LACEY LOWDOWN

St Mary’s College lifted the Auckland Secondary Schools Girl’s Premier League title for the very first time at Eventfinda Stadium on Friday night after defeating Westlake Girls 83-74.

St Mary’s maintained their unbeaten record but Westlake, missing three players away on international duty and two others with injury, gave the regular season champions a thorough examination.

In fact with five minutes to play Westlake only trailed by three points (71-68) and an upset looked a possibility.

It was then that St Mary’s turned to their senior payer Jazz Kailahi-Fulu and the Junior Tall Fern forward didn’t disappoint. She scored eight points down the stretch and with Kat Leslie and Alex Moore also making valuable contributions Westlake were outscored 12-6 in the closing minutes.

Earlier, a free flowing game had been a battle of the guards with the Te Nana-Williams sisters Leata and Safena outstanding for St Mary’s – Holly Williams Amiya Fotu and Tabatha Leyson leading the Westlake response.

St Mary’s won the opening period 18-15 with Safena and Leata both landing from beyond the arc.

Emma Pugh scored inside and Leyson dropped a pair of threes as Westlake went toe to toe with their opponents.

Safena and Leata were well into double figures by half-time but a reverse layup from Holly Williams on the final play of the half meant Westlake were within a point at the interval trailing 40-39.

St Mary’s made a critical run to open the second half outscoring Westlake 13-3. Sophie Dil landed a three but a banked triple from Safena plus a purer effort from the corner kept St Mary’s ahead by double digits.

A couple of Makenzee Boucher transition baskets aided the Westlake cause as did a nice finish by Amiya Fotu – St Mary’s ahead 65-56 at three-quarter time.

Emma Pugh and Sarah Moors helped Westlake narrow the gap in the early stages of the fourth but Kailahi-Fulu upped the intensity in the closing five minutes to wrestle back the initiative and make it 14 wins on the bounce for St Mary’s.

St Mary’s 83–S Te Nana-Williams 22, J Kailahi-Fulu 20, L Te Nana-Williams 16, K Leslie 8, A Moore 6

Westlake 74– A Fotu 11, E Pugh 10, T Leyson 10, H Williams 7, M Chatfield 6, J Kapsin 6, S Moors 6/12r

Both Rangitoto College and Saint Kentigern College were short of key personnel but still produced an exciting and absorbing Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier League Grand Final at Eventfinda Stadium on Thursday night.

The contest was eventually won 78-75 by Rangitoto but the result was in the balance until the last possession of the game.

The game ebbed and flowed throughout with neither side able to wrestle complete control and that is how it continued in the closing minutes.

With the scores locked at 54 points apiece at the three-quarter mark it was St Kent’s who made the first run after the break as Levick Kerr scored inside and “Mr 110%” Elliot Watson knocked down a three.

Ethan Mandeno (24 points) and Zack Riley (20 points) replied for Rangitoto before another St Kent’s triple, this time from skipper Martin Gan, gave St Kent’s a single point lead with five minutes to play.

Riley and Mandeno were carrying the Rangitoto offence eventually scoring all of their team’s 24 final quarter points between them.

When Mandeno’s floater found nothing but net and his triple produced the same result on the next Rangi possession, with 1:03 to play, their 77-71 lead looked match winning.

However Gan made free-throws and Kazlo Evans (16 points) scored again with 22 seconds to play to make it a one possession game (77-75).

Rangitoto just needed to keep possession but committed a 5 seconds in-bounds violation to hand the ball back to the regular season champs.

St Kent’s had three attempts to score on the play but couldn’t make any. The game wasn’t quite finished as Mandeno knocked down a free throw with 2.5 seconds to play but his intentional miss on the second also missed the ring handing St Kent’s one final possession.

That came to nothing but the game was quite something.

Earlier Liam Judd scored 10 first half points for Rangitoto but a second quarter three-point blitz from St Kent’s gave the Saints a 42-39 advantage. Evans, Gan and Kaea Rangiehaeta amassed five treys between them in the second frame.

