LACEY LOWDOWN

May 29, 2023

After the Boy’s Senior A Round 4 action Northcote College and Mt Roskill Grammar remain a perfect 4-0 with their upcoming Round 5 match up one to look forward to. 

The individual performance of the round belonged to Selwyn College guard Ashton Muraahi.

Muraahi scored a stunning 49 points to pace Selwyn College to a 102-78 win at Avondale College. He scored 21 points in the opening quarter as Selwyn eased to a 27-13 lead and he had 33 as the half-time lead stretched to 60-29.

The Selwyn guard had good support from Charlie Barnfield and Alfred Casiple while for Avondale Liam Takenaka-Wesley scored a team high 20 points.

Avondale 78 – Takenaka-Wesley 20, Deul Lelaulu 16, AJ Tsukada 13, Akram Al Wakeel 8, Raymond Korboe 6

Selwyn 102 – Muraahi 49, Barnfield 11, Casiple 10, Zavier Atatoa 9, James MacDonald 8

Northcote won a high scoring affair at home against Liston College 104-82 with Aaron Sievert lighting up proceedings with 45 points.

Liston, led by Rasheed Ieremia’s 30 points, had few issues at the offensive end but couldn’t keep Northcote at bay. The hosts, after opening a 25-19 lead won every quarter as they claimed a fourth straight victory.

Northcote 107 – Sievert 45, Tane Cook 15, Shunta Shinzaki 13, Jake Talaic 9, Ethan Ray 8

Liston 82 – Ieremia 30, Gia Helu 15, Dhon Lao 14, Manuel Tuaere 11, Jeyden Ale 8

Mount Roskill Grammar are also unbeaten after a 68-52 home win against Kelston Boys High School.

Roskill put the defensive clamps on in the first half restricting Kelston to just 19 points to lead by 20 at the interval.

17 points from Sam Tuitupou and 16 from Real Wheaton helped Kelston shade the second half but the damage had been done earlier.

Haisem Osman had a game high 18 points for Roskill with Mitch Greenaway posting 16. 

Mt Roskill 68 – Osman 18, M Greenaway 16, Dan Greenaway 9, Ezra Ogbuze 7, Ngawaka Rakete 6

Kelston 52 – Tuitupou 17, Wheaton 16, Alec Phillips 7, Rodman Fuaivaa 7

The Dilworth v Manurewa High School fixture has been postponed to Thursday June 1

Standings

4-0 Northcote, Mt Roskill

3-1 Selwyn

2-2 Liston

1-3 Manurewa, Kelston

0-3 Dilworth

0-4 Avondale

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In the Auckland Secondary Schools Girls Senior A competition Rangitoto College and Manurewa High School sit atop the table with perfect 4-0 records.

Rangitoto won the North Shore derby on the back of a stunning fourth quarter effort. Trailing Carmel College 48-37 at three-quarter time they outscored their opponents 24-7 down the stretch to claim victory. Maddy Skelton was the instigator of the recovery scoring 12 of her 19 points in the closing ten minutes.

Earlier, on the back of 23 points from Ruby Railton and a dozen from Imogen O’Rourke, Carmel had made all the running leading at the end of every quarter except the all-important fourth.

Rangitoto 61 – Skelton 19, Esther Roberts 9, Tamsin McAsey 7, Mela Andrews 7, Kyree Rakena 6

Carmel 55 – Railton 23, O’Rourke 12, Annie Gaylard 9, Zahara Tibbotts 7

Manurewa High School joined Rangitoto at the top of the table after an 85-44 away win at One Tree Hill College.

Manurewa got off to a good start establishing an 18-8 lead at quarter time.

Beautiful Campbell, headed to a game high 35 points, and Bella Manu Moore dominated the middle stages as Manurewa steadily built a match winning lead.

Harriate Heta led the way for One Tree Hill with 16 points. OTH scored almost half their points from beyond the three-point arc – Melaia Tuisuva knocking down a trio of treys!

Despite having just five players Manurewa were able to close out a fourth straight win.

One Tree Hill 44 – Heta 16, Tuisuva 11, Sophia Govind 5

Manurewa 85 – Campbell 35, Moore 22, Shirley Tuilimu 14, Zhendy Li 8, Alyssa Uluheua 5

 

With five players scoring in double figures Auckland Girls Grammar School eased to a comfortable 85-39 win at Avondale College.

AGGS built a 10-point cushion in the opening quarter, gradually increasing their advantage in each period.

Hayley Abbott scored a game high 18 points for Avondale but the balanced AGGS effort, led by Ryn Nikoia (17 points), proved to be the recipe for success.

Avondale 39 – Abbott 18, Shiloh Caffery 10, Zion Mann 4

AGGS 85 – R Nikoia 17, Julia-Rose Fiesher-Martin 16, Faith Hurt 16, Grady Nikoia 12, Harmony Hurt 10, Zara Leavasa-Avauli 6, Geavani Barnes 6

Bree and Nelly Ioane scored all of Mt Roskill Grammar’s first quarter points as they opened up a 17-6 lead over Massey High School.

