The opening round of the Premier Boys competition saw the four games decided by the average differential of 33 points. The Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Girls opening round was even more lopsided with the differential in three of the games in excess of 50 points.
The exception was the Rangitoto College versus St Mary’s College clash in the Bays which was won by the visitors 80-68 despite Rangi leading 21-8 after the first ten minutes.
Hannah Wentworth knocked down a couple of threes for Rangi in the second quarter but it was a period that belonged to St Mary’s as they rattled up 32 points. Alex Moore, Kat Leslie, Riana Matiseni and Zaaliyah Kailahi-Fulu all made significant contributions as St Mary’s took a 40-34 advantage into the half-time break.
The third quarter was far more even as Rangi attempted to dent the deficit via scores from Aroha Rogers and Ella Moore. They could only claw back two points as Leata Te Nana-Williams kept St Mary’s ahead 55-51 with ten minutes to play.
Moore, Wentworth and Rogers made triples for the hosts in the closing stages but Leslie, Daneka Manase and Kailahi-Fulu ensured it would be a successful away trip for St Mary’s.
Rangitoto College 68– Wentworth 26, A Rogers 19, Moore 10, W Rogers 8
St Mary’s College 80– Leslie 19, Kailahi-Fulu 14, Matiseni 14, Te Nana-Williams 12
Mt Albert Grammar kept paced with Massey High in the early stages and trailed by five (17-12) at the first break.
However it was all Massey in the second quarter as Shauna Povey and Alyesha Schuster took charge of proceedings to help forge a 41-18 half-time lead.
Yzabelle Tevao and Ramona Fuaivaa continued the good work in the second half as Massey ran away with the game winning 91-35. Rikki Burgess was the best for Mt Albert scoring almost half of her team’s points.
Massey High 91– Povey 30, Fuaivaa 11, Tevao 10, Shazalea Henry 10, Schuster 8
MAGS 35– Burgess 16, Monica Kelly 4, Tiger-Lily Cocker-Lemalie 4
It was one-way traffic on the Rosmini College court as Carmel College swept Auckland Girls Grammar aside winning 94-30.
The writing was on the wall for the visitors in the first quarter as Carmel raced out to a 29-8 lead. The scoring slowed in the second but it was still 50-13 in favour of the hosts at half-time and the result never in doubt thereafter.
Imogene Noble (15pts) and Sera Taei battled away gamely for AGGS but they could do little to deny Carmel who enjoyed scoring contributions across the board but most noticeably from Emily Broomfield and Tall Ferns trialist Tayla Dalton.
Carmel 94– Dalton 37, Broomfield 18, Quaizden Stephano 9, Estelle Davidson 8
AGGS 30– Noble 15, Sera Taei 9
The most one sided game of the round took place at Westlake where the hosts overwhelmed Botany Downs 136-14.
It was a baptism of fire for Botany playing Premier basketball for the first time and it is to be hoped they can quickly make the necessary adjustments to be competitive at this level.
For the record eight Westlake players scored in double figures.
Westlake Girls High 136– Rosalie Dil 31, Emma Pugh 19, Piper Manolas 18, Jess Moors 14, Emme Shearer 14
Botany Downs College 14– Sophia Herewini 5, Tiana Herewini 4
LACEY LOWDOWN 