Round 10 of the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier competition, brought to you in conjunction with Dynamic Sport New Zealand saw wins for Saint Kentigern College, Westlake Boys and Rosmini College.
A 35-point haul from the dependable Hamza Zahran was key to Westlake’s success in defeating Mt Albert Grammar 89-85.
It was a contest that could have gone either way and not decided until the closing seconds.
Kade Cartwright lit up the opening minutes of the fourth quarter draining four triples in as many minutes to edge MAGS into a 76-73 lead with 4:30 to play.
Zahran’s And-1 play and corner three bookended Will Leger and Denvor Elia scores – Westlake up by one.
To the delight of the away supporters Hari Coker-Grey’s fourth three of the evening meant MAGS went ahead 83-82 with 1:30 to play.
Ned Shearer restored the Westlake lead only for Louis Uri to finish a baseline drive – all square with 50 seconds to play.
Those last few seconds proved fruitful for Westlake as Rocco Chang scored in traffic and added from the charity stripe.
MAGS still had opportunities but a wasteful turnover and a missed shot ensued before Malachi Book sealed the home victory with a pair of free throws.
A compelling contest was tight throughout – Zahran’s 11 first quarter points easing Westlake to a 19-17 lead.
Coker-Grey scored 10 points in the second although Lake were still ahead 43-39 at the half.
Jonty Strawbridge, Chang and Zahran made threes for the home side in the third but Coker-Grey’s triple and Uri’s And-1 play meant there was just a point in it at three-quarter time (63-62).
Cartwright’s fireworks followed but Zahran and Co were able to contain the display before it got out of control and then provide some sparkle of their own to seal win number seven and remain well inside the top four.
Westlake 89 – Zahran 35, Ottenhoff 16, Chang 13, Book 8, Shearer 6
MAGS 85 – Coker-Grey 27, Cartwright 20, Leger 12, Elia 11, Uri 7
Tom Beattie and Charlie Dalton celebrated being named to the New Zealand U18 team earlier in the week with 41 points and 33 points respectively as Rosmini College won 111-72 at Liston College. The consistent Dhon Lao scored 15 points and Rasheed Ieremie 13 for Liston.
Liston 72 – Lao 15, Ieremie 13, Will Couper 10, Sebastaian Alan 9, Kelvin Mensah 9
Rosmini 111 – Beattie 41, Dalton 33, Jameer Reed 17, Josh Wylie 10, Noah Johns 7
The Auckland Grammar v Rangitoto College game was postponed until Term 3.
In a game played on Wednesday night Saint Kentigern College won 98-81 at home against Sacred Heart College.
Congratulation to Dontae Russo-Nance (Saint Kentigern College), Taukoto Wynyard (Rangitoto College), Charlie Dalton and Tom Beattie (both Rosmini College) on being selected for the New Zealand U18 Men’s team contesting the Asia Cup in Iran in late August.
Current Standings:
9-1 Rosmini
7-3 Westlake
6-2 AGS
5-5 MAGS
4-4 Rangitoto
5-5 St Kentigern
1-9 Sacred Heart
0-10 Liston
LACEY LOWDOWN 