LACEY LOWDOWN

Cashmere High are back-to-back McDonald’s Thomson Trophy champions, defeating Rangiora in a convincing 86-61 win in the last game of season, with Nic Wenmoth taking the Finals MVP award (19PTS, 7REB). During the first half both teams kept the game close with the score being 36-31 to Cashmere. When the fourth quarter started Rangiora struggled to score and Cashmere took advantage consistently making easy buckets. The Cashmere bench outscored Rangiora’s 36-6 over the entire game, which helped contribute to their biggest lead of 26 points.

In the first quarter both teams traded buckets, Jack Exeter setting the pace of the game driving hard to the rim each time and his partner Lachie MacFarlane hitting some jump shots for Rangiora. But Cashmere’s ability to get the free throw line, stopping Rangiora’s momentum, was pivotal. The quarter ended 17-15 in Cashmere’s favour, with Thomas Webley leading the scoring with eight points after ten minutes.

Cashmere’s Louis Oskam also ended the first quarter on a strong note, and started the second quarter with consecutive jump shots. Rangiora answered and levelled the score thanks to MacFarlane’s mid-range shooting. In the last three minutes of the half, Paul Conner made liberal use of his substitutes, giving the starters some rest for the next half. Impact sub Finn Barclay managed to drain a three and followed this with a pair of free throws and Cashmere’s defensive presence were able to maintain the lead going into the half 36-31.

The third quarter action started off with Cashmere bringing their starters back. In the first four minutes here Oskam and Wenmoth combined for 11 points, but Exeter and MacFarlane dug deep to bring the Rangiora team back into the game, linking for 13-points to make the game 55-51 with two minutes left in the period. Cashmere again subbed their bench in, and managed to see out the third quarter up 61-53.

 With only ten minutes to go, Cashmere resting their starting players was essential for their fourth quarter dominance, as they went on a 14-2 run. Quick transition buckets from Cashmere’s starting line-up made the game 75-55 with only six minutes remaining. Rangiora had no answer now, and struggled to get a defensive stop. Exeter managed to sink a couple of free throws, but immediately at the other end, Quinten Conner delivered a back-breaking three. Cashmere did not stop there and continued to show their hard-work and ability by scoring on almost every possession. Paul Conner’s team outscored their opponents in the fourth quarter 25-8. Oskam finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds, while Jack Exeter and Lachie MacFarlane both scored 18 points.

Paul Connor said this after the win: “As a team we knew Rangiora were going to come out firing and step up for the final. They did this which produced challenges for our team, which we needed to adjust to constantly.

“Rangiora are a well-coached team and their lead players play to their strengths efficiently. Our team’s depth shone through in the fourth quarter, but until then Rangiora were in the game and we knew they will be a challenge if we meet them at the South Island Premiership next week.

In the McDonald’s Whelan Division One Final between Rangi Ruru and St. Andrew’s, it was Charlotte Whittaker who put on a show for the crowd. Whittaker started the game by scoring 13 of St. Andrew’s points in the first quarter, coming from all areas around the court. Rangi Ruru’s Alice Sproat (17PTS,14REB) made a strong first impression as she scored six in the quarter. This helped get the two-time defending champions into a rhythm. However, with the rest on the team struggling from the field, the first quarter ended being 24-11 to St. Andrew’s.

In the second quarter, it was a similar story. St. Andrew’s had all the momentum with multiple players scoring easy buckets. At the four-minute mark the score was 35-20, and it seemed like Rangi Ruru had no answer for stopping them. Whittaker and Millie Nesbit combined for 11 points here, allowing St. Andrew’s to take a 42-22 lead into the second half.

StAC continued to dominate Rangi Ruru in the second half. Sproat and Ashlee Strawbridge (20PTS, 13REB) managed to bring a bit of life into the team here, as they combined to score 8-points. They were still no match for Whittaker and her ability in the low post, as she alone managed to score 10-points in the third quarter. Notably for St. Andrew’s Billie Watson, Nesbit and Te Rina Cooper also contributed to the score and helped create a comfortable 23-point lead going into the fourth, up 61-38.

With the division title sitting very comfortably in the hands of St. Andrew’s and out of sight for Rangi Ruru, Strawbridge managed to create a late run scoring 10-points in the quarter with a pair of threes. With the help of Sproat’s 6-points in the quarter, the lead was cut down to 13. But St. Andrew’s tactic of feeding Whittaker in the post proved impossible to guard consistently, as she scored another 10-points in a quarter. With 45 seconds left remaining Whittaker delivered a dagger three right through the heart of Rangi Ruru, helping her team close out the game 73-59.

