LACEY LOWDOWN

Westlake Girls High bounced back from their defeat against Epsom Girls Grammar with a resounding 91-61 win against Takapuna Grammar School on Monday, the victory taking Westlake back to the top of the Prems table with one regular season game remaining.

Amy McKenzie scored 7 first quarter points but Westlake made a strong start to lead 25-15 on the back of 17 combined points from Amy Pateman and Rebecca Moors.

A three from Manaia Watson and ten points from Bailey Flavell progressed the Taka score but Moors and Pateman were bossing proceedings as the Westlake lead stretched to 48-31 by half-time.

Following a Katie Moors basket Takapuna replied with an 11-3 run to reduce the deficit to 11 points. That was as close as it got as Westlake stretched the advantage to 70-51 at the three-quarter mark before dominating the final spell to run out comfortable winners.

Takapuna 61 – Flavell 33, McKenzie 12, Watson 5

Westlake 91 – Pateman 29, R Moors 24/12rebs, Stowers 16, K Moors 16, Elin Vincent 5, Lily Fotu 3/7assists

Epsom Girls Grammar, four days after completing the double over Westlake Girls came back to earth with a thud – defeated 85-53 by Mt Albert Grammar School.

Epsom were caught on the hop as they gave up 26 first quarter points to trail by 14 at the first break – 8 points for Nia Roberts in the period.

Nine points from Maya Fowler helped Epsom in the second period although Wai Clarken scored 8 points as MAGS carried a 41-26 lead into the main break.

The third stanza was another even affair – Draun Forbes and Fowler doing good work for Epsom – MAGS 58-40 ahead.

Emina Tiatia and Sienna-Rose Tawera produced most of the scoring in the final period as MAGS eased to the win, a victory that means both teams have an identical 10-3 record with one game to play.

Epsom 53 – Forbes 20, Fowler 17, Ivy Tino 6

MAGS 85 – Clarken 21, Tiatia 10, Tawera 8, Roberts 8, Peyton Uri 8, Jorjia Fiu 8, Phoenix Kaipo 7 

Northcote College defeated Baradene College 71-66 with the the result meaning the two teams now having identical 4-9 records. Significantly Northcote hold the head-to-head advantage, therefore a win against St Mary’s on Friday will see them avoid the promotion/relegation play-off game in 2024.

For their part Baradene will need to beat league leaders Westlake and hope for an upset at Northcote.

It was a nervous opening quarter from both teams, one edged 9-7 by the hosts. Northcote also had slightly better of the proceedings in the second period. Nikki Gear and DJ Hannah shared 14 points for Northcote with Ritorya Tamilo, headed for a career high 41 points, making 16 in the spell as Baradene trailed 32-27 at the interval.

Baradene closed the gap by a single point in the third (47-43) meaning a nervy fourth quarter ensued.

A triple from skipper Deyna Topia and growing numbers from Tamilo threatened the Northcote lead but the hosts held their nerve down the stretch – Hannah and Lizzy May making crucial free-throws in the closing minutes.

Northcote 71 – N Gear 22, Hannah 18, Lily Morgan 10, May 9, Lisa Gear 6, Emma Lavemaau 6

Baradene 66 – Tamilo 41, Topia 6, Odile Dolon 6

In the other game St Kentigern College defeated St Mary’s College 67-35*

*The result is correct but the score is awaiting confirmation.

The final round on Friday will determine the order of finish for the top five places.

Standings

11-2 Westlake 

10-3 Epsom, MAGS

6-7 Takapuna, St Kent’s

4-9 Baradene, Northcote 

1-11 St Mary’s

August 8th, 2023

In the penultimate round of the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier Grade regular season the most significant result came at Rangitoto College where the host were pipped 90-88 by Sacred Heart College.

The two teams entered the contest with identical 2-10 records with the winner pulling out of the bottom two with just a game to play.

Details are sketchy as the scoresheet hasn’t been forwarded but we do know that Sacred Heart recovered from a poor start after falling behind by nearly twenty points.

They recovered to lead by single figures at half-time, and three-quarter time, before holding on for the vital win.

