In Round 6 of the Auckland Secondary Schools Boy’s Premier League the only unbeaten team, Rangitoto College, had that record expunged going down 79-77 at St Kentigern College.
Rosmini College defeated Westlake in front of a big crowd at Eventfinda Stadium and there were also wins for Auckland Grammar and Mt Albert Grammar.
St Kentigern College beat Rangitoto College 79-77 as the top two teams in the competition went head to head in east Auckland on Friday.
St Kent’s point guard Alex McNaught (24 points) converted an acrobatic layup to edge his team ahead with 45 seconds to play. Rangitoto created an opportunity for Zach Riley to put up a potential game winner on the buzzer but his three-pointer fell just short – Riley was outstanding compiling a Premier career best 36 points.
The first quarter favoured the visitors as Riley and Harry Payne (20 points) went to work but St Kent’s fought back in the second via McNaught and Levic Kerr (22 points) to close within two points at half-time (45-43).
Heading into the fourth it was just a one point game, 59-58, as the two teams went toe to toe. St Kent’s forward Levic Kerr was proving a handful on the offensive boards and he made 8 of his 22 points in the fourth.
Payne and Riley shared 14 points in the final frame and Tautoko Wynyard chipped in with some handy points but Elliot Watson and Kerr held firm before McNaught’s athletic play sealed the win.
St Kentigern 79– A McNaught 24, L Kerr 22, K Evans 9, M Gan 9, E Watson 8
Rangitoto 77– Z Riley 36, H Payne 20, P Leopolu 10
In front of a vibrant 1,000+ crowd at Eventfinda Stadium Rosmini College edged local neighbours Westlake Boys 86-80.
Josh Kooiman made a couple of early triples but they were cancelled out by similar efforts from Sean Murphy (20 points) and Tyler Martin to help Rosmini to a 19-15 quarter-time lead.
That lead increased to 43-36 at the main break as Jayden Boucher and Marvin Williams-Dunn (22 points) featured strongly in the second.
Westlake fought back in the third as Dylan Wilkie, Sam Mennenga and Kooiman all hit from deep to lock the scores up at three-quarter time (63-63).
Wilkie, Jett Thompson and Mennenga, who scored a game high 25 points, had the Westlake fans roaring as they controlled the early stages of the fourth frame and when Kooiman landed a prayer as the shot clock expired a Lake victory looked a strong possibility.
However after a brace of buckets from both Boucher and Thomas Morgan, Terence Abdon made a crucial long three to put Rosmini in the ascendancy.
Jason Mitef sealed the win in a game that was a fine advertisement for high school basketball.
Westlake 80– S Mennenga 25, D Wilkie 18, J Thompson 14, J Kooiman 14
Rosmini 86– M Williams-Dunn 22, S Murphy 20, T Abdon 15, J Boucher 13
Daniel Boyd scored a Premier career best 33 points as Auckland Grammar outscored Liston College 54-20 in the second half to canter to a 90-47 victory.
Boyd had 18 points in the opening half and with Jaga Mete (19 points) contributing 9points Grammar were 37-27 ahead at the interval – Kiani Saxon and Preston Karatau helped keep Liston in touch.
Shawn Hickey (13 points) and Victor Ola’aiga posted points for Liston in the third but they were outscored 29-14 in the frame as Connor Ngan, Luka Vea and Boyd took control.
Grammar cruised through the closing ten minutes to ensure a third win of the season.
Liston 47– S Hickey 13, K Saxon 7, P Karatau 6
AGS 91– D Boyd 33, J Mete 19, C Ngan 15, L Vea 8
A dominant display on the boards from Nate Wilson helped Mt Albert Grammar to their first win of the season. Wilson added 20 points to a colossal 27 rebounds as MAGS beat Macleans College 80-56.
It was all MAGS in the opening quarter as they strode to a 19-11 lead. Tyson Kempton had 8 first half points for Macleans but MAGS steadily built there advantage through Josh Leger (a game high 21 points) and Phil Mengistie.
MAGS welcomed back Sataan Tawera after injury and the point guard helped MAGS control proceedings as they won every quarter to kick start their season.
Jesse Manuel top scored for Macleans with 9 points – Macleans head to Rangitoto College on Monday searching for their first win whilst MAGS take on Liston College in a crucial game.
Macleans 56– J Manuel 9, T Kempton 8, H Hanson 8
MAGS 80– J Leger 21, N Wilson 20, P Mengistie 14, S Tawera 9
Premier Standings:
5-1 Rangitoto, St Kentigern
4-2 Westlake, Rosmini
3-3 AGS
2-4 Liston
1-5 MAGS
0-6 Macleans
LACEY LOWDOWN 