 86-69 Ellesmere

St. Thomas 77-69 Riccarton

Papanui 100-31 Lincoln

Hillmorton 97-61 Kaiapoi