There were just two games played when the Auckland Secondary Schools Girls Premier competition resumed on Friday.
In a top four match up Mt Albert Grammar needed a fourth quarter fight back to overcome Massey High before winning 74-68.
The two teams were shorn of a Shauna and a Sharne with both on New Zealand international duty at the U17 World Cup in Belarus.
Mt Albert, without Sharne Pupuke-Robati, made the better start ending the first quarter 17-13 ahead thanks to a brace of baskets apiece from Jada Manase and Moanekah Va’ai.
Massey edged a little closer in a free flowing second period as Ramona Fuiavaa, Terina Aratangi and Alyesha Schuster kept the score ticking over. Tessa Talo-Tomokino and Raykesha Fiatau were doing the same for MAGS – they led 38-36 at the interval.
Massey appeared not to be missing Shauna Povey as they outscored their visitors 20-10 in the third frame. Aratangi knocked down three triples in the period and Laticia Jost added a fourth as the hosts carried a 56-48 lead into the three-quarter break.
Fuiavaa scored 8 points for Massey in the final period but their scoring dried up from other sources. In contrast MAGS found scoring a good deal easier – with Manase scoring ten points and Talo-Tomokino six – Massey were outscored 26-12 in the final ten minutes.
The loss leaves Massey two wins behind third placed Westlake but two clear of fifth placed Rangitoto, the only other team with a realistic chance of claiming a semi-final spot. MAGS remain second, one win ahead of Westlake.
Massey 68 – R Fuiavaa 24, T Aratangi 14, L Jost 11, A Schuster 11
MAGS 74 – J Manase 22, R Fiatau 18, T Talo-Tomokino 17, M Kelly 8
Also in action at the U17 World Cup is Tayla Dalton and her presence was sorely missed by Carmel College who were well beaten by close neighbours Westlake 105-28.
The writing was on the wall early on as Westlake charged to a 24-9 opening quarter lead extended to 41-11 at half-time.
Emily Broomfield and Georgia Green scored all the Carmel points in the third stanza but they trailed 71-20 at the end of the period.
Westlake, led by 26 points from Emme Shearer, also had Makenzee Boucher, Jess Moors, Rosie Dil and Simone Barnard in double figures as they cruised to an eighth win of the season with only one game dropped in their last nine outings.
Carmel 28 – E Broomfield 10, G Green 9
Westlake 105 – E Shearer 26, M Boucher 14, J Moors 12, R Dil 12, S Barnard 10, S Woolford 10
The Rangitoto College versus Auckland Girls Grammar fixture was played before the school holiday break with AGGS winning 88-52.
The St Kentigern College against St Mary’s game was postponed until a later date.
Premier Standings
11-0 AGGS
9-2 MAGS
8-3 Westlake
6-5 Massey
4-7 Rangitoto
2-8 St Mary’s
2-9 Carmel
1-9 St Kentigern
LACEY LOWDOWN 