The Steven Adams High School Invitational Games were played at Central Energy Trust Arena on Sunday.
The two games, featuring twenty of the best male and female highs school players in the country, produced plenty of action for the decent sized crowd in attendance and those watching live courtesy of Maori TV.
In the Girls game Team White dominated the second half to come from 44-33 down at the interval to beat Team Black 71-61.
Triples from Tayla Dalton, Tessa Talo-Tomokino and Rosalia Samia helped turn the tide in the third quarter and an important five points late in the fourth from Sofia Kennedy sealed the deal.
Dalton had a stats stuffing 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocks in an all-action display. Forwards Charlotte Whittaker, who led all scorers with 15 points and added 7 rebounds, and Jazz Kailahi-Fulu (12 points and 6 rebounds) also impressed. Shauna Povey (10 points) also made a double figures contribution for Team White.
Team Black looked as if they might run away with the game in the second quarter when Sharne Pupuke-Robati (7 points and 7 rebounds), Mele Latu (13 points), Grace Hunter (13 points, 4 assists and 5 steals) and Olivia O’Neill all made triples. However, despite 10 points from Emme Shearer their scoring dried up in the second half and White took advantage outscoring their opponents 38-17 in the half.
Girls Team White
Tayla Dalton (Carmel College), Rochelle Fourie (Manukura), Jazzmyne Kailahi-Fulu (St Marys College), Sofia Kennedy (Middleton Grange), Jada Manase (Mt Albert Grammar), Shauna Povey (Massey High), Rosalia Samia (Napier Girls High), Charlotte Whittaker (St Andrews, Christchurch), Tessa Talo-Tomokino (Mt Albert Grammar), Riva Walker-Pitman (Hamilton Girls)
Girls Team Black
Grace Hunter (Queen Margaret College), Mele Latu (Auckland Girls Grammar), Koha Lewis (Hamilton Girls), Olivia O’Neill (St Hildas), Sharne Pupuke-Robati (Mt Albert Grammar), Emme Shearer (Westlake Girls), Rashaan Smith (Birkenhead College), Te Araroa Sopoanga (Queen Margaret College), Kaya Walker (Palmerston North Girls High)
In the Boys game Team Black found themselves 78-72 down inside the last two minutes against Team White but snatched a late win with Anzac Rissetto (14 points) making a three with just 8 seconds left on the game clock. White turned the ball over on the ensuing possession allowing Black to steal a 79-78 win.
Robert Coman (12 points) and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (7 points) got White off to a 24-13 start before the game’s top scorer Mitch Dance (22 points) reeled off three triples – Shalom Broughton (11 points) edged Black ahead at the interval 38-36.
Sam Mennenga (18 points) demonstrated his versatility with 11 straight points for White to give his team a 61-52 three-quarter lead.
Kruz Perrott-Hunt (17 points) and Finn McClure threes kept White in the ascendancy until those dying seconds.
Taine Murray (12 points) dragged Black to within three with 70 seconds to play and a Dance free throw reduced the arrears to two on the next Black offence.
Then it was over to Rissetto to bring an interesting couple of games to a fitting conclusion.
Boys Team Black
Shalom Broughton (St Kentigern College), Mitchell Dance (Rosmini College), Kainoa Lepou (Rosmini College), Jake McKinlay (Palmerston North Boys High), Taine Murray (Rosmini College), Anzac Rissetto (Auckland Grammar), Max Shorter (St Kentigern College), Ezrah Vaigafa (Rongotai College), Thomas Whyte (Auckland Grammar),
Marvin Williams-Dunn (Rosmini College)
Boys Team White
Jayden Boucher (Rosmini College), Robert Coman (Kings College), William Henry (Mount College), Finn McClure (Rongotai College), Sam Mennenga (Westlake Boys), Kruz Perrott-Hunt (Rosmini College), Klein Salmon (Rongotai College), Mac Stodart (James Hargest College), Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (St Patrick’s, Wellington), Jaylin Trego-To’o (Rongotai College)
LACEY LOWDOWN 