LACEY LOWDOWN

Ramona Fuaivaa had the distinction of scoring the first point in Auckland Secondary School’s Premier Basketball on the North Shore in 2020 as she gave Massey High School the lead at Carmel College on Friday night.

The Massey captain would go on to score a game high equaling 26 points to lead her team to an 89-85 victory.

Carmel guard Jemma Cammell also notched 26 points in an end-to-end, entertaining encounter that could have gone either way but eventually fell the way of the visitors.

Massey got off to a fast start opening up a 9-1 lead but that was quickly erased as Qaizden Stephano scored inside and Lily Morgan and Katea Norton struck from deep to give the home side a 17-11 lead at the first break.

Carmel had seven different scorers in the second quarter but Massey weren’t going away and trailed by just two points, 34-36, at half-time.

The third quarter told the story of the game. Maya Taingahue and Tahlya Waikiki sprung Massey into a lead before Mackenzie MacKereth obliterated that advantage. Cammell put Carmel ahead but Fuaivaa put a stop to that with a pair of threes. The lead kept changing in a period that produced 67 points – Massey ahead by the narrowest of margins (69-68) at the three-quarter mark.

Izzy MacGregor converted a long three but it was Cammell carrying the scoring load for Carmel. She notched a dozen of her team’s 17 points in the final period but it wasn’t quite enough to see off the efforts of Shazaleah Henry, Fuaivaa, Taingahue and Waikiki.

Carmel 85 – Cammell 26, Stephano 16, MacKereth 8, Morgan 8

Massey 89 – Fuaivaa 26, Taingahue 19, Waikiki 17, Henry 17

Double-doubles from Aroha Riley (15 points/13 rebounds) and Kellie Tawhiao (13 points/16rebounds) propelled Rangitoto College to a 20-point win at Mt Albert Grammar School.

MAGS made the better start – a couple of baskets apiece from Danae Tait (18 points) and Breanna Waka helped the home team to an 18-10 lead after 10 minutes.

That lead was quickly erased in the second quarter as Rangi guard Ella Moore dropped 10 points in the period – her team 37-26 ahead at the interval.

Scoring continued to be a struggle for MAGS in the third and Rangi took full advantage. Riley and Emily Blythe both struck from long range as the visitors put up 21 points in the period to lead 58-37 at three-quarter time.

Exchanges were even in the final quarter with Monica Kelly, Letiara Foster and Tait advancing the MAGS score. Moore capped off the Rangitoto win with her fourth triple of the game.

Rangitoto Coach Josh Davis was happy with his team’s first up effort “I was pleased with our toughness in a physical game, particularly Maddy Smith on her Premier debut.”

MAGS 52 – Tait 18, Foster 16, Waka 6, Kelly 6

Rangitoto 72 – A Riley 15/13r, Moore 15, Tawhiao 13/16r, Noom-Duckworth 9, Blythe 8

Baradene College, promoted as 2019 Senior A Champions, made a promising start to the Premier season but eventually went down 65-50 at home to Westlake Girls High School.

“It was not a bad effort, but we ran out of steam,” reflected Baradene Head Coach Andrew Parke.

His team made a promising start with Deyna Topia putting the finishing touches to a 15-14 quarter-time lead.

Holly Williams knocked down a three for Westlake and the ‘Mac-Attack of Mackenzie Chatfield and Makenzee Boucher were prominent as the visitors built a 32-25 lead by half-time.

Lily Parke and Ritorya Tamilo amassed 42 of Baradene’s 50 points and despite their best efforts Westlake were 49-32 to the good at three-quarter time.

Jess Moores and Rosalie Dil ensured there would be no late comeback from the hosts – Westlake off to a solid start with a first up win.

Baradene 50 – Parke 22, Tamilo 20

Westlake 65 – J Moors 20, Dil 11, Boucher 8, Chatfield 8

St Mary’s College got their 2020 campaign off to a good start with a 73-49 win against newly promoted Epsom Girls Grammar School.

It was a balanced performance from the defending champions with seven players contributing six points or more.

