A quality game of Auckland Secondary Schools Girl’s Premier basketball at St Mary’s College on Monday night saw the hosts prevail 66-63 against Carmel College – a win that takes St Mary’s to equal top of the league standings alongside Westlake.
Carmel will rue a missed opportunity as, paced by 37 points from Tayla Dalton, they led for all but the last two minutes of the game.
Eight points from Emily Broomfield helped Carmel shade the opening period (16-14) and a similar number from Kataleena Leslie meant it was still a one possession game at half-time in favour of the visitors (31-28).
Zaaliyah Kailahi-Fulu, Alex Moore and Leata Te-Nana Williams kept the score moving for St Mary’s in the third quarter which was just as well as Dalton helped herself to 16 points in the frame to keep her team ahead 50-48 at the three-quarter mark.
Katie Linstrom, Isobel MacGregor and Broomfield aided Dalton with the scoring in the final period but Leslie, Kailahi-Fulu and Safena Te-Nana Williams scored the important points in the closing couple of minutes to secure a St Mary’s victory.
Carmel will look to bounce back to winning ways against Mt Albert Grammar on Friday whilst St Mary’s will travel to Westlake where the two unbeaten teams will go head to head.
St Mary’s 66– Z Kailahi-Fulu 15, K Leslie 12, A Moore 10, T Atiga 8, L Te-Nana Williams 8
Carmel 63– T Dalton 37, E Broomfield 11, I MacGregor 6
League Standings
3-0 Westlake, St Mary’s
2-1Massey, Rangitoto
1-2 AGGS, Carmel
0-3 Botany Downs, Mt Albert
LACEY LOWDOWN 