The pair would go on to dominate proceedings with 20-point games as Roskill went on to win 70-29.

Lucy Ward was a standout for Massey tallying 13 points.

Mt Roskill 70 – N Ioane 22, B Ioane 20, Allie O’Callaghan 8, Tamara Viviani 8, Havana Iaea 8

Massey 29 – Ward 13, Cyntalia Schuster 8, Valentine Tausi 4

Standings

4-0 Rangitoto, Manurewa

3-1 Carmel

2-2 Mt Roskill, AGGS

1-3 One Tree Hill

0-4 Avondale, Massey

May 28

Season bests from Bailey Flavell (45 points) and Anna Dyachenko (19 points) propelled Takapuna Grammar School to a commanding 91-53 away win against Baradene College.

Takapuna scored the first seven points of the contest and after Amy McKenzie, Flavell and Dyachenko made threes Takapuna had raced to a 33-11 quarter-time lead.

Baskets from Ritorya Tamilo, Deyna Topia and Poppy Cavanagh-Briggs reduced the deficit immediately after the restart although it didn’t take long for Takapuna to get back in the scoring groove to close the half with a 48-24 advantage.

Tamilo and Cavanagh-Briggs did some inside damage in the third but another 9 points from Flavell helped Takapuna to a game winning 64-38 lead at the three-quarter mark.

Natalja Burton impressed for Taka in the closing stages with Odile Dolon getting valuable minutes for the hosts.

Ritorya Tamilo will be missing from the Baradene lineup for the next couple of rounds following her selection for the SKY Sport Tall Ferns European Tour – congratulations Ritorya.

Baradene 53 – Topia 17, Cavanagh-Brown 13, Tamilo 12, Amelia Nathan 6

Takapuna 91 – Flavell 45, Dyachenko 19, McKenzie 13, Natalja Burton 6

Mt Albert Grammar School bounced back from their defeat at the hands of Westlake last week in emphatic style pounding St Mary’s College 120-37 with Waimanu Clarken posting a career high 51 points.

The tone was set early on as MAGS carved out a 27-10 first quarter lead which ballooned to 66-22 by half-time.

MAGS enjoyed other double figure contributions from Te Arina Roberts, Gezreyal Maiu’u and Lara-Poppy Cocker-Lemalie while India Nash battled gamely for 10 points for St Mary’s.

MAGS 120 – Clarken 51, Roberts 15, Cocker-Lemalie 13, Gezreyal Maiu’u 10, Jorjia Fiu 8, Peyton Uri 8

St Mary’s 37 – Nash 10, Layla Aholelei 7, Teuila Salesa 6, Tamzin Jakeman 5

Westlake Girls High School made it four wins from four outings with a 77-53 victory at St Kentigern College.

Seven points from Emma Schroeder helped propel Westlake to a 16-10 first quarter lead.

Anamia Rangihaeata landed a triple and Ashleigh Tuumaialu scored 8 points as the hosts went toe to toe with the defending champions in the second frame.

However consistent scoring from Lily Fotu and Brennah Latoalevi-Nosa ensured Westlake headed to the main break with a 36-27 advantage.

The highest scoring period of the match ensued in the third. For the hosts Sophie Jones and Rangihaeata knocked down threes while Tiffany Thompson and Tuumaialu added to their tallies. 

Westlake also had a pair of 3-point makes courtesy of Latoalevi-Nosa and Katie Moors while sister Rebecca had 8 points in the paint – Westlake 55-47 to the good at three-quarter time.

Restricted to just 6 points in the fourth period St Kentigern could only watch as Westlake stretched their lead into the twenties and close out win number four.

St Kent’s 53 – Tuumaialu 17, Rangihaeata 11, Kilani Tuineau 8, Thompson 6 

Westlake 77 – Schroeder 21, R Moors 18/8rebs, Latoalevi-Nosa 13, Fotu 12/6 assists

A big third quarter put the seal on Epsom Girls Grammar’s 67-39 win at Northcote College. 

Although they had the better of the second quarter the visitors lead was only six points (29-23) at the interval with the contest fairly evenly poised.

However 8 points from Leah Patuwarua and 9 from Draun Forbes tilted the balance firmly in favour of Epsom as they pulled away to a 52-30 lead.

11 points in the final quarter from Maya Fowler, on her way to a game high 21 points, put the seal on a third win of the season for EGGS.

DJ Hannah returned to the Northcote lineup to post a team high 19 points – the next best were Nikki Gear with 9 points and Lily Morgan with 8 points

Northcote 39 – Hannah 19, N Gear 9, Morgan 8

Epsom 67 – Fowler 21, Patuwarua 11, Forbes, 11 Talia Vea 11, Kiyara Te Amo 5

Standings

4-0 Westlake

3-1 MAGS, Epsom 

2-2 St Kent’s, Baradene, Takapuna

0-4 St Mary’s, Northcote

May 27, 2023

Mt Albert Grammar School and Rosmini College remain unbeaten after Round 4 victories in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade competition.

It was gripping in Glendowie as Sacred Heart College saw an opportunity for a notable victory slip through their fingers as they were pipped 66-64 in overtime by Rosmini College.