Rangi will play Auckland Grammar in their final game with Heart visiting Westlake Boys. If those games go to form it will be Rangitoto involved in a play-off game in 2024 to remain in Prems.

For the second time in as many games St Kentigern College were pipped at the post. Having been beaten in overtime by MAGS on Friday the Saints were defeated 71-70 at Auckland Grammar School.

St Kentigern made the better start easing to a 23-16 quarter time lead and were still in control at half-time (ahead 40-34) with George Turner, headed for a game high 23 points, and Merrick Rillstone in good form.

Josh Howes scored 9 third quarter points and with Jackson Kiss and George Milburn chipping in with points Grammar turned a six points deficit into a one-point lead (53-52) by three-quarter time.

Triples number four and five in the game from Turner plus points from Hunter Te Ratana posed problems for the hosts but Kiss and skipper Ryan Hunt did just enough to edge Grammar to victory.

AGS 71 – Kiss 19, Howes 15, Hunt 11, Roera Tipene 8, Milburn 6, Roman Ma’afu-Moerua 6

St Kent’s 70 – Turner 23, Rillstone 17, Te Ratana 13, Max Johnson 6

The other games in the round were won convincingly by the top two teams on the ladder.

Unbeaten Mt Albert Grammar defeated St Peter’s College 106-65 thanks to 24 points from Harri Coker-Grey and double-doubles from Louis Uri (18pts/10rebs) and Dante Tapulaaia (15pts/10rebs). Gus Dallow scored 20 points for St Peter’s.

MAGS 106 – Coker-Grey 24, Uri 18, Tapulaaia 15, Natu Amanuel 13, Jayden Eaton 7

St Peter’s 65 – Dallow 20, Bryan Marsters 11, Spencer Carr 11, Caleb Afeaki 8

At Rosmini College the home team enjoyed double figure contributions from six players as they eased past Westlake Boys High School 112-67.

Guards Chris Wyllie and Harlan Roudon had 18 points and 16 points respectively while Jameer Reed top scored with 22. Noah Rasmussen top scored for Westlake with 15 points.

Though there is a round still to play, plus a make-up game between Auckland Grammar and Mt Albert Grammar to take place, the semi-final line-up looks almost certain to be MAGS v St Kentigern and AGS v Rosmini. 

Rosmini 112 – Reed 22, Wyllie 18, Roudon 16, Zion Anderson 15, Josh Batty 12, Noah Johns 12

Westlake 67– Rasmussen 15, Troy Supple 10, Troy Wentworth 10, Hadi Alshami 10

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Standings

12-0 MAGS

11-2 Rosmini

9-3 AGS

8-5 St Kentigern

5-8 Westlake

3-10 Sacred Heart

2-11 Rangitoto

1-12 St Peter’s

NB The AGS v MAGS catch-up game is scheduled for Monday August 14

August 7th

Mt Roskill Grammar produced an impressive performance to defeat previously unbeaten Northcote College 100-75 with Mitchell Greenaway scoring 31 points.

The prodigious Aaron Sievert was once again amongst the points tallying 48 points.

With two rounds of the regular season remaining both Mt Roskill and Northcote are assured semi-final berths as are Liston College after Rasheed Ieremia (32 points) paced them to an 87-71 win against Selwyn College.

Dilworth are almost assured of the fourth play-off spot and can definitely prepare for the semi’s if they defeat Selwyn College on Monday. On Friday they were paced by George Hardie’s 21 points in the 85-41 win against Avondale College.

In the final game of the round there were fine individual scoring performances from Richard Campbell (36pts), Jarell Tuhega (27pts) and Real Wheaton (35pts) as Manurewa High beat Kelston Boys 92-82.