To nobody’s surprise Charlotte Whittaker was named Finals MVP award with an extremely impressive performance of 40 points, 18 rebounds and 5 steals.

From James Lissaman

Macleans College Boys and Botany Downs Secondary College Girls have gained promotion to the 2019 Premier Grade competition after contrasting Senior A Grand Final wins.

Macleans led from start to finish to beat Liston College 88-64 whereas Botany Downs were forced to come from behind to defeat Epsom Girls Grammar 61-54.

MacLeans had 12 points on the board before their opponents made a basket and that was extended to 31-5 by quarter time as nothing went right for Liston.

Things improved for Liston in the second quarter but they were still in trouble at half-time trailing 45-23.

A good third frame ensued for Liston, a mighty effort getting them within eleven points at the three-quarter mark (55-44).

That was as close as it got – Macleans reeled off a 9-0 run to open the fourth period and cruised through the closing stages to claim the win, the Senior A trophy and a return to the Premier Grade for coach Adrian Boyd and his charges after an absence of just one season.

Macleans captain Sai Kuvelkar played extremely well on both end of the floor and he received excellent assistance from Tyson Kempton and Michael Babaran.

Liston gained terrific service from Edward Maagdenburg, Lev Prokov and Kiani Saxon but will now have to wait until next April to secure a spot in the Premier Division – a play-off game against St Peter’s College awaits them.

Macleans College 88

Liston College 64

Epsom Girls chose the wrong time to relinquish their unbeaten record in the Senior A competition, run down in the fourth quarter by a fast finishing Botany Downs, to lose their first game of the season.

It was tight throughout but Epsom did lead 45-42 at three-quarter-time and 52-48 midway through the last.

However the loss of three starters, all falling victims of the five foul count, meant Epsom were powerless to halt the Botany charge.

Tafito Pomarlina Lafaele made the go-ahead points (53-52) with 2:36 to play but it was Sophia and Ngapipi Herewini that did most of the damage. The pair combined for 16 points in the final quarter (43 points in the game) to carry Botany to Premier status.

Earlier the two teams tied the opening period 16 points apiece before Epsom dominated the second quarter to establish a 35-27 half-time lead – Aria Todd-Pemerika and Sarah-Joy Aruwa combining for 13 second quarter points for Epsom.

Florence Dallow scored eight straight points for Epsom in the third but Sophia Herewini notched half a dozen for Botany as they reduced the deficit to three points with ten minutes to play.

Critically Dallow and Aruwa both fouled out early in the fourth and although Sarah Scoular and Todd-Pemerika made baskets it was Epsom that dominated the closing minutes to clinch automatic promotion.

Botany Downs 61 – S Herewini 24, N Herewini 19, T Herewini 8, T Lafaele

Epsom 54 – F Dallow 14, A Todd-Pemerika 11, S Aruwa 9, M Satele 6, S Scoular 6

Other 2018 College Sport Auckland Secondary Schools Basketball Championship results.

Junior Boys

Auckland Grammar 36 – Cody Brown 9, Caleb Landon 9, Toby Caldwell 7, Daniel Boyd 5

Westlake Boys 30 – Harry Barnard 7, Tawhiao Kaitapu 7, Ethan Winch 6

Junior Girls

Carmel College 33 – Katie Linstrom 15, Qaizden Stephano 6, Marina Lough 5

Onehunga High 32 – Eden Ill 12, Jada Tairea 8, Tina Tu’ifua 8

U17 Girls

Auckland Girls Grammar 36 – Heeni Blakey 19, Imogene Noble 9,

Massey High 28 – Levi Fuimaono 6, Yzabelle Taveo 6, Ramona Fuiavaa 5

U17 Boys

St Kentigern College 41 – Alex McNaught 19, Martin Gan 9, Levic Kerr 8

Rangitoto College 35 – Ethan Skelton 13, Tautoko Wynyard 10

Open Girls

Westlake Red 47 – Samantha Woolford 17, Isabel Pugh 15, Maia McBirney 8

Aorere College 28 – Maria Tatupu 10, Mary Masoe 5, Maama Vaipulu 5

Open Boys

Mt Roskill Grammar 55 – Justin Sapoi 14, Harjot Johal 9, Isaiah Halafihi 9, Harlem Iaea 6, Sephaniah Damu 6

Long Bay College 35 – Hayden Druce 11, Tobeas Livock 11

Mount Albert Grammar inflicted on Auckland Girls Grammar just their second defeat in the past two Premier seasons to take out the Auckland Secondary Schools Championship winning 59-52 at North Shore Events Centre on Friday.