Heart after keeping Rosmini to just 20 first half points led 43-26 midway through the third quarter before being pegged back and in overtime, after scores by Preston Tuaputa and Tyrell Cocker, were 64-59 in the ascendancy.

At both points of the game a home win looked the most likely outcome but on both occasions Rosmini fought their way back into the contest. With a second overtime period looking likely Rosmini guard Josh Wyllie made the game winner with just 4 seconds left in the overtime period.

Earlier a baseline drive and two handed flush from Noah Johns put Rosmini 11-9 ahead before Heart closed the first quarter with a 12-3 run to lead 24-16, with Tuaputa, Sam Snowdon and Matt Fautuaalii-Taia to the fore.

If the Heart scoring was pedestrian in the second the Rosmini effort was in slumberland as defences dominated – the quarter won 9-4 by the hosts to lead 33-20 at the break.

Tuaputa continued to trouble the Rosmini defence and when Matt Fautuaalii-Taia nailed a triple Heart were 17 points clear (43-26).

Rosmini responded with a strong finish to the third period – a three from Bart Jackowski and 6 points apiece from Josh and Chris Wyllie saw them trail by just 4 points (45-41) with ten minutes to play.

It was neck and neck throughout the fourth – Josh Wyllie’s late score cancelling out Tuaputa’s effort to send the game into an extra period.

Cocker and Tuaputa put Heart in overtime ascendancy before Jameer Reed and Josh Batty tied proceedings – cruelly for Heart the Josh Wyllie winner was the first time Rosmini had led since early in the opening period.  

 

Sacred Heart 64 – Tuaputa 23, Fautuaalii-Taia 16, Snowdon 8, Cocker 7

Rosmini 66 – Reed 21, C Wyllie 14, J Wyllie 12, Batty 9

There was also action aplenty on Alberton Ave as Mt Albert won the “Grammar Grapple” against Auckland 89-76.

With ten minutes to play, and a close finish in prospect, Auckland Grammar held a 57-55 lead after Josh Howes, George Milburn and Mikaere Tait had turned a 4 point half-time deficit into 2 point three-quarter time lead.

Faced with a first defeat of the season MAGS put together a scoring avalanche in the fourth running up 34 points with Dante Matakatea doing most of the damage. 

The 2022 New Zealand U17 representative scored 16 points in the quarter and with Louis Uri, Romani Keith-Peraua and Kade Cartwright lending good support the hosts pulled away for a decisive win.

Early on a low scoring opening period was edged 12-9 by Auckland before MAGS got the better of the second. The two number 5’s led the scoring at the break – Cartwright had 14 points for MAGS with Howes making a dozen for AGS. 

MAGS 89 – Cartwright 23, Matakatea 21, Uri 14/11rebs, Keith-Peraua 13, Harri Coker-Grey 11, Dante Tapulaaia 5/8rebs/6 steals

AGS 76 – Howes 21, Milburn 19, Ryan Hunt 11, Tait 8, Kalid Petzer 6

With Old Boy and new Perth Wildcats signing Dontae Russo-Nance in the house St Kentigern College, and Merrick Rillstone in particular, got off to a flying start against Westlake Boys High School. Rillstone had a couple of triples, and 16 points in total, as the home team forged ahead (26-17) in the opening spell.

St Kent’s continued their dominance in the second period with George Turner and Hunter Te Ratana joining Rillstone in the double figure scoring column.

Hadi Alshami led the Westlake scoring at the main break as the visitors faced a 50-28 deficit.

Lake enjoyed the better of the third quarter cutting the arrears by four to trail 68-50 at three-quarter time – Noah Rasmussan’s 10 points a feature of the frame.

Max Riechelmann and Andre Bautista knocked down threes for Westlake in the fourth but St Kent’s were in fine form from deep themselves – particularly Turner and Rillstone who combined for nine of the team’s thirteen made threes.

St Kentigern 89 – Rillstone 37, Turner 28, Te Ratana 14

Westlake 68 – Rasmussan 17, Alshami 11, Riechelmann 10, Malachi Book 9, Braden Gibb 7

Rangitoto College were boosted by the return of Michael Ropotini, for his first game of the season, and his 24 points were a significant contribution in the 104-74 defeat of St Peter’s College.

Both teams were looking for their first win of the season and it was Rangi that made the better start forging a 29-17 opening quarter advantage. Gus Dallow, on his way to a game high 36 points, had 10 at that stage for St Peter’s – Joel Brown with 8 points and Elyas Taher 6 for the hosts.

Rangi enjoyed another productive quarter to rack up 60 points by the interval and with it a lead of 27. Jackson Mills, Jimmy Kim, Arnold Nam and Ropotini each made multiple scores in the period.

Dallow and Caleb Afeaki upped the scoring tempo for St Peter’s but 9 third quarter points from Ropotini meant Rangi were out of sight at the last break with an 88-58 lead.

Dallow posted his second successive 30-point game but significant support was in short supply for the St Peter’s guard as Rangitoto cruised to the win. 

