June 25, 2023
In Auckland Secondary Schools Girl’s Premier Grade Round 9 action there were wins for Epsom Girls Grammar, Mt Albert Grammar, Westlake Girls High School and St Kentigern College.
Northcote College were beaten 78-73 at Mt Albert Grammar School, their fourth defeat of the season by ten points or less.
Northcote made a terrific start to the game as Lily Morgan peppered the MAGS defence to the tune of 16 points as her team climbed to a 32-18 lead.
The tables were turned in the second period. Peyton Uri and Gianna Tiatia made threes to compliment Wai Clarken’s 10 points – MAGS trailing by just two (46-44) at half-time.
On her way to a career high 30 points Morgan added a further 10 points in the third quarter although Clarken edged that with 12 as MAGS carried a narrow 60-57 advantage into the fourth.
Jorjia Fiu and Lara-Poppy Cocker-Lemalie kept MAGS in the ascendancy but when DJ Hannah landed a triple the scores were tied at 69 points apiece with three minutes to play.
Nikki Gear and Morgan made scores for the visitors but threes from Clarken and Emina Tiatia took MAGS into the lead before Fiu sealed the deal from the foul line.
MAGS 78 – Clarken 37, Fiu 11, Uri 8, G Tiatia 6
Northcote 73 – Morgan 30, Hannah 20, N Gear 13, Lisa Gear 7
Triples from the trio of Draun Forbes, Maya Fowler and Leah Patuwairua propelled Epsom Girls Grammar School to an 18-11 lead against visitors Takapuna Grammar School.
Amy McKenzie nailed a brace of threes for Taka but a further 7 points from Patuwairua eased Epsom to a 35-22 half-time lead.
The scoring tempo increased after half-time as both sides found better offensive rhythm. Fowler and Forbes shared 15 points for Epsom while Bailey Flavell and McKenzie combined for 16 for Taka. With Manaia Watson chipping in with points the visitors had cut the deficit to ten points (55-45) at three-quarter time.
Epsom were in no mood to be charitable – 8 further points from Forbes closing out win number eight of the campaign for EGGS.
Epsom 69 – Forbes 27, Patuwairua 21, Fowler 10, Andrea Ape-Paia 7
Takapuna 54 – Flavell 24, McKenzie 16, Watson 5, Amelia Glenn 5
Already without the services of Ritorya Tamilo (with the Tall Ferns in Sydney at the Asia Cup) Baradene College were further hampered by the absence of Deyna Topia and Poppy Cavanagh Briggs for their visit to St Kentigern College.
The hosts capitalized on Baradene’s inexperienced lineup racing to a 22-4 lead with Sophie Jones nailing a couple of deep threes.
The lead continued to grow in the second – St Kent’s ahead 42-13 at half-time.
Baradene’s problems were compounded in the second half by a couple of injuries and Daisy Parke hitting the bench after fouling out.
Saint Kentigern encountering few problems as they moved to .500 on the season with a 4-4 record.
NB The individual scorers from the game are not totally accurate as the scoresheet received was unclear in parts.
St Kent’s 79 – Sophie Jones 15, Ashleigh Tuumaialu 14, Kilani Tuineau 11, Gigi Forster 8, Charlie Yock 8, Anamia Rangihaeata 8, Maia Bennett 6
Baradene 36 – Amelia Nathan 9, Sadie Cormack 8, Daisy Parke 8, Mikaela Ti’ipulotu 6
Played on Tuesday evening, Westlake Girls High proved far too strong for St Mary’s College winning 110-33.
St Mary’s 33 – Layla Aholelei 8, India Nash 5
Westlake 110 – Amy Pateman 26, Emma Schroeder 18, Rebecca Moors 14, Zenthia Stowers 13, Kaia Tuuta 12, Elin Vincent 8. Lily Fotu 8, Imani Rasmussen 6, Brennah Latoalevi-Nosa 5
Standings
8-1 Epsom, Westlake
7-2 MAGS
4-4 St Kent’s
3-5 Takapuna
2-7 Baradene, Northcote
1-8 St Mary’s
The Round 8 Takapuna Grammar School v St Kentigern College game will be played on Wednesday.
LACEY LOWDOWN 