The third quarter of the game was the lowest scoring spell of the contest – an Oba Paea triple and back to back baskets from Judd helped Rangi level the scores at the break.

The final quarter could have gone either way but Riley and Mandeno ensured the Premier trophy stayed on the North Shore, but it was mighty close.

Rangitoto 78– E Mandeno 25, Z Riley 20, L Judd 14, T Wynyard 8, P Leupolu 5/11r

St Kentigern – 75K Evans 16, L Kerr 15, M Gan 15, E Watson 14, J Child 8, K Rangiehaeta 8

The Auckland Secondary Schools Senior A Boy’s and Girl’s semi-finals were decided in contrasting styles at Eventfinda Stadium on Friday night.

While the two top seeds in the Girl’s semi-finals advanced serenely to the championship game it was a different story in the Boy’s semis where the underdogs advanced in both contests.

The most dramatic game involved North Harbour rivals Long Bay College and Northcote College. Regular season champions Northcote seemed to have done enough to claim the win when they led 79-77 with 3.7 seconds remaining. However a pair of missed free-throws gave Long Bay possession and as time expired Hayden Druce launched a half-court prayer.

To everyone’s astonishment the hopeful heave found the net – agony for Northcote and a joyous 80-79 victory for Long Bay.

The result not only brought to an end Northcote’s nine game winning streak but also ended their quest for a Premier League spot in 2020.

Northcote led 42-40 at half-time, 64-58 at the next break and the duration of the fourth quarter for all the way to the buzzer – well almost.

Northcote were paced by 25 points from Miggy Falqueza and 21 from Ethan Clark. Long Bay got important contributions from Sam Roberts and Ethan Clifford but none as significant as Druce’s game winner.

Northcote 79– M Falqueza 25, E Clark 21, O Hayward 13, R Miller-Tohu 8

Long Bay 80–S Roberts 16, H Druce 15, E Clifford 15, J Brading 8, J Jones-Harvey 7

St Peter’s College are eyeing a prompt return to Premier basketball after an 81-74 Senior A semi-final victory against Mt Roskill Grammar. The finish wasn’t as dramatic as the other semi but it was an equally terrific contest with St Peter’s only securing victory in the last couple of minutes.

St Peter’s led 22-20 after ten minutes, 45-38 at half-time and 64-58 at three-quarter time but could never get the lead out to a comfortable margin.Kennedy Matenga, Jaskaran Singh and Race Greig were immense for Roskill in the fourth quarter but the regular season runners-up couldn’t quite reel in their opponents.

Jack Donnelly and Luke Buckingham were in excellent scoring touch for St Peter’s – Donnelly coolness personified as he iced the game from the foul line in the closing seconds.

St Peter’s were relegated from the Premier League last season but a victory in Thursday’s final against Long Bay will catapult them straight back into the higher echelons of Auckland Schools Basketball.

Mt Roskill 74– J Singh 18, S Damu 15, K Matenga 11, J Sapoi 11, R Greig 10

St Peter’s 81– J Donnelly 24, L Buckingham 20, O Arlove 10, B Schuster 6

There was no such drama in the Girl’s semi-finals with Baradene College defeating Avondale College 74-48 and Epsom Grammar easing past St Kentigern College 102-66.

Florence Dallow, on her way to a game high 40 points, scored half of Epsom’s 26 first quarter points as they led by 18 at the break. The lead was 53-22 at half-time with Sarah-Joy Aruwa and Te Aroha Boxall-Hunt giving Dallow great support.

Masha Pavlenko was outstanding for St Kent’s in a losing cause scoring 31 points.

Epsom were beaten finalists in 2018 but will be hoping to go one better on Thursday.