Rangitoto 104 – Ropotini 24,Taher 18, Nam 13, Max Mudford 11, Brown 10, Mills 9, Kim 7

St Peter’s 74 – Dallow 36, Afeaki 9, Milan Tolich 9, Bryan Curtis 7

Standings

4-0 MAGS, Rosmini

3-1 St Kentigern

2-2 AGS

1-3 Westlake, Sacred Heart, Rangitoto

0-3 St Peter’s

In a Boys Senior A Round 3 contest played on Monday night Mt Roskill Grammar School joined Northcote College as the only two teams with perfect 3-0 records after a convincing 85-59 home win against Dilworth School.

What shaped to be a tight contest, after just four points separated the two teams at quarter time, turned into a comfortable victory for the home side after they bossed the middle periods.

A triple from Finlay Edwards and 7 points from Kingston Kai’lahi-Aso meant Dilworth entered the second quarter just 18-14 adrift.

That deficit increased in the second with Mitch Greenaway and Josh Wadams inflicting most of the damage as Roskill established a 40-29 half-time advantage.

Despite the efforts of Ezrah Eagle, Ikahui Mahe and Kai’lahi-Aso the Roskill lead continued to climb. A Haisem Osman triple pushed the lead out to 20-points and it was 22 at three-quarter time (66-44).

Both teams gave opportunities to their bench players in the closing minutes – a three from Lincoln Tupa’i Samuel capping off a fine Roskill performance.

Mt Roskill 85 – M Greenaway 19, Wadams 18, Osman 12, Daniel Greenaway 8, Wai Tonga 7

Dilworth 59 – Kai’lahi-Aso 17, Eagle 14, Mahe 14 

The full roundup of Round 3 games can be found here: https://laceylowdown.com/2023/05/22/the-auckland-secondary-schools-senior-a-round-3-wrap/

May 22nd

Carmel College put together a dominant first half display to lead Massey High School 49-14 at the main break.

Hannah Bellett scored 27 points for the visitors with Ruby Railton tallying a massive double-double of 24 points and 24 rebounds. Zahara Tibbotts and Millie Lloyd also posted double-doubles.

Lucy Ward and Cyntalia Schuster, with 17 points apiece, were outstanding for Massey. 

Massey 42 – Ward 17, Schuster 17

Carmel 99 – Hannah Bellett 27, Ruby Railton 24/24rebs, Zahra Tibbotts 18/11assists, Millie Lloyd 18/13rebs, Leighton Esera 8

After trailing 42-24 at half-time Auckland Girls Grammar reduced the deficit to 57-53 with ten minutes to play.

However 9 fourth quarter points from the game’s leading scorer Eva Veale and 6 points from Mela Andrews steered Rangitoto to a third straight win.

Faith Hurt led the way for AGGS with a team high 18 points.

AGGS 61 – Hurt 18, Ryn Nikoia 10, Zara Avauli 10, Grady Nikoia 9, Julia-Rose Fiesher-Martin 7

Rangitoto 74 – Veale 19, Andrews 14, Sienna Maurice 12, Tamsin McAsey 9, Grace Giles 6

Manurewa High School have joined Carmel and Rangitoto at the top of the table, with 3-0 records, after defeating Avondale College 87-34.

Bella Manu-Moore scored 11 first quarter points as Manurewa forged a 23-3 lead.

Daisy Ducloux and Maya Loomes knocked down triples for Avondale but with Shirley Tuilimu joining Manu-Moore in double figures the Manurewa half-time lead was a comfortable 40-14.

Astrid Henricks and Lavinia Liufau helped maintain the Manurewa dominance in the second half – Loomes and Shiloh Caffery the major contributors for Avondale.

Manurewa 87 – Manu-Moore 27, Tuilimu 22, Henricks 13, Liufau 10, Alyssa Uluheua 7

Avondale 34 – Loomes 10, Caffery 9, Zion Mann 7, Daisy Ducloux 5

In the final game of the round One Tree Hill College grabbed their first win of the season defeating Mt Roskill Grammar 93-61. Both teams have a 1-2 record after the first three games.

Unfortunately I don’t have individual scorers from this fixture.

BOYS Senior A Round 3

In the closest game of the round Kelson Boys High and Liston College played out a thriller with Kelston claiming a narrow 75-73 victory.

The opposing number 9’s were prominent in the opening quarter. Rasheed Ieremia scored 9 early points for Liston but Kelston edged the opening period 23-21 with Rodman Fuaivaa tallying 8 points.

Liston had the better of quarters two and three. Jeydin Ale, Zymhon Moreno and Ieremia dominated the scoring in the middle stages as the visitors lead climbed to 61-51 with a quarter to play.

Kelston saved their best to last as both teams had to navigate a heavy foul count that would eventually see five players exit early.

Sam Tutopou (9 points) and Fuaivaa (10 points), with support from Alec Phillips and Sione Filimoehala, wrestled the initiative as Kelston outscored their opponents 24-12 in the fourth quarter and eke out their first win of the season.