A tight opening frame, won 11-7 by St Mary’s, preceded a scoring rush in the second as both teams scored over twenty points.

Florence Dallow scored 8 points for Epsom and on the other side of the ledger Kodee Sefo, Leata Tenana-Williams, Zaliyah Kailahi-Fulu, Faith Ualika , Safena Tenana-Williams all scored multiple baskets as St Mary’s built a 39-27 half-time lead.

Sarah-Joy Aruwa kept the score ticking over for Epsom after the break but St Mary’s added another 20 points to be 59-36 ahead with ten minutes to play.

Te Aroha Kukutai-Wairau posted 6 points for Epsom in the final term, a tally matched by Sefo as St Mary’s eased to a comfortable victory.

Epsom 49 – Dallow 16, Aruwa 12, Kukutai-Wairau 8, Roy 5

St Mary’s 73 – Sefo 14, L Tenana-Williams 14, Kailahi-Fulu 9, Ualika 9, S Tenana-Williams 7

In possibly the first ever Auckland Secondary Schools Premier game played on a Saturday, St Kentigern College eventually proved too good for Westlake Boys High School winning 107-82 at Trusts Arena.

The two teams split 54 points in the opening quarter with the scoring almost as high, and even, in the second frame – Westlake trailing by a single point (50-49) at half-time.

The opposing coaches, Westlake’s Tony Webster and St Kentigern’s Aaron Young, will feature in NBL Showdown on Sunday with the pair assistant coaches for Franklin Bulls and Auckland Huskies respectively.

In the Saturday showdown it was Young who found the winning formula in the third quarter with his team dominating Westlake in the period to lead 80-65 at three-quarter time. With Levick Kerr (26 points) a handful inside and a plethora of threats on the perimeter Young’s charges moved through the offensive gears scoring 30 points in the period.

Kazlo Evans was at the heart of the good things happening for St Kent’s, the shooting guard knocking down six three’s on his way to a game high 29 points.

Westlake were unable to make any impression on St Kent’s advantage in the fourth quarter, the 2019 national champions easing to a comfortable victory. Josh Kooiman, Liam Spencer, Antonio Leutich and Jett Thompson all made double digit contributions for Westlake but the Swans could do little to quell St Kent’s second half charge.

Much interest surrounded the Premier debut of St Kentigern’s Dontea Russo. The promising Year 11 guard made an encouraging start to his career for the ‘Blue and Whites’ contributing 20 points and showing commendable poise.

With Russo, Evans, Alex McNaught, Martin Gan and Kaea Rangiehaeata combining to make 14 threes in the game St Kentigern’s have served notice that they are likely to be the team to beat in 2020.

St Kentigern 107 – Evans 29, Kerr 26, Russo 20, Gan 13, McNaught 8

Westlake 82 – Thompson 21, Kooiman 18, Spencer 13, Leutich 11, Martin 7

Live Secondary Schools Premier Basketball returned to Auckland on Friday night. Defending champions Rangitoto College narrowly avoided defeat beating Mt Albert Grammar School 73-66, Liston College held off the challenge of St Peter’s College to win 90-76 and Rosmini College got a road win at Auckland Grammar winning 86-66.

The Westlake Boys versus St Kentigern College game is being played at Trusts Stadium, Waitakere on Saturday, tip-off 2.15pm.

In an encounter that looked as if it would go down to the wire Rosmini College kept Auckland Grammar scoreless for five-minutes in the fourth quarter enabling them to pull away for a decisive 86-66 victory.

Early on it was all AGS as they attacked the boards with glee, troubled Rosmini with their transition play and penetrative driving.

Caleb Landon scored six quick points and when Stefan Bigio dropped a three late in the opening frame the hosts led 22-15.

Threes from Cian Emery and Pita Maxwell-Topia quickly erased the deficit, Toby Caldwell struck from deep for AGS but it was a quarter that belonged to Rosmini as they led 45-35 at half-time.