Epsom 102– F Dallow 40, S Aruwa 26, T Kukuati-Wairau 18, L Boxall-Hunt 7, M Fowler 7

St Kent’s 60– M Pavlenko 31, S Tapling 9, E Halliday 8, M Chen 7

Despite eight first quarter points from Avondale standout Maclani Michael Baradene were 27-12 to the good at quarter time and almost out of site at half-time leading 45-21 with Denya Topia, Summer Faleafa and Lily Parke leading the way.

The second half was a far more even contest but the Baradene advantage was never threatened as they head to a grand-final showdown against Epsom.

Epsom lead the head-to-head 2-0, will it be third time lucky for Baradene?

Baradene 74– D Topia 22, S Faleafa 15, L Parke 14, R Tamilo 8, P Cavanagh-Briggs 8

Avondale 48– M Michael 17, M Whiu 14, T Raion 6

Both Senior A Finals and 3^rd/4^thgames will be held at Eventfinda Stadium on Thursday August 22 with tip-off’s at 4.30pm.

St Mary’s College and Westlake Girls booked their tickets for the Auckland Secondary Schools Girl’s Premier League Grand Final in contrasting styles at Eventfinda Stadium on Friday night.

St Mary’s comfortably beat Massey High 94-65 whilst Westlake Girls had to work hard to subdue the challenge of Rangitoto College.

For the second time in eight days Rangitoto pushed Westlake all the way before losing by nine points – an identical margin in both games – 90-81.

In a high scoring contest both teams enjoyed balanced scoring efforts but it was the last five points from Westlake guards Tabatha Leyson and Holly Williams that were the most telling.

An Ella Moore three with a couple of minutes to play followed by a Kellie Tawhiao free-throw had reduced the Westlake lead to just four points (85-80) and, as they had all game, Rangitoto threatened an upset. However Leyson made a critical triple from in front of her own bench and when Williams scored soon after the Westlake followers could breathe a little easier.

Earlier a high scoring opening quarter was shaded 27-25 by Westlake who took charge in the second spell to lead 52-40 at half-time, three triples from Moneesha Barrett not doing Rangi’s cause any harm as Williams, Jordyn Maddix and Izzy Pugh led the Westlake effort.

Westlake were well in control at the three-quarter mark leading 76-64 and when Rosie Dil and Izzy Pugh stretched the advantage by a further four points the Rangitoto resistance appeared to be broken.

It was still fourteen points in favour of Westlake when Leyson knocked down the first of her two threes. However Josh Davis rallied his troops and they peeled off a 9-0 run as Moore, Wentworth and Aroha Rogers all made scores.

Another Rangi score at that stage and who knows what may have transpired. As it was Leyson and Williams steadied the ship to guide Westlake into the final.

Westlake 90– I Pugh 16, H Williams 12, J Maddix 12, T Leyson 10, R Dil 10, E Pugh 8

Rangitoto 81– H Wentworth 22, M Barrett 14, E Moore 13, A Rogers 12, W Rogers 12

Regular season champions St Mary’s College stamped their authority on the semi-final tie against Massey High by breaking out to a 27-6 first quarter lead with Zaaliyah Kailahi-Fulu claiming 13 points on her way to a game high 29 points.

Ramona Fuaivaa and Shazaleah Henry led a Massey revival in the second frame but with the impressive Safena Te Nana-Williams knocking down three of her five triples in the quarter, and Taumaia Malolo and Tyla Tevaga also landing from beyond the arc, St Mary’s were 50-23 ahead at half-time.

Kat Leslie and Kailahi-Fulu helped widen the margin even further in the third despite Allyah Leusogi-Ape’s six points in the frame.

Fuaivaa knocked down three triples in the final quarter to take her tally into the twenties but it did little to hinder St Mary’s  advance to a thirteenth straight win and a place in the grand-final.

St Mary’s 94– Z Kailahi-Fulu 29, S Te Nana-Williams 25, K leslie 14, T Tevaga 9

Massey 65– R Fuaivaa 24, A Leusogi-Ape 13, S Henry 10, Y Tevao 8

Both the Final and the 3^rd/4^thgame will be played at Eventfinda Stadium on Thursday August 22^nd. Tip-off time for both games is 6.00pm.