Kelston 75 – Fuaivaa 28, Tuitupou 19, Phillips 10, Eyob Hailu 8, Filimoehala 6

Liston 73 – Ieremia 26, Ale 15, Moreno 8, Dhon Lao 8, Manu Tuaere 8

Northcote College won the clash between two of the unbeaten sides prevailing 86-73 at Selwyn College after leading at the end of each quarter.

Nine points from Carlos MacPherson helped Northcote establish a hand 26-19 lead at the conclusion of the first period.

Eleven points from Ashton Muraahi either side of the first quarter break helped the Selwyn cause, as did a triple from Luca Vietri.

14 first half points from Shunta Shinzaki played a major part in Northcote building a 40-32 half-time lead.

The score rattled along in the third quarter as players from both sides found points easier to come by. James MacDonald dropped three triples and with Muraahi adding 13 points Selwyn tallied 29 points in the period. Northcote almost matched that making 27 points with Shinzaki and Aaron Sievert combining for 20 of them – Northcote with a 67-61 advantage ahead of the final period.

The scoring in the fourth became pedestrian in comparison to the previous period as both defences tightened up considerably.

Vietri and Muraahi made a couple of scores apiece for the hosts but a Tyler Aitchison triple and multiple baskets from Ethan Ring, Sievert and Shinzaki meant it was Northcote claiming a third straight victory.

Selwyn 73 – Muraahi 32, Vietri 13, MacDonald 11, Zavier Atatoa 8

Northcote 86 – Shinzaki 26, Sievert 21, MacPherson 9, Ring 8, Jake Talaic 6

Manurewa High School made a great start to the game against Avondale College piling on 27 points to establish a 10-point lead – 9 points for Richard Campbell.

Liam Takenaka-Wesley scored 13 first half points for Avondale but the half belonged to the hosts as they established a 46-32 lead with Jarell Tuhega, Issachar Pati and Campbell to the fore.

Avondale struck back strongly in the third – a triple from AJ Tusukado and more points from Takenaka-Wesley trimmed the Manurewa advantage to four points at the three-quarter break (56-52).

A three from Ray Korboe and half a dozen points from Deul Lelaulu kept Avondale in touch but the exciting contest eventually went the way of Manurewa – 10 points in the fourth from the Campbell brothers sealing Manurewa’s first win of the season

Manurewa 74 – R Campbell 22, Tuhega 12, Pati 11, Gordon Campbell 10

Avondale 69 – Takenaka-Wesley 19, Lelaulu 11, James Tipelu 8, AJ Tusukado 7

Mt Roskill Grammar will entertain Dilworth on Monday night.

21 May 2023

In a high paced, quality encounter Westlake Girls outlasted visitors Mt Albert Grammar to win 86-80 and register a third straight game.

One of the highlights of the contest was the matchup between 2022 U17 New Zealand internationals Wai Clarken and Amy Pateman. The opposing captains were at the centre of the action with Clarken scoring a career high 40 points for MAGS and Pateman a season best 31 for Westlake.

MAGS made the slightly better start with Jorjia Fiu and Nadia-Rosa Enari prominent as they forged a 14-9 lead. However rookies Katie Moors and Imani Rasmussen had an immediate impact off the bench for Westlake as they took a narrow 25-23 lead into the quarter time break.

The second quarter was tied 22 points apiece with Pateman and Lily Fotu to the fore for Westlake and Clarken getting valuable assistance from Fiu and Te Arina Roberts.

Fiu and Clarken shared all 13 of the MAGS points in the third period but with Emma Schroeder tallying 9 points and Rasmussen and Pateman chipping in with scores the hosts had a 70-58 lead at three-quarter time.

The fourth quarter became a shoot-out between Pateman and Schroeder in the red corner and Clarken and Fiu in the blue corner. The foursome scored 36 of the 38 points scored in the quarter with the reds of Westlake just doing enough to hold off the MAGS challenge. 

Westlake 86 – Pateman 31, Schroeder 21, Fotu 11, Moors 7, Rasmussen 6, Kalei Morgan-Tafea 6

MAGS 80 – Clarken 40, Fiu 20, Enari 10, Roberts 7

For the third straight game Northcote College were extremely competitive but couldn’t quite get the W going down 68-58 at St Kentigern College.

A three from Anamia Rangihaeata and 6 points from Ash Tuumaialu propelled St Kent’s to a 19-7 quarter time lead.

The hosts scored another 19 in the second period but smarting from their slow start Northcote tallied 23 to trail 38-30 at half-time. Lizzy May scored 10 second quarter points for Northcote with Tuumaialu making 9 points for St Kent’s.

The scoring slowed in the third with just 12 points apiece posted. Lily Morgan and Nikki Gear made all of the Northcote points – Tuumaialu and Rangihaeata all the St Kent’s scores.

Morgan and Gear continued to trouble the St Kent’s defence but the hosts enjoyed a greater spread of scorers as Gigi Forster and Sophie Jones complimented the scoring supply provided by Tuumaialu and Rangihaeata to close out the win.

St Kentigern 68 – Tuumaialu 26, Rangihaeata 14, Forster 10, Jones 8

Northcote 58 – N Gear 25, Morgan 14, May 12

Fresh of her time at the Tall Ferns Trial Camp Ritorya Tamilo proved the difference maker, scoring 26 points, as Baradene College pipped Epsom Girls Grammar 57-53.

