June 29, 2023
St Kentigern College took a big step towards securing a play-off spot in the Auckland Secondary Schools Girl’s Premier Division with a hard fought 43-38 victory at Takapuna Grammar School on Wednesday night.
The Round 8 make-up game started in promising fashion for the hosts as they forged a 16-9 quarter time lead – a left handed running hook shot from Bailey Flavell, Asian Championship bound with the New Zealand U16 team next week, the highlight move of the period.
Amy McKenzie scored the first points of the second stanza and when Flavell splashed
a triple the Takapuna lead was 14 points (24-10).
However that proved to be the high point for Taka as St Kentigern set about wrestling control with some hard nosed defence. Maia Bennett reduced the deficit marginally before a Sophie Jones triple on the stroke of half-time trimmed the Taka lead to seven points (24-17).
Ash Tuumaialu opened the second half scoring although that provoked a response from Taka guard McKenzie who stroked home a triple.
St Kent’s further tightened the defensive screws in the third, the work of Jones and Tuumaialu particularly impressive as they denied the Taka shooters the time and space to be effective.
That defensive efficiency stimulated an 18-6 run with 6 points each from Anamia Rangihaeata and Tuumaialu helping St Kent’s to a 37-33 three-quarter time lead.
Scores from opposing forwards Kilani Tuineau and Mackenzie MacKereth cancelled each other out in the fourth period – a quarter where points were of a premium.
Trailing 43-36 Takapuna’s chances were dealt a double blow as Flavell and Mania Watson fouled out in quick succession.
The victory gives St Kent’s a buffer over the chasing pack looking to secure a top four play-off spots. They still have the top three teams to play in their last five games but two more wins may be enough to lock-in a semi-final berth.
Takapuna 38 – Mckenzie 15, Flavell 14, MacKereth 6
Epsom 43 – Tuumaialu 20, Rangihaeata 9, Bennett 8, Tuineau 4
Standings after 9 Rounds
8-1 Epsom, Westlake
7-2 MAGS
5-4 St Kent’s
3-6 Takapuna
2-7 Baradene, Northcote
1-8 St Mary’s
LACEY LOWDOWN 