Mt Roskill 100 – M Greenaway 31, Daniel Greenaway 15, Josh Wadams 11, Ryan Aramoana 10

Northcote 75 – Sievert 48, Tane Cook 8

Liston 87 – Ieremia 32, Dhon Lao 25, Luke Vaipaata 12, Jeydin Ale 9

Selwyn 71 – Ashton Muraahi 19, Luca Vietri 14, Jerry Hing 13, Charlie Banfield 7

Dilworth 85 – George Hardie 21, Kingston Kailahi-Fulu 17, Ezrah Eagle 13, Ikahui Mahe 10, Mikaera Hoeta 8

Avondale 41 – Liam Takenaka-Wesley 19, Akram Al Wakeel 11

Manurewa 92 – Richard Campbell 36, Jarell Tuhega 27, Gordon Campbell 10

Kelston 82 – Real Wheaton 35, Sam Tuitupou 13, Sione Mapu 10, Rodman Fuaivaa 9

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Boy’s Senior A Standings

11-1 Northcote

9-3 Mt Roskill

8-4 Liston

7-5 Dilworth

5-7 Selwyn

4-8 Kelston, Manurewa

0-12 Avondale

Following the  Girls Senior A Round 12 action Rangitoto College remain unbeaten after defeating Mt Roskill Grammar 82-68 with Eva Veale dropping 40 points.

Nelly Ioane scored 31 for Roskill who appear to be in a battle with Auckland Girls Grammar for the fourth and final semi-final berth.

AGGS, with Faith Hurt scoring 28 points, had a great tussle with Carmel College before going down 70-66.

Ruby Railton top scored for Carmel with 19 points – Carmel assured of a semi-final spot and still in contention for a top-two finish.

Also in the same situation as Carmel are Manurewa High who had the bye on Friday. The two teams meet in the final round of the regular season next Friday!

Mt Roskill 68 – Nelly Ioane 31, Bree Ioane 21

Rangitoto 82 – Eva Veale 40, Maddison Skelton 15, Mela Andrews 10

Carmel 70 – Ruby Railton 19, Ella Drake 16, Leighton Esera 9, Annie Gaylard 9, Zahara Tibbotts 9

AGGS 66 – Faith Hurt 28, Grady Nikoia 15, Ryn Nikoia 14, Harmony Hurt 6

The One Tree Hill College v Avondale College result was unavailable at the time of publication

Manurewa High School had the bye.

Senior A Girls Standings

10-0 Rangitoto

8-2 Manurewa

7-3 Carmel

5-5 Mt Roskill

4-6 AGGS

2-8 One Tree Hill

0-10 Avondale

*Massey High School have withdrawn from the competition

Epsom Girls Grammar completed the double over Westlake Girls High with a narrow 73-69 road win. The victory means that Epsom now have the head-to-head split on Westlake should the two teams have an equal win-loss record when the regular season concludes.

A tight contest throughout Epsom made the marginally better start to lead 22-18 with 9 points from Draun Forbes cancelling out the same number from Zenthia Stowers.

The scoring slowed in the second period – Forbes and Rebecca Moors the most prominent as the teams turned around at half-time with Epsom 34-31 in the lead.

Moors reeled off 13 third quarter points as the scores became locked at 50 points apiece with ten minutes to play.

Moors and Amy Pateman scored all 19 of Westlake’s fourth quarter points but they couldn’t hold off the visitors. Maya Fowler nailed a brace of threes before she, Leah Patuwairua, Savana Feite and Forbes held their collective nerve at the foul line to close out an exciting Epsom win.

Westlake 69 – Moors 29, Pateman 17, Stowers 14, Lily Fotu 6

EGGS 73 – Forbes 22, Patuwairua 16, Fowler 8, Feite 8, Talia Vea 7

Takapuna Grammar, paced by Bailey Flavell’s 38 points, emerged as genuine top four contenders after a strong fourth quarter showing earned them a 76-57 win against Shore neighbours Northcote College.

Northcote led 35-31 at half-time and were still in front 48-47 after a Lisa Gear drive and finish deep into the third quarter.

However back-to-back baskets from Flavell and a buzzer beater from Manaia Watson saw Takapuna take a 53-48 lead into the three-quarter time break.

The Watson and Flavell combination worked again on the resumption ahead of DJ Hannah and Nikki Gear scores – the Taka advantage 56-52 with 6 minutes to play.

