The best game of Round 9 of the Auckland Secondary Schools Girl’s Premier League was at St Mary’s College in Ponsonby where the hosts pipped Rangitoto College, but only just, 75-74 last Friday.
It was tight throughout as a half-time lead of 34-33 in favour of Rangi and the three-quarter advantage of 53-50 favouring St Mary’s suggests.
Into the final two minutes the lead was still back and forth with Hannah Wentworth levelling the scores (74-74) with 19 seconds to play.
Both teams forced turnovers only to immediately give possession away and it was Leata Te Nana-Williams who made the game winning free throw for St Mary’s with just three seconds left on the clock.
Aroha Riley scored a game high 28 points (including four threes) and backcourt buddy Wentworth threatened a triple double (27 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds) as the two masterminded the Rangitoto effort.
A more balanced St Mary’s effort saw five players notch eight points or more led by Riana Matiseni (16 points), Alex Moore (14 points) and Leata Te Nana-Williams with a team high 23 points.
The Girl’s Premier League needs far more of these close encounters.
St Mary’s 75– L Te Nana-Williams 23, R Matiseni 16, A Moore 14, S Te Nana-Williams 9, Z Kailahi-Fulu 8
Rangitoto 74– A Riley 28, H Wentworth 27, E Moore 14, E Blyth 5
Massey High wasted little time in stamping their authority on proceedings at Mt Albert Grammar School – 7 early points from Alyesha Schuster helping them to a 20-6 lead after 10 minutes.
MAGS continued to struggle in the second spell as Maya Taingahue paced Massey to a position of strength at half-time ahead 38-13.
The hosts were much improved after the break as Monica Kelly, Tiger-Lily Cocker-Lamalie, Rikki Fiatau and Danae Tait helped MAGS reduce the deficit to 54-35 at three-quarter time.
Shauna Povey and Ramona Fuaivaa re-asserted Massy dominance in the fourth as they recorded win number five for the season.
MAGS 42– M Kelly 13, T Cocker-Lamalie 9, R Fiatau 8, D Tait 8
Massey 72– S Povey 14, A Schuster 13, R Fuaivaa 12, M Taingahue 8
In a largely one-sided affair Carmel College beat Auckland Girls Grammar 127-44.
Leah Patuwairua was exceptional scoring a massive 35 points as she carried the Grammar offense on her shoulders even in the final quarter when the team were down to four players after Milika Fonohema (7 points) and Phayezon Vae fouled out.
The highlight for Carmel was half a dozen late points for rookie India Flavell.
AGGS 44– L Patuwairua 35, M Fonohema 7
Carmel 127– T Dalton 17, I Cattermole 14, K Linstrom 11, Q Stephano 11, J Cammell 10
Premier Girls Standings:
8-0 St Mary’s
6-1 Westlake
5-3 Massey
4-4 Carmel
3-4 Rangitoto
1-7 MAGS
0-8 AGGS
LACEY LOWDOWN 