Taine Murray had been well marshalled by the home defence but he peeled off three straight baskets to keep Rosmini ahead. However AGS’ enthusiasm on the offensive boards was paying dividends, the work of Christian Ward, Oliver Gibson and Luka Vea earning Grammar extra possessions and reward on the scoreboard – Rosmini’s lead a narrow 61-56 with ten minutes remaining.

That lead was down to three when Vea opened the fourth quarter. Sean Murphy scored six straight points for the visitors but Gibson and Jamal Todd countered for the hosts and with 5:30 to play the Rosmini lead was still five points (68-63).

From there it was all Rosmini – some starch was applied to their defence and at the offensive end Murray, Emery, Murphy and Maxwell-Topia prospered. Maxwell-Topia’s fourth three of the game meant Rosmini had strung together a 15-0 run. It was a run that stretched the score line to a margin that didn’t reflect the Grammar effort but it was one that did please the many former Rosmini senior players in the good sized crowd.

AGS 66 – Landon 16, Ngan 10, Vea 10, Caldwell 7, Todd 7

Rosmini 86 – Murray 21, Murphy 19, Emery 15, Maxwell-Topia 13

A third quarter dominated by home side Mt Albert Grammar School appeared to give them a springboard to topple Rangitoto College on Friday. However the experience pair of Zach Riley and Ethan Skelton scored 10 points apiece in the final quarter as Rangitoto composed themselves to overcome a six-point deficit and win an entertaining contest 73-66.

An even first quarter was shaded by Rangitoto 16-14 before the second period became a grind. That was particularly so for hosts MAGS who managed just one field goal in the quarter, courtesy of Phoenix Sorensen, to trail 27-20 after a low scoring first half. David Jovanovic had 6 points at the break for Rangi, Ben Skelton 5 points for MAGS.

The second quarter scoring famine was replaced with a feast in the third – MAGS consuming the greater portions. Tucking in the most was Dakota Stephens (three triples) with Sataan Tawera and Morgan Aiono also grabbing healthy portions.Riley didn’t leave the table empty handed – his 11 points keeping the visitors in touch, down 49-43 at three-quarter time.

The intensity went up a notch in the fourth and again MAGS found their scoring touch elusive. Stephens scored his fourth triple of the night but it was Rangi gaining momentum.

Lucas Payne scored from beyond the arc and when Riley did the same on two occasions the visitors had wrestled the lead.

Tawera and Sorensen fired a couple of late shots but it was Skelton and Kaia Dryden putting the finishing touches to a hard fought victory for the defending champions.

MAGS 66 – Tawera 19/10r, Stephens 12, Aiono 11, Sorensen 10

Rangitoto 73 – Riley 27/11r, Skelton 13/7a, Payne 10, Jovanovich 8

Liston College have made a good start to the season. After comfortably disposing of Long Bay College in the promotion/relegation tie last week they travelled to St Peter’s College and came away with a 90-76 win on Friday night.

They made a solid start winning a quiet opening quarter 12-9 then stretching that advantage to 36-27 by half-time.

Centre Troy Lee Baker did most of the damage, dominating inside with 18 first half points. Jack Donnelly was in good form for St Peter’s and he came close to matching Baker, notching 15 points before the interval.

Donnelly continued to shine for St Peters, as did Mitch Lancaster. The pair tallied 18 points between them in the third period but it wasn’t enough to prevent Liston pulling further ahead.

Safa Prasad enjoyed a 14 points haul in ten minutes and with James Hickey and Desmond Helu in good form the Liston advantage was 68-54 at the three-quarter mark.

The two teams exchanged baskets in the fourth, St Peter’s unable to threaten the visitors lead.

St Peter’s 75 – Donnelly 32, Lancaster 13, Manio 12, Wooley 5

Liston 90 – Baker 26, Prasad 21, Helu 19, Hickey 16

Girls Prems reports published tomorrow.

Liston College retained their place in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier competition with a comfortable 67-50 victory over Long Bay College at a packed St Dominic’s Gymnasium on Friday night.

