The fifth round review of the Auckland Schools Girls Premier Grade games, brought to you by Northern Kāhu, features wins for Baradene College, Mt Albert Grammar School, Rangitoto College and Westlake Girls.
It took overtime but eventually Rangitoto College prevailed against Carmel College winning by the narrowest of margins 77-76.
Consecutive baskets from Lily Farman had given Carmel a 15-point lead (55-40) early in the fourth quarter but serious foul trouble and an unfortunate injury to the impressive Farman opened the door for a Rangitoto comeback.
Ruby Railton kept Carmel in the ascendancy but Tamsin McAsey and Aroha Riley pecked away at the deficit. Inside the final 30 seconds a McAsey steal led to a Riley layup to give Rangi a 64-63 lead – Carmel skipper Jemma Cammell made one from two from the foul-line with just two seconds on the clock and overtime ensued.
Cammell gave Carmel a 4-point buffer but when she became the fourth home player to foul out the scales tipped the way of the visitors.
Still Carmel found life via a Tara Hodson bucket and when Railton landed a triple – Carmel ahead 76-75 with 1:12 to play.
However it was player of the game McAsey that had the final say – her game winner, amongst 7 overtime points, the difference in an excellent contest.
Carmel 76 – Cammell 18, Farman 16, Railton 16, Imogen O’Rourke 7, Hannah Bellett 7
Rangitoto 77 – Riley 29, McAsey 28, Alicia Carr 6, Maddie Skelton 6
Mt Albert Grammar defeated Saint Kentigern College 69-65 with the closeness of the contest also reflected in the performances of the games two outstanding players – opposing #4’s Ashleigh Tuumaialu scored 29 points for St Kent’s and Danae Tait 27 points for MAGS.
Tuumaialu scored 9 points in the opening quarter but half a dozen from Tiger-Lily Coker-Lemalie propelled MAGS to a narrow 17-16 lead.
There was still a single point difference at the interval but in favour of the hosts (36-35). A couple of threes from Nerisa Vavau helped the St Kent’s cause – Valana Pupuke-Robati and Tait keeping MAGS in the hunt.
A couple of baskets from Madison Sanele and further accumulation from Tuumaialu was cancelled out by Shekinah Kuresa and Te Arini Roberts – MAGS ahead 56-53 at the last break.
Once again the two number 4’s were in the thick of the action in the deciding quarter – Tuumaialu scored 8 points but Tait shaded it, as did her team, with 10 points.
The return contest next term promises to be equally close and entertaining.
Saint Kentigern 65 – Tuumaialu 29, Sharmaine Tapling 12, Vavau 8, Maia Mealamu 6
MAGS 69 – Tait 27, Pupuke-Robati 12, Coker-Lemalie 11, Kuresa 8, Roberts 7
With five players scoring in double figures Baradene College cruised to a 79-30 win against St Mary’s College and remain undefeated ahead of a top of the table clash with Westlake Girls High on Monday.
Ritorya Tamilo continued her good form with 19 points, ably supported by Harriet Burrell, Deyna Topia, Summer Faleafa and Poppy Cavanagh-Briggs.
For St Mary’s Kodee Williams-Sefo scored 10 points and Layla Aholelei tallied 9.
Baradene 79 – Tamilo 19, Burrell 16, Cavanagh-Briggs 10, Topia 10, Faleafa 10
St Mary’s 30 – Williams-Sefo 10, Aholelei 9, Trinity Atiga 5
Ahead of a sterner test against Baradene College on Monday, Westlake Girls cruised to a 114-29 win at Epsom Girls Grammar.
Mackenzie Chatfield scored 31 points for the second time this season, the Moors sisters Rebecca and Sarah combined for 36 points, while Holly Williams, Zoe Richardson and Emma Schroeder were also in double figures.
Maia Fowler was the best for Epsom with 9 points.
Epsom 29 – Fowler 9, Ivy Tino 6, Mihinoa Tanghaere 5
Westlake 114 – Chatfield, 31, R Moors 22, S Moors 14, Z Richardson 11, Williams 10, Schroeder 10
Current Standings:
5-0 Westlake, Baradene
4-1 MAGS
2-3 St Kentigern, Epsom
1-4 St Mary’s, Rangitoto
0-5 Carmel
LACEY LOWDOWN 