From there it was all Takapuna as they closed the contest with a 20-5 run. Fifteen of those points went the way of Flavell who shifted through the gears in the final quarter.

Also in good touch for Takapuna were Amy Mckenzie (12 points), Watson (10 points) and newcomer Nahikari Illarramendi who contributed 13 points and a good dose of game awareness.

Lily Morgan led the way for Northcote with 18 points while Nikki Gear was also in double figures with a dozen.  

Takapuna 76 – Flavell 38, Illarramendi 13, McKenzie 12, Watson 10

Northcote 57 – Morgan 18, N Gear 12, L Gear 8, Lizzy May 7

Wai Clarken scored 28 points as Mt Albert Grammar continued their pursuit of a top-two finish with a 57-49 win at St Kentigern College.

Despite 8 points from Ash Tuumaialu triples from Clarken and Phoenix Kaipo helped MAGS establish a 20-15 lead after ten minutes.

Anamia Rangihaeata nailed a three for the hosts but 6 points from Clarken saw MAGS through to a narrow 26-23 half-time lead.

The difference was still just three points at the end of the third period (45-42). Nia Roberts scored 7 points in the quarter for MAGS while Maia Bennett tallied 9 for St Kent’s.

An exciting fourth quarter looked in prospect but the St Kent’s challenge faded as they were held to just 5 points in the closing frame. Siena-Rose Tawera and Gianna Tiatia combined for a dozen points to close out win number nine for MAGS.

St Kentigern 49 – Tuumaialu 17, Bennett 12, Rangihaeata 10

MAGS 57 – Clarken 28, Tiatia 8, Roberts 7, Tawera 6

Baradene College suffered few alarms as they overcame St Mary’s College 76-35. 

Christiana Setu led the way for St Mary’s with 10 points while for Baradene Ritorya Tamilo, Deyna Topia, Amelia Nathen and Poppy Cavanagh-Briggs were each in double figures.

Baradene 76 – Topia 18, Tamilo 17, Nathan 16, Cavanagh-Briggs 11, Daisy Parke 6

St Mary’s 35 – Setu 10, Eva Tuala 6, Tamzin Jakeman 6

Standings

10-2 Westlake, Epsom

9-3 MAGS

6-6 Takapuna

5-7 St Kent’s

4-8 Baradene

3-9 Northcote

1-10 St Mary’s

The top four places have been confirmed following the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier Grade Round 12 results. Come semi-finals time Mt Albert Grammar, Rosmini College, St Kentigern College and Auckland Grammar will contest the semi-final play-offs although the match-ups are yet to be decided.

Mt Albert Grammar School preserved their unbeaten record but it was a close run thing as they recovered from being 70-62 down with 72 seconds to play to take St Kentigern College into overtime before eventually winning 85-80.

Ahead 50-49 at three-quarter time St Kent’s built an advantage through the final period with Cooper Lepou, George Turner and Hunter Te Ratana making contributions – when  Merrick Rillstone made it an 8-point game with 1:12 on the clock a home victory looked on the cards.

However MAGS had other ideas as Louis Uri and skipper Kade Cartwright made scores before in the hectic finish Harri Coker-Gray tied proceedings from the foul line.

Rillstone made 6 points in the extra period for St Kent’s but the combined efforts of Cartwright, Coker-Gray, Uri, Stepan Kosenko and their “Get out of Jail” card earned MAGS their twelfth straight win and an almost certain regular season title.  

MAGS had the better of the opening salvo carving out a 20-16 lead – six points each from Cartwright and Coker-Grey.

Ten points from Lepou in the second helped St Kent’s share the spoils in the period – their deficit 39-35 at the main break.

The game swung the way of St Kent’s after the interval as they kept their rivals to 10 points in the third period to edge ahead 50-49. The momentum stayed with the hosts until that crazy seventy-odd seconds played out.