It was Baradene with the superior start – 7 points from Poppy Cavanagh-Briggs helping them establish as 17-13 quarter time lead.

Epsom trimmed the deficit by a point in the second quarter with Maya Fowler and Savana Feite leading the way.

Despite missing two starters Epsom took charge of proceedings in the third quarter with Fowler and Kiyara Te Amo, deputising at point guard, helping them to a 46-42 three-quarter time lead.

Talia Vea’s three kept Epsom briefly in the ascendancy but Tamilo was the dominant force in the final frame scoring 9 points to secure Baradene a second win of the season and match Epsom’s 2-1 start to the season.

Epsom 53 – Fowler 15, Vea 13, Feite 8, Te Amo 7

Baradene 57 – Tamilo 26, Cavanagh-Briggs 16, Amelia Nathan 6

Beginning the game wearing #31 Amy McKenzie finished the contest matching her singlet number with a season best 31 points to propel Takapuna Grammar School to their first win of the season – a 77-47 victory at St Mary’s College.

The Takapuna guard scored 8 points as the visitors raced to a 22-7 lead at the ten minute mark.

McKenzie and Bailey Flavell landed triples in the second period as Taka established a 37-18 half-time advantage.

St Mary’s improved markedly after the break – 7 third quarter points from India Nash and other scores from Teulila Salesa and Tamzin Jakeman meant the spoils were shared evenly at 18 points apiece in the period.

Takapuna dominated proceedings in the final frame with Anna Dyachenko, Carmen Selby, Natalja Burton and Flavell complimenting the fine work of McKenzie. 

St Mary’s 47 – Nash 17, Salesa 9, Jakeman 7, Christiana Setu 6

Takapuna 77 – McKenzie 31, Flavell 19, Dyachenko 9, Burton 6

May 20, 2023

Mt Albert Grammar and Rosmini College are the only unbeaten teams in the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier competition. In Round 3 fixtures the pair had contrasting wins with Mt Albert breezing past Westlake Boys while Rosmini won a nail biter at Auckland Grammar.

MAGS enjoyed double figure scoring contributions from all five starters as they carved out a 101-59 victory at Westlake.

Guard Harri Coker-Grey had 5 early points as MAGS scored the opening 7 points of the contest. Hadi Alashami got Westlake on the board but Dante Matakatea scored 8 points as MAGS strode to a 25-13 quarter-time lead.

MAGS took complete control of the contest scoring 14 unanswered points – including threes from Kade Cartwright and Ethan Lay – to open the second frame.

Westlake skipper Malachi Book scored 8 first half-points but his team were in a spot of bother at the interval trailing 46-20.

On his way to a game high 25 points Coker-Grey helped MAGS maintain momentum in the third. With further contributions from deep from Lay and Cartwright, plus one on the three-quarter time buzzer from Romani Keith-Peraua, the margin was out to 41 points (78-37).

Both teams took the opportunity to give extended minutes to their bench players in the closing minutes – Westlake’s Harper Wilson catching the eye with 11 fourth quarter points.

Westlake 59 – Book 13, Alashami 11, Wilson 11, Troy Supple 5, Oscar Neville 5

MAGS 101 – Coker-Grey 25, Matakatea 22/17rebs, Keith-Peraua 14, Louis Uri 13, Cartwright 10, Lay 9

Far less straight forward was Rosmini’s 79-76 win at Auckland Grammar School.

AGS guard Josh Howes had tied the scores at 76 points apiece with just 1.5 seconds remaining in the contest.

After Rosmini advanced the ball to the front court following a timeout a skip pass found Chris Wyllie, who attempting a corner three as time expired, was fouled. The combo guard made no mistake from the free-throw line making all three attempts to clinch the win.

Rosmini had begun the final period with a 63-61 lead but scores from Howes, George Milburn and Roera Tipene gave the hosts a 69-64 advantage.

Josh Batty and Zion Anderson responded for Rosmini but an inside finish from Kalid Petzer enabled AGS to regain the lead (73-71). 

A Batty three was countered by a Ryan Hunt two before Anderson gave Rosmini a 76-75 advantage with 3:30 to play. Both teams had good chances to seal the contest in the ensuing time but failed to capitalise on their opportunities before the Howes drive earned him that trip to the foul line.

His one from two from the charity stripe looked to have forced the game into overtime before Josh Wyllie had the final say.

Earlier Hunt’s 7 points had helped AGS to a 21-19 quarter-time lead before Anderson, Chris Wyllie and Noah Johns took the visitors to 43-39 half-time lead.

It remained tight in the third and fourth before the exciting closing seconds decided the contest. 

AGS 76 – Howes 30, Hunt 13, Milburn 8, Petzer 8, Tipene 8, Roman Ma’afu-Moerua 7

Rosmini 79 – Anderson 19, C Wyllie 19, Johns 10, Jameer Reed 10, J Wyllie 8, Batty 7

Just down the road Sacred Heart College earned their first win of the season with an 87-77 success at St Peter’s College.

