The Auckland Secondary Schools Premier League Grand Final will be a ‘Battle of the North’ with Westlake Boys taking on local rivals Rangitoto College.
Rangitoto beat St Kentigern College 80-58 in one semi-final while Westlake had a come from behind to beat Auckland Grammar 93-85
Rangitoto dominated proceedings against St Kentigern winning the opening quarter 20-11, moving to a 42-21 half-time lead and an unassailable 62-38 advantage at the three-quarter mark.
Kazlo Evans (27 points) was a shining light for St Kent’s with George Turner (12 points) the only other player in double figures.
Zeke Priest led the Rangi scoring with 22 points and there were also telling contributions from Zach Riley, Lucas Payne, Kaia Kemp and Jacob Fotu who recorded a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Rangitoto 80 – Priest 22, Payne 16, Kemp 13, Riley 13, Fotu 12
St Kentigern 58 – Evans 25, Turner 12, I Lasike 8
The other semi-final was a far more intense affair. At three-quarter time Auckland Grammar were favourites to progress with a 63-56 lead, only for Westlake to pile on 37 points in the final period making six threes in the process.
Boston Caldwell started the revival with a deep three and from there Christian Martin took control. The Westlake skipper nailed 5 triples in the period – in an astonishing individual display he scored 30 of Westlake’s 37 points in the final ten minutes to carry his team to victory.
In a game of fluctuating fortunes Westlake scored 66 of their 93 points in quarters one and four with AGS, led capably by Jamal Todd and Luka Vea dominated the middle stages.
Rocco Chang, Boston Caldwell and Wade Mackenzie featured strongly as the opening quarter went to Westlake 29-19.
It was all Grammar in the middle periods as Todd, Vea, Caleb Landon and Toby Caldwell looked to be taking the game away from Westlake.
Martin had other ideas!
Westlake 93 – Martin 44 (7/12 3PG), R Chang 16, B Caldwell 15
AGS 85 – J Todd 22, C Landon 14, L Vea 13, T Caldwell 12, W Shortt 9
The Grand Final is scheduled for Thursday August 19.
LACEY LOWDOWN 