Rosmini College defeated Mt Albert Grammar School 66-51, to win the Zone 1 National Championships Qualifying Tournament, at Eventfinda Stadium on Saturday evening.
The two teams had met in the Auckland Prems Final the previous week, a game in which MAGS prevailed 79-78, but this time around it was Rosmini that triumphed in a relatively low scoring game.
Rosmini were paced by Zion Anderson (21 points) and Jameer Reed (15 points) while for MAGS, Romani Keith-Peraua tallied 16 points, Harri Coker-Grey 13 and Kade Cartwright 11.
Rosmini made the better start chalking up 27 first quarter points to lead by 13 with Harlan Roudon and Reed making some telling scores.
Coker-Grey produced 8 second quarter points but MAGS fell further behind as Anderson’s 8 points and a Chris Wyllie triple meant the Rosmini lead was 46-29 at half-time.
Neither side could find their offensive fluency in the third although Coker-Grey’s buzzer beater reduced the margin by two points (56-41) with ten minutes to play.
Wyllie made the opening score of the fourth period but then the Rosmini shooting went ice cold as MAGS put together a scoring run and when Louis Uri made a trade mark inside basket the Rosmini lead was down to eleven points (60-49) with just under 5 minutes to play.
Rosmini found a response through Reed and when Anderson came up with an athletic finish the Rosmini advantage was back to 15 points and the championship title secured.
Rosmini 66 – Anderson 21, Reed 15, Bart Jackowski 8, C Wyllie 7, Roudon 6
MAGS 51 – Keith-Peraua 16, Coker-Grey 13, Cartwright 11, Louis Uri 8, Dante Tapulaaia 3/9rebs
The final day of the tournament, one in which an unprecedented number of Premier teams failed to qualify for Nationals, sorted out the remaining qualifying spots for the secondary schools showpiece event in Palmerston North beginning September 25.
Prems teams St Peter’s College, Sacred Heart College and previous winners Westlake Boys and Rangitoto College will not be travelling to the Manawatu at the end of the month.
Congratulations to Dilworth School, Mt Roskill Grammar and Pukekohe High School on securing places alongside Auckland Grammar, St Kentigern College and the two grand-finalists.
Other Results (the top seven teams qualifying for Nationals):
3rd/4th Playoff: Auckland Grammar 87 Dilworth 59
5th/6th Playoff: St Kentigern College beat Mt Roskill Grammar in overtime 88-87
7th/8th Playoff: Pukekohe High beat Northcote College 78-71
LACEY LOWDOWN 