Shalom Broughton (14) in action for NZ U17 recently
St Kentigern College have clinched fourth pace on the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier competition ladder after winning 96-75 at Avondale College on Wednesday.
The win means St Kent’s (7-7) edge Westlake Boys (6-8) out of play-off contention, a semi-final match up with regular season champions Mt Albert Grammar their reward.
The result also means that Avondale, despite having won two of their final four games, finish the season with the wooden spoon.
The game was still in the balance at three-quarter time with Avondale, after a strong third period, only 62-58 down.
However Zac Chan made three of his five triples in the fourth and the impressive Max Shorter (37 points) scored 11. With Shalom Broughton and Tom Chester combining for ten points St Kent’s dominated the final term (34-17) to book their first semi-final appearance since 2011.
Earlier, despite nine first quarter points from Jaga Mete, Avondale trailed 21-17 at the first break.
Armand Donaldson, Bradley McGregor, Keanu Eteru and Preston Karatau each made threes for Avondale in the second period but Levic Kerr, Broughton and Shorter piled on the points to give St Kent’s a 46-39 half-time lead.
Chan and Shorter were the only scorers for the visitors in the third as Jason Cullen and Michael Reddy helped Avondale close to within four points.
However St Kentigern held their nerve in the final period to seal their seventh win of the season and a trip to North Shore Events Centre on Friday night.
Avondale 75 – J Mete 16, A Donaldson 16, K Eteru 14, J Childs 6, P Karatau 6
St Kentigern 96 – M Shorter 37, S Broughton 24, Z Chan 18, L Kerr 15, T Chester 6
Final Standings
13-1 Mt Albert
13-1 Rosmini
8-6 Auckland Grammar
7-7 St Kentigern
6-8 Westlake
4-10 Rangitoto
3-11 St Peter’s
2-12 Avondale
LACEY LOWDOWN 