No fewer than four head coaches took charge of their teams for the first time in Friday night’s opening round of the Auckland Secondary Schools Boy’s Premier Basketball competition, and a fifth was pacing the sideline for his first Premier game.
Martin Windsor has overseen the Mount Roskill Grammar School Boys programme for the past six years but the visit to Westlake Boys was historic for him, the team and the school with Roskill having last played in Prems back in 1995!
However they will have to wait a little longer for their first win in the top grade in almost 30 years after going down 96-79 at Westlake Boy’s High.
Josh Reeves took charge of St Peter’s College as they strolled up Mountain Road for the central city derby against Auckland Grammar School. Grammar proved too good winning 98-70.
There had to be a first time winner at St Kentigern College with Josh Davis in charge of the hosts for the first time and Sonny Tuaputa, the trusted assistant to Matt Lacey for the last seven years, now holding the reins at Rosmini College.
It was Rosmini that claimed the spoils with a solid 99-78 victory.
Sione Maama made it a winning debut as Head Coach at Sacred Heart College as his charges saw of the challenge of Mt Albert Grammar winning 84-66.
Sam Snowdon drained 7 threes on his way to 37 points and with Jamie Vile posting 21 Heart made it a perfect start to the season.
MAGS had made the better start forging a 24-18 lead before Heart completely bossed the second quarter to take a 48-30 lead into the main break.
The young MAGS team were well served by Dante Tapula’ala, Mose Leiasamaivao and Lucas Cartwright but were outgunned by Snowdon and Co in this one.
Sacred Heart 84 – Snowdon 37, Vile 21, Cameron Stewart 9, Max Haaraia 6
Mt Albert Grammar 66 – Tapula’ala 20, Mose Leiasamaivao 16, Cartwright 11, Mikey Moses 10
Despite having a couple of starters absent Auckland Grammar stamped their authority on proceedings in the opening quarter against St Peter’s, surging to a 28-13 lead. St Peter’s had the better of the second spell but still trailed 46-38 at half-time.
With skipper Ryan Hunt scoring 18, Lawson Pryor making 20, Jackson Kiss 17 and Sol Anderson 13 Grammar retained control in the second half.
Mario Nola led the way for the Saints with 14 points – Gus Dallow and Bailey Smith also made double digit contributions.
Auckland Grammar 98 – Pryor 20, Hunt 18, Kiss 17, Anderson 13, Brigham Hakerara 8, Taye Thomson 7
St Peter’s College 70 – Nola 14, Smith 11, Dallow 10, Spencer Carr 9, Bryan Marsters 8
On their return to the top flight Mt Roskill Grammar looked as if they may be on the end of a hiding when they trailed 33-12 after ten minutes at Westlake as Noah Rasmussen and Troy Supple dominated the glass and the points in the opening exchanges. Rasmussen was on his way to a career high 38 points – the highest individual score of the opening round.
To their credit Roskill steadied thereafter going toe to toe with Lake throughout the remainder of the contest.
Haisem Osman and Josh Wadams led the way for Roskill while Daley Pohio, on debut, made a strong impression for the hosts.
Shout out to Westlake for producing a game day programme and hanging (long overdue) championship banners to mark their five National Championship successes (2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013).
Westlake Boys High 96 – Rasmussen 38, Supple 24, Pohio 12
Mt Roskill Grammar 79 – Osman 19, Wadams 17, Pepe Seuiavatele 12, Wai Tonga 11
Despite 26 points from St Kentigern guard Cooper Lepou, Rosmini College were able to forge a 99-78 victory at St Kent’s.
St Kent’s trailed by just 5 points at three-quarter time (71-66) before Rosmini pulled away in the closing stages with Jameer Reed and Liam Bates contributing 18 of their 27 fourth quarter points.
The Te Ratana brothers tallied 27 points for the hosts while the Wyllie’s, Josh and Chris, registered 39 for Rosmini.
St Kentigern College 78 – Lepou 26, H Te Ratana 14, C Te Ratana 13, Noah Heke 8
Rosmini College 99 – J Wyllie 21, Reed 19, Bates 19, C Wyllie 18, Bart Jackowski 14
LACEY LOWDOWN 