The two most consistent teams during the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier League regular season will meet in the Grand Final next Thursday.

At Eventfinda Stadium on Friday night Rangitoto College defeated Rosmini College 79-73 and regular season champions St Kentigern College beat Auckland Grammar 95-77.

In a contest that had been tight throughout Rosmini College were left to rue a frigid spell in the middle of the fourth period when they failed to make a basket for four minutes.

After Marvin Williams-Dunn, the game’s leading scorer, gave Rosmini a 65-61 lead with six minutes to play it would be the two-minute mark before they scored again.

Rangitoto seized their opportunity during that time as Liam Judd dropped a triple, Zach Riley scored in transition, Ethan Mandeno converted from close range and Phoenix Leupolu dropped free throws – suddenly the regular season runners-up were out to a seven point lead (72-65) with just two minutes to play.

Williams-Dunn responded with a triple but Ethan Skelton replied immediately and although the rangy point guard had to be helped from the court with a leg injury soon after Rangi had little trouble holding on to the lead in the closing seconds.

Earlier there was little between the two sides as 18 points apiece at the quarter mark became 38-37 to Rangi at half-time – Tautoko Wynyard and Mandeno the major contributors for Rangi; William-Dunn and Cian Emery prominent for Rozza.

Rosmini shaded the third period courtesy of treys from Tyler Martin, Pita Maxwell-Topia and Thomas Morgan to take a 56-52 lead into the last break.

Reimar Cruz made it a six point lead with the first score of the fourth but thereafter it was Rangitoto that dominated as they moved through to the final for a showdown with St Kent’s.

Rangitoto 79– Z Riley 19, E Mandeno 17, E Skelton 11, T Wynyard 10/10r, L Judd 9

Rosmini 73– M Williams-Dunn 22, C Emery 13, T Martin 11, T Abdon 7

St Kentigern College earned the right to face Rangitoto in the final on Thursday with a solid 95-77 win against Auckland Grammar.

St Kent’s made the ideal start converting a 14-7 opening salvo into a 27-11 lead at quarter time – Kazlo Evans with 14 of the 27.

Luka Vea, Daniel Boyd and Jaga Mete consistently found routes to basket in the second frame for Grammar who won the period by four points but still trailed 50-38 at half-time.

The St Kent’s progress was dented early in the third period when Levick Kerr was forced to the bench after picking up his fourth foul and when Boyd and Vea converted from deep Grammar were back to within seven points (82-75).

Evans and Shalom Broughton had the final say in the period as St Kent’s headed into the fourth 68-57 ahead.

Mete and Broughton scored twice apiece early in the final frame for their respective teams before the reinstated Kerr made back to back baskets.

Boyd’s third triple of the game kept AGS well in contention trailing 82-75 with four minutes to play but St Kent’s bossed the closing minutes finishing with an 11-2 run to seal victory and a place in the grand-final.

St Kentigern 95– S Broughton 32, K Evans 29, L Kerr 17, E Watson 8

AGS 77– D Boyd 22, J Mete 20, L Vea 14, I Tela 12, C Landon 7

Both the Final and the 3^rd/4^thgame will be played at Eventfinda Stadium on Thursday August 22^nd. Tip-off time for both games is 7.30pm.

Due to international commitments a number of teams, including all four Premier Boy’s teams, are going to be missing players (and in some cases coaches also) for Friday’s Auckland Secondary Schools Premier League semi-finals.

Let’s start with the tournaments and events that unfortunately coincide with the business end of the Premier competition and the players that are involved.

Tall Blacks in Japan and Australia playing Canada in Sydney (August 20 and 21).

Taine Murray (Rosmini College)

11^thBasketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia Camp in Tokyo (August 14-17) for top prospectsaged 17 and under.

