Monday night saw two catch-up games played as Rosmini College entertained Liston College and Rangitoto College visited Mt Albert Grammar in the Auckland Secondary Schools Boy’s Premier League.
Rosmini proved too good for Liston winning 113-64 meaning Liston finish 7thon the ladder and will need to win a play-off game next April to secure Prems status unless the qualifying process is re-structured.
Despite 27 points from Liston guard Sefa Prasad the result was never in doubt once Rosmini had established a 29-10 first quarter advantage – Sean Murphy, on his way to a game high 29 points, with 8 points for Rosmini in the spell.
The second quarter proved to be a far more even contest. Prasad scored 11 points in the quarter with Marvin Williams-Dunn scoring an identical number as Rosmini led 53-33 at half-time.
Reihana Maxwell-Topia, who improved his single game Premier League best for the third consecutive game, scored 12 points in the third to stretch the Rosmini lead beyond thirty points.
James Hickey scored 13 points in the final quarter as Liston, with just seven players, kept battling to the end with captain Shawn Hickey setting a fine example.
Rosmini 113– S Murphy 29, R Maxwell-Topia 21, M Williams-Dunn 14, J Boucher 12, T Abdon 9
Liston 64– S Prasad 27, J Hickey 14, L Hamilton 7, S Hickey 6
A massive double-double of 32 points and 16 rebounds from forward Josh Leger couldn’t prevent Mt Albert Grammar losing 69-50 at home to Rangitoto College.
Leger scored 7 points in the opening period but 8 points from skipper Harry Payne helped Rangitoto to an early 19-11 lead.
Dakota Stephens helped Leger with the scoring in the second period but Ethan Mandeno was in stunning form for Rangitoto. The shooting guard knocked down 4 from 5 threes and with Ethan Skelton chipping in with another score from beyond the arc Rangi were 39-29 ahead at half-time.
Despite threes from Leger and Phoenix Sorensen MAGS fell further adrift in the third period as Payne and Tautoko Wynyard added to their tallies, the visitors moving comfortably to a tenth win of the season.
Both teams face local derbies to finish their campaigns on Friday. Mt Albert will take on Auckland in the battle of the Grammar’s while Rangitoto will visit North Shore rivals Westlake.
MAGS 50– J Leger 32/16r, D Elia 5/8r. D Stephens 5, P Sorensen 5
Rangitoto 69– E Mandeno 17, H Payne 15, T Wynyard 10/12r, E Skelton 8/5a
Premier Standings with one round remaining:
12-1 St Kentigern
10-3 Rangitoto
9-4 Rosmini
7-6 Westlake
7-6 AGS
4-9 MAGS
2-11 Liston
1-12 Macleans
LACEY LOWDOWN 