St Kent’s 80 – Te Ratana 20, Rillstone 20, Turner 18, Lepou 15

MAGS 85 – Cartwright 21, Coker-Grey 21/10rebs, Uri 20/15rebs, Kosenko 12, Dante Tapulaaia 6

A career high 27 points from Jackson Kiss propelled Auckland Grammar to an 86-76 win at Sacred Heart College.

Kiss scored 10 points in the opening spell and with Lawson Pryor adding half a dozen Grammar were 20-13 ahead.

Eleven points from Ryan Hunt kept the Grammar score ticking along but Heart were humming in the second – 7 points from Matt Schuler and 6 from Jamie Vile meant the hosts trailed by just a point (41-40) at half-time.

It remained tight after the resumption before scores late in the third from Preston Tuaputa and Tyler Wilson-Voyce gave Heart a 64-63 lead.

Matt Fautuaalii-Taia and Tuaputa scored all of Heart’s fourth quarter points but they weren’t enough to hold off a fast finishing Grammar with Roera Tipene and Kiss carrying the visitors to victory. 

Sacred Heart 76 – Fautuaalii-Taia 17,Vile 13, Tuaputa 12, Matt Schuler 11, Sam Snowdon 10 

AGS 86 – Kiss 27, Hunt 12, Josh Howes 12, Lipoi Tupou 10, Pryor 10, Tipene 8

Making the most from snaffling offensive rebounds Max Mudford posted 6 first quarter points as Rangitoto kept pace with Rosmini through the opening minutes trailing by just a single point at quarter time (18-17).

A Josh Batty three opened the second quarter scoring, a period where Rangi struggled for points – a Chris Wyllie triple meant the half-time score was 36-24 in favour of the hosts.

Joel Brown, headed to a game high 26 points, Mudford and Elyas Taher pegged bag the deficit to seven points early in the third before a Bart Jackowski three and jumpers from Zion Anderson and Josh Wyllie restored Rosmini’s double figure lead.

A Harlan Roudon finish in traffic propelled Rosmini to a 56-40 three-quarter time lead.

Taher, Mudford and Kyle Buenaflor put together a 9-0 Rangi run before Batty and Jackowski took the game away from their opponents – the Rosmini duo combined for 13 points in three minutes to extinguish the Rangi challenge.

The home support were on their feet in the final two minutes as Nikau Robertson and Kevin Goldstein scored late baskets to close out the win. 

Rosmini 82 – Jackowski 15, J Wyllie 15, Batty 10, Anderson 10, Jameer Reed 8, Roudon 7

Rangitoto 59 – Brown 26, Mudford 13, Taher 13, Buenaflor 5

Paced by 26 points from Troy Supple Westlake Boys High made the most of home court advantage to defeat St Peter’s College 104-91.

Gabriel Ames scored 7 points in the opening stanza for Westlake but St Peter’s benefitted from 8 points from Spencer Carr to forge a 27-19 lead.

In contrast the second spell went almost entirely the way of Westlake. Braden Gibb tallied 7 points and Malachi Book 6 as Westlake enjoyed scoring contributions from seven players in the spell to carry a 50-43 lead into the half-time break. 

The pace of scoring didn’t let up after the interval. 50 points were scored in the third period as Westlake increased their advantage to 77-66. Supple dominated the period with 16 points – Caleb Afeaki keeping the visitors in touch with 9 points.

Gus Dallow and Bryan Curtis-Marsters attempted to reduce the deficit in the closing ten minutes but Noah Rasmussen and Book closed the page on win number five for Westlake.

Westlake 104 – Supple 26, Rasmussen 18, Gibb 14, Book 11, Max Riechelmamm 10, Ames 7

St Peter’s 91 – Carr 19, Curtis-Marsters 18, Dallow 18, Afeaki 15

To take advantage of Dynamic Sport’s generous 15% discount offer for Lacey Lowdown readers, use promocode LACEYLOWDOWN at the checkout.

View the outstanding Dynamic Sport online catalogue here: https://dynamicsport.co.nz

Standings

11-0 MAGS

10-2 Rosmini

8-3 AGS

8-4 St Kentigern

5-7 Westlake

2-10 Rangitoto, Sacred Heart

1-11 St Peter’s