Preston Tuaputa scored 10 points as Sacred Heart narrowly won the opening spell 22-19.

A couple of threes from Gus Dallow and 5 points from Bryan Marsters was countered by Matt Fautuaalii-Taia and Jamie Vile as the two teams split 38 points – 41-38 in favour of the visitors at the break.

Sacred Heart made the decisive and ultimately match winning move in the third frame winning it 27-18. Sam Snowdon’s 6 points and Jerome Jakeman’s dozen were the difference makers, the pair instrumental in taking Heart to a 68-56 lead with ten minutes to play.

Montana Ekeroma and Dallow – headed to a career high 30 points – did their best to reduce the deficit but Jakeman and Fautuaalii-Taia paced Sacred Heart through the closing minutes to secure the win.

St Peter’s 77 – Dallow 30, Bailey Smith 12, Ekeroma 7, Marsters 6, Milan Tolich 6

Sacred Heart 87 – Jakeman 24, Fautuaalii-Taia 19, Tuaputa 18, Snowdon 11, Josh Tengblad 6

In a high scoring opening period nine threes were knocked down as St Kentigern College established a 30-25 lead against Rangitoto College. Joel Brown and Cooper Allen were successful for Rangi from beyond the arc with Hunter Te Ratna, George Turner and Merrick Rillstone hitting from deep for the hosts.

St Kent’s dominated the second quarter 25-8 as Rillstone, Cooper Lepou and Turner continued the bombardment from beyond the three-point arc.

Arnold Nam and Elyas Taher led Rangi’s third quarter revival but Rillstone, on his way to a season best 42 points, saw St Kent’s to a 74-48 lead with ten minutes to play.

St Kent’s further extended their advantage in the final period with Max Johnson and Lepou adding the finishing touches to their second win of the season.

St Kentigern 102 – Rillstone 42 (6 x 3-pointers), Turner 15, Lepou 12, Te Ratna 10, Johnson 9

Rangitoto 59 – Nam 21, Taher 13, Brown 11, Jaren Reiri 5

In a game featuring two former Tall Ferns in the head coach roles Epsom Girls Grammar conceded the first 16 points of the game before recovering to post a 64-52 away win at Takapuna Grammar School on Tuesday night.

Katelin Noyer would have been delighted with her team’s start as Takapuna began the contest in hot shooting form making their first seven scoring attempts with scores from Bailey Flavell, Amy McKenzie and MacKenzie MacKereth.

Following a timeout by Jelena Vučinić, Leah Patuwairua and Talia Vea eventually got the scoreboard ticking over for Epsom before McKenzie and Flavell nailed threes to give the hosts a 28-20 quarter time lead.

The torrent of points in the opening period turned into a trickle in the second although Epsom, via a Draun Forbes triple, gained the lead as half time approached (33-30).

Flavell and McKenzie made baskets in the third frame but pickings were slim against a stifling Epsom defence that only conceded 10 points in the middle two periods. A three from Vea and transition baskets from Forbes pushed the EGGS lead out to 46-38 at three-quarter time.

Epsom increased their lead via Forbes, Patuwairua and the play of the game from Vea. The agile forward capitalised on her own steal by absorbing contact to make a tumbling reverse layup whereby pushing the visitors advantage to 53-38.

A MacKereth triple, and further points from Flavell, kept the Takapuna hopes alive but they were quashed by Forbes who scored 14 points in the final term to post a game high 30.

Congratulations to Bailey Flavell who has been named to the New Zealand team to attend the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship in Amman, Jordan from 10-16 July. 

Takapuna 52 – Flavell 21, McKenzie 14, MacKereth 11

EGGS 64 – Forbes 30, Vea 13, Patuwairua 13

If you missed it here is the wrap on the three Girls Prems games played on Friday night:

Girls Prems – Round 2 Wrap

There were wins for Mt Roskill Grammar, Carmel College and Manurewa High School in the second round of the Girl’s Senior A competition.

Bella Manu-Moore scored 28 points to pace Manurewa High to a 69-44 home win against Auckland Girls Grammar School.

Six of those points came in the opening spell and with Wai Hetaraka-Brown knocking down a triple Manurewa had an 18-14 quarter time lead. 

Ryn Nikoia responded with a couple of threes for AGGS but points from Hetaraka-Brown and Manu-Moore extended the hosts lead to 40-27 by half-time.

That advantage was extended to 57-37  by three-quarter time with Beautiful Campbell getting in on the scoring action.

Zara Leavasa-Avauli joined Nikoia on 14 points for AGGS but it was Princess Alim with the last say as Manurewa moved to 2-0 in the win-loss columns.

Manurewa 69 – Manu-Moore 28, Campbell 15, Hetaraka-Brown 10, Shirley Tuilimu 6

AGGS 44 – R Nikoia 14, Leavasa-Avauli 14, Grady Nikoia 8

Carmel College also have two wins after a 76-57 home success against One Tree Hill College with Ruby Railton bagging 25 points to follow her 28 in the opening round.

Railton scored 11 points and Hannah Bellett 9 as Carmel poured in 30 first quarter points to lead by 17.