Women

Jazz Kailahi-Fulu (St Mary’s)

Emme Shearer (Westlake Girls)

Men

Harry Payne (Rangitoto College)

Dallas Clayton (Rangitoto College)

2019 FIBA U18 3v3 Asia Cup in Cyberjaya, Malaysia (August 22-24)

Women

Emme Shearer (Westlake Girls)

Jordyn Maddix (Westlake Girls)

Men

Shalom Broughton (St Kentigern College)

Marvin Williams-Dunn (Rosmini College)

2019 FIBA U17 Oceania Cup in Noumea, New Caledonia (August 19-24)

Women

Jess Moors (Westlake Girls)

Coach

Bronwen Davidson (Westlake Girls)

Men

Alex McNaught (St Kentigern College)

Connor Ngan (Auckland Grammar)

Sean Murphy (Rosmini College)

Reihana Maxwell-Topia (Rosmini College)

Coaches

Matt Lacey (Rosmini College)

Aaron Young (St Kentigern College)

Lindsay Tait (Auckland Grammar)

The above is quite a list so let’s take a look at what this all means for the Premier semi-finals.

St Kentigern College (#1) v Auckland Grammar (#4).

Well for a start both head coaches will be away at the U17 Oceania Cup acting as assistants to Aaron Fearne.

However both teams have more than capable deputies waiting in the wings with Kazlo Evans Snr taking charge of St Kent’s in the absence of Aaron Young and the coaching tandem of Dave Mackay and Ang Perrott-Hunt stepping in for Lindsay Tait.

Tough to replace will be opposing point guards Connor Ngan (AGS) and Alex McNaught (St Kents), also bound for Noumea. Whichever team copes best without their playmaker will likely progress to the final.

Should St Kent’s win they will have an additional curve ball to negotiate with Shalom Broughton an additional non-starter for the final as he is headed to Malaysia with the NZ U18 3×3 team.

Rangitoto College (#2) v Rosmini College (#3)

Kenny Stone is the only Boy’s Head Coach left standing as Matt Lacey is joining Tait and Young in New Caledonia therefore handing the Rosmini reins to long time side-kick Sonny Tuaputa.

The disruption doesn’t stop there as Rosmini will be without three players for the game against Rangi and four players the following week, should they progress.

Taine Murray is absent on Tall Blacks duty in Japan and Australia, whilst Sean Murphy and Reihana Maxwell-Topia are accompanying Lacey to New Caledonia. Marvin Williams-Dunn is available this week but absent the following week with the NZ U18 3×3 team.

Rangitoto’s absenteeism isn’t as great but it’s still a major disruption. Captain Harry Payne and forward Dallas Clayton flew out to Japan on Monday to attend the prestigiousBasketball Without Borders Asia Camp in Tokyo.

Clayton is due back for the second week of the play-offs but Payne is a late addition to the New Zealand U17 team so he will head straight to New Caledonia from Japan and will therefore be missing both weeks.

Westlake Girls (#2) v Rangitoto College (#3)

Rangitoto College should be at full strength provided coach Josh Davies is restored to full health.

The same can’t be said about Westlake who will have their envied depth of talent put to the test.

Head Coach Bronwen Davidson heads to New Caledonia as an assistant for the NZ U17 team and takes Jess Moors with her. Already without Mareta Davidson who suffered a season ending shoulder injury a few weeks ago they will be without skipper Jordyn Maddix the following week.

If that wasn’t enough they will be without Emme Shearer for both weeks. The athletic guard is off on an Asian tour headed to the Basketball Without Borders Camp prior to the U18 3×3 in Indonesia.

St Mary’s College (#1) v Massey High (#4)

This is the game that has suffered the least number of withdrawals. St Mary’s forward Jazz Kailahi-Fulu is the only absentee as she is in Tokyo at the Basketball Without Borders Camp but is expected back for the second week of the play-offs.

The absence of 14 players and 4 coaches away at international events serves testimony to the quality of high school basketball in Auckland and despite their absence it won’t detract from the intensity of the semi-finals.