Auckland Grammar School have claimed the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier Grade regular season title with a round to spare.
Having lost at Westlake Boys High in overtime earlier in the season Grammar made no mistake on their home court as a strong second half performance, led by Jackson Kiss (32 points), propelled them to an 83-69 victory.
Oscar Neville, Harper Wilson and Troy Supple enabled Westlake to finish the first quarter with a 23-20 lead and after back-to-back threes from Jack Pauga they led 31-26 midway through the second period.
However, AGS then put together a 10-4 run to head into the half-time break with a narrow 36-35 advantage.
The third stanza was all about Brigham Hakaraia and Kiss. The duo combined for 20 points in the spell as the AGS advantage climbed into double figures.
A Harper Wilson baseline jumper on the three-quarter time buzzer kept the Westlake hopes alive although their deficit was still nine points (58-49) with ten minutes remaining.
New Zealand U17 international Kiss then proceeded to put together an individual highlights package as the AGS lead climbed towards twenty points in the early stages of the fourth. Roman Maafu, Carver Gibson and Sol Anderson added to the entertainment as Grammar eased through the final quarter to seal top spot on the Prems ladder.
AGS 83 – Kiss 32, Lawson Pryor 12, Maafu 11, Hakaraia 8, Ryan Hunt 7
Westlake 69 – Troy Supple 11, Troy Wentworth 10, H Wilson 10, Noah Rasmussen 9, Pauga 9, Neville 8
Rosmini College edged ahead of Westlake Boys into second place on the ladder following an 84-63 away win at Mt Roskill Grammar.
Bart Jackowski and Jameer Reed scored 8 points each as Rosmini had the better of the opening ten minutes to lead 23-19.
Tino Seuiavatele and Zach Keman were in good scoring touch for Roskill although Jackowski and Chris Wyllie were performing equally as well for Rosmini as they reached the turn 43-32 ahead.
Threes from Wai Tonga, Seuiavatele and Keman were matched by Wyllie, Jackowski and Xavier Wells as the Rosmini lead grew to 67-46 with ten minutes to play.
Will Thornley put the finishing touches to the Rosmini victory in the closing minutes.
Mt Roskill 63 – Seuiavatele 24, Keman 19, Silas Toala 5, Ian Bresquar 5
Rosmini 84 – Jackowski 21, C Wyllie 19, Reed 9, Hunter Johns 7, Thornley 6
St Kentigern College strengthened their grip on the fourth play-off spot with an 86-70 win against Sacred Heart College.
Sacred Heart were the quickest out the blocks as 8 points from Cam Stewart plus three triples from Sam Snowdon helped them to a 25-20 quarter time lead.
The tide turned in the second period as Heart were kept to 9 points and with Ari Taylor, Noah Heke and Finn Jorgensen providing the offensive weaponry St Kent’s were 39-34 ahead at half-time.
Snowdon dropped his fifth three while Jamie Vile and See Ieremia found ways to the basket as the two teams went toe-to-toe in the third. At the other end Cooper Lepou and Hunter Te Ratana combined for 21 points to enable St Kent’s to take a 62-56 lead into the last break.
Jason Columbus scored 5 points for Heart in the final period but it was one St Kent’s had the better of as Hunter Te Ratana worked his way to 30 points while brother Cooper showed some nice touches in the closing minutes.
Sacred Heart 70 – Snowdon 23, Stewart 14, Vile 13, Ieremia 7
St Kentigern 86 – H Te Ratana 30, Lepou 15, Heke 11, Jamie Griffin 8, C Te Ratana 7
In the other game St Peter’s College defeated Mt Albert Grammar School 82-51, a victory that is believed to be St Peter’s first win over MAGS at senior level.
Spencer Carr was again in good form for the Saints with 22 points while Gus Dallow scored 19, Mario Nola 14 and Bryan Marsters 8.
Full details of the game were unavailable at the time of publishing.
Standings:
12-1 AGS
10-2 Rosmini
10-3 Westlake
7-6 St Kentigern
6-7 St Peter’s
3-9 MAGS
3-10 Sacred Heart
0-13 Mt Roskill
*Mt Albert Grammar v Rosmini College fixture to be played on Monday August 