Harriate Heta nailed 11 second quarter points as OTH enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the second spell to cut the deficit to 42-29 at half-time.

The two teams tied the third with 16 points apiece before Railton and Millie Lloyd sealed the deal for Carmel in the closing quarter.

Carmel 76 – Railton 28, Bellett 13, Zahara Tibbotts 11, Imogen O’Rourke 10

One Tree Hill 57 – Heta 26, Amy-Jo Ligaliga 7 Jesse-Lee Upu 5 

Mt Roskill Grammar School secured a valuable away win with a 75-47 victory at Avondale College on the back of 30 points from Nelly Ioane.

It was Bree Ioane who kick started the Roskill effort with half a dozen first quarter points as they opened up an 18-5 lead.

Shiloh Caffery led the Avondale response with 9 points in the second spell but triples from Allie O’Callaghan and Tamara Viviani helped propel the visitors to a 40-18 half-time lead.

Maya Loomes and Caffery scored regularly for Avondale in the second half but Nelly Ioane was in formidable form and along with Bileeana Koonwaiyou and Adra Kaufusi Roskill continued to build their advantage.

Avondale 47 – Caffery 22, Loomes 12, Zion Mann 7 

Mt Roskill 75 – N Ioane 30, Koonwaiyou 10, B Ioane 10, Annelliesse Folaumoetao 10, Kaufusi 7

Unfortunately Massey High School forfeited their game against Rangitoto College.

May 15, 2023

There were wins for Mt Roskill Grammar, Northcote College, Selwyn College and Liston College in the second round of the Boy’s Senior A competition.

The individual performance of the round belonged to Northcote’s Aaron Sievert who dropped a career high 53 points against Kelston Boys. The sharp shooting guard is no stranger to heady scoring performances having scored 51 points against Aorere College last season.

A big night beckoned against Kelston after Sievert scored 16 points in the opening period as Northcote surged to a 38-14 lead.

Kelston found some scoring form in the second with Real Wheaton and Isiah Tulisi knocking down threes.

However Sievert also made a couple from deep and had 35 at half-time with Northcote in full control with a 68-35 lead.

Alec Phillips, headed for his successive 20-point games, scored 7 third quarter points for Kelston – Shunta Shinzake matched that for Northcote, the hosts 91-49 ahead with a quarter to play and a second straight home victory assured.

Northcote 111 – Sievert 53, Shinzake 13, Rico MacPherson 10, Carlos MacPherson 7, Jaden Lula 6

Kelston 65 – Phillips 20, Wheaton 10, Rodman Fuaivaa 8 Eyob Hailu 6

Selwyn College warmed up for next week’s clash with Northcote with a solid 86-60 win against Manurewa High School.

Richard Campbell was impressive for Manurewa with a game high 33 points while Charlie Barnfield and Ashton Muraahi both enjoyed 20-point outings for Selwyn.

Campbell and Issachar Pati shared Manurewa’s 14 first quarter points although Luca Vietri’s 8 points helped the visitors to a 17-14 lead. 

The Manurewa offense stalled badly in the second and Selwyn took full advantage to carve out a 38-18 half-time lead.

Campbell scored 7 third quarter points but 9 from Muraahi meant the Selwyn lead had increased to 60-36 at the three-quarter mark.

A high scoring fourth period ensued with the two teams sharing 50 points.

Manurewa 60 – Campbell 33, Pati 12

Selwyn 86 – Muraahi 28, Barnfield 20, Vietri 14, Jerry Hing 10, James MacDonald 7

At Avondale College a slow scoring opening quarter favoured Mt Roskill (14-8) before the pace quickened in the second period.

Threes from Mitch Greenaway, Ryan Aramoana and Haisem Osman helped Roskill forge a 38-20 lead at the interval.

11 third quarter points from Duel Lelaulu helped Avondale accumulate 19 third quarter points but Roskill increased their advantage by six as their balanced scoring received contributions from nine players in the period.

Lelaulu went on to record a game high 25 points with Greenaway (22 points) and Ngawaka Rakete (16 points) topping the Roskill effort.

Mt Roskill Grammar 90 –  M Greenaway 22, Rakete 16, Aramoana 10, Wai Tonga 9, Alfred Kerr 9, Osman 7, 

Avondale 65 – Lelaulu 25, Nate Muller 11, AJ T 7, Liam Takenaka-Wesley 6

Despite 31 points from Kingston Kai’lahi-Aso Liston College were able to secure a valuable 74-61 victory against Dilworth.

The two teams tied the opening frame 16 points apiece before Liston edged a low scoring second quarter to lead 31-28 at half-time.

The third quarter was even tighter – Liston won it by two to carry a 49-44 lead into the final ten minutes.

Dilworth got great production out of Nepia Moore and Kai’lahi-Aso but, giving up too many turnovers, Dhon Lao, Rasheed Ieremia and Zymhon Moreno were able to capitalise and carry Liston to the win.

Liston 74 – Ieremia 26, Moreno 14, Jeydin Ale 9, Lao 9

Dilworth 61 – Kai’lahi-Aso 13, Ikahui Mahe 13, Moore 9