Opposing forwards Mele Latu and Rikki Fiatau were prominent early on as Mt Albert forged a 12-6 lead in a tight opening spell.

Laetitia Tuaiti knocked down a three for Auckland but Sharne Pupuke-Robati (a team high 21 points) replied in similar fashion for Mt Albert.

Latu had a spell on the bench after picking up three early fouls but on her return she reeled off ten points and although Fiatau scored eight points in the second quarter Auckland led 28-27 at half-time.

The outstanding Latu, who led all scorers with 26 points, continued with the hot hands in the third and aided by Elianna Tuaiti and Tyla Tuala the defending champions opened up a 38-33 advantage.

After a quick time out Mt Albert made their move – a third triple in the game from Pupuke-Robati was followed by baskets from Moanekah Va’ai and Fiatau, when Jada Manase peeled off a pair of threes Mt Albert had enjoyed a 15-2 run and led 48-40 at three-quarter time.

Pupuke-Robati stretched the lead to ten but an Elianna Tuaiti And-1 play trimmed the deficit.

It was cat and mouse in the middle stages of the final quarter with both sides searching for the ascendancy – Zhanay Hettig scored inside for Auckland but they still trailed by five (53-48) inside the final four minutes.

Latu scored her sixth triple of the game but a basket from Manase an a calmly made pair of free throws from Va’ai gave Mt Albert the victory – one that has eluded them against their arch rivals for the past couple of years.

MAGS 59 – S Pupuke-Robati 21, R Fiatau 15, J Manase 9, M Va’ai 8

AGGS 52 – M Latu 26, E Tuaiti 9, T Tuala 7

Rosmini College won the 2018 Auckland Secondary Schools Premier title by defeating Mt Albert Grammar 80-48 in front of 1,500 strong crowd at North Shore Events Centre on Friday night.

The two teams had identical 15-1 records heading into the contest but it was Rosmini that made the brighter opening with Mitch Dance and Kruz Perrott-Hunt combining for their three opening scores as Rosmini forged an early 9-0 lead.

Clarke Aiono got Mt Albert on the scoreboard but threes from Dance and Marvin Williams-Dunn gave Rosmini an 18-8 quarter-time lead.

More threes from Jayden Boucher and Perrott-Hunt pushed the Rosmini advantage beyond twenty before MAGS struck back through an And-1 play from Nate Wilson and points from Chayse Pinono, making a welcome return to the team after injury.

Dance led all scorers at half-time with thirteen points – Rosmini ahead 38-20.

MAGS point guard Sataan Tawera, who was to play all fourty minutes, dropped a triple but the early stages of the third became an arm wrestle as both defence dominated for both teams, highlighted by an athletic block from Wilson that impressed the travelling Lions supporters.

Ryan Laumatia knocked down a couple of trademark elbow jump shots but midway through the period the MAGS captain had to be helped from the court with a nasty looking knee injury – it’s to be hoped not a season ending one.

A Tom Seuren basket off a deft Perrott-Hunt pass and an And-1 play from Thomas Morgan pushed the Rosmini advantage out to 55-34 at three-quarter time.

MAGS had hauled back a sixteen point three-quarter time deficit in their semi-final against St Kentigern last week but any chance of a similar feat was snuffed out as Kainoa Lepou and Taine Murray stretched the Rozza lead beyond thirty.

The hard working Wilson, close to a double-double with 13 points and 9 rebounds, and the guard duo of Pinono and Tawera ensured the regular season champions finished on the front foot but they couldn’t deny Rosmini their second title in three years.

Rosmini 80 – M Dance 24, K Perrott-Hunt 17, M Williams-Dunn 11, T Murray 8

MAGS 48 – N Wilson 13, S Tawera 11, C Pinono 9, R Laumatia 8

The Senior A Boys Grand Final will feature Macleans College and Liston College, the top two finishers in the regular season, next Friday at NSEC.