It looked anything but comfortable in the opening quarter as George DeFelice scored seven early points for Long Bay. A couple of triples from rangy forward Keegan Hall gave the travelling Long Bay supporters plenty more to cheer as their team ended the first quarter 19-12 ahead.

From there it began to slide downhill for ‘The Boys from the Bays’. A three from Desmond Helu was followed by buckets from Troy Lee Baker and Sefa Prasad meant that the scores were tied two minutes into the second period and Long Bay Coach Justin Bailey needed a timeout.

The stoppage failed to halt Liston’s progress. Although DeFelice landed a much needed three-pointer for Long Bay, an 8-2 run from Liston swung momentum firmly in their favour – they led 31-25 at half-time.

James Hickey and Desmond Helu with transition baskets and Troy Lee Baker and Evangel Lo Tam with inside scores continued to stretch the Liston advantage. Luca Becker made a deep three for Long Bay but they had their backs to the wall at three-quarter time trailing 57-35.

Clifford scored six points for the visitors in the final stanza but Liston Head Coach Kaea Samson had the luxury of giving his bench players significant minutes in the closing stages with the victory secured.

The result means Long Bay remain in Senior A whilst Liston retain their Premier Division status in the Auckland Secondary Schools competition and will strive to improve on their seventh place finish in 2019.

The regular season for both leagues starts on Friday June 26.

Liston 67 – Baker 16, Lo Tam 14 Prasad 9, Hickey 8

Long Bay 50 – De Felice 12, Hall 10, Clifford 8, Becker 7

Epsom Girls Grammar School (EGGS) finally overcame their play-off hoodoo by beating Auckland Girls Grammar School (AGGS) 78-52 on Thursday evening.

The victory means that it is third time lucky for Epsom who had tripped over at the same promotion/relegation stage in the previous two years.

It was fitting that Sarah-Joy (28 points) and Flo Dallow (22 points) were the main architects of the win given both had suffered the agony of defeat in 2018 and 2019.

Epsom coach Wayne Fowler admitted that, “It was nerve wracking prior to the game.”

Those nerves would have been calmed in the first quarter as threes from  Te Aroha Kukutai-Wairau and Maya Fowler helped propel Epsom to a 24-11 lead.

Auckland’s Imogene Noble score 10 second-quarter points but first half double figure contributions from Dallow and Aruwa ensured Epsom entered the break with a solid 42-25 lead.

Teesha Tuaiti and Leah Patuwairua kept the score ticking over for Auckland in the third and although they shaded the period by a point it was Epsom who were in the box seat, ahead 56-40.

Aruwa’s 12 points in the final frame snuffed out any chance of an Auckland comeback and soon after Alice Roy put the icing on the cake with the final Epsom score of the game the victors were mobbed by their excited supporters.

The result means AGGS drop down to Senior A from the Premier Division of the Auckland Secondary Schools competition while EGGS travel in the opposite direction.

The regular season for both leagues starts on Friday June 26.

EGGS 78 – Aruwa 28, Dallow 22, Fowler 12, Kukutai-Wairau 5

AGGS 52 – Noble 25, Tuaiti 13, Patuwairua 6

Epsom Girls Grammar enjoyed a morale boosting win on Friday night at Carmel College defeating the hosts 81-72. 

EGGS face Auckland Grammar next Thursday in the Prems Play-off game and having come close to gaining promotion from the Senior A Grade in each of the last two-years will be eager for success this time around.

The win was built around the experienced duo of Florence Dallow (21 points) and Sarah Joy Aruwa (38 points) – Carmel having difficulty in stopping the powerful drives of Aruwa.

EGGS also had useful contributions from Lauren Boxall-Hunt (10 points) and Te Ataiti Kukutai-Wairau (6 points).

Leading the scoring for Carmel were Jemma Cammell and Isobel MacGregor with 14 points apiece, Katie Linstrom notched 10 points whilst Mac MacKereth and Qaizden Stephano each had 9.

Despite the loss Carmel will be content with the performance as they prepare for the 2020 Premier campaign. Having lost five year 13’s from last season there will be opportunities galore for their young players to make their mark in the coming weeks.