Macleans are one win away from an automatic return to the Premier competition after winning a high scoring semi-final against Massey High 108-94.

Michael Babaran and Sai Kuvelkar were outstanding for Macleans amassing 43 points and 30 points respectively.

A high octane opening quarter saw Macleans out to a 40-27 lead and despite the best efforts of Cullen Tamihana (26 points) Massey were unable to overhaul the deficit.

Tamihana scored ten points in the second as the Macleans lead was trimmed to 62-55 at the interval.

Harry Smith posted nine third quarter points for Macleans, eight straight points from Tamihana keeping Massey in the hunt at 84-73.

A couple of threes from Babaran plus scores from Tyson Kempton and Smith stretched the Macleans lead to 101-83.

Robert Matakatea, Lueki Fusitua and Maxwell Hinton responded with one last effort for Massey but it wasn’t enough to unsettle Macleans.

Macleans College 108 – M Babaran 43, S Kuvelkar 30, H Smith 17, T Kempton 11

Massey High 94 – C Tamihana 26, R Matakatea 14, L Fusitua 10, B Leslie 9, C Taulapiu 9

The Liston College versus Northcote College semi-final was a contest full of momentum swings with the outcome only decided in the final two minutes.

With six minutes to play the scores were locked at 72 points apiece. An 8-0 Liston run via scores from Shawn Hickey, Kiani Saxon and Edward Maagdenburg tilted the contest in their favour.

However a Reihana Miller-Tohu triple and further counter punches from Ollie Hayward dragged Northcote to within a point (80-79) with two minutes on the clock.

The final swing went in favour of Liston as Maagdenburg, Lev Prokov and John Fabian helped them reel off an 11-0 finish to seal the win in an entertaining game.

Earlier Northcote had made the more encouraging start a trio of threes from Calvin Webster gave them a 21-16 first quarter lead.

Prokov and Saxon responded with half a dozen points apiece in the second as the two teams went to the break with the scores level at thirty-six points apiece.

Northcote shaded the third (26-23) as Sebastian Vivian, Miller-Tohu and Miggy Falqueza all made triples.

More threes from Miller-Tohu and Webster pleased the local supporters but Saxon and Maagdenburg steadied the Liston ship ahead of the final successful surge.

Liston College 91 – L Prokov 20, E Maagdenburg 18, K Saxon 18, J Fabian 11

Northcote College 79 – R Miller-Tohu 22, C Webster 21, O Hayward 15, M Falqueza 12

Epsom Girls Grammar and Botany Downs College, after finishing first and second on the ladder in the regular season will face each other in the Senior A Grand Final on Friday.

Epsom defeated Birkenhead College and Botany beat Mt Roskill Grammar in the semi-finals.

The Herewini sisters Sophia (24 points), Ngapipi (20 points) and Tiana (11 points) took care of business for Botany.

The trio scored all of the Botany points as they jumped out to an early 24-6 lead against Mt Roskill and steadily built on that early advantage to lead 35-10 at half-time.

Akaysha Cordtz and Aquilla Toala made early scores in the third for Mt Roskill but ten points in the period from Sophia Herewini kept Botany ahead 61-28.

Jasmine Paul scored eight fourth quarter points for Roskill but Botany were always in control and recorded a convincing win.

Botany Downs 65 – Sophia H 24, Ngapipi H 20, Tiana H 11

Mt Roskill 47 – J Paul 10, M Malu 7, R Toala 7, A Toala 6

Birkenhead made a good start against undefeated Epsom Girls leading 15-12 after the first quarter – Rashaan Smith (24 points) with nine of those points.

Epsom quickly hauled in the deficit as they dominated the second quarter. Florence Dallow (24 points) made ten points in the period but Epsom enjoyed scoring contributions across the board as they led 35-25 at half-time.

Smith, Marta Bolognini and Eleanor Mahutangi ensured the Epsom lead didn’t become unmanageable, Birkenhead still in the contest at the last break trailing 49-40.

The same trio of players scored all of Birkenhead’s fifteen points in the last quarter but Dallow, Akita Papara-Welch, Sarah-Joy Aruwa and Aria Todd-Pemeric ensured there would be no upset.

Epsom head to the final with a perfect 15-0 record.

Epsom 67 – F Dallow 24, S Aruwa 8, A Papara-Welch 8, A Todd-Pemeric 7

Birkenhead 55 – R Smith 24, M Bolognini 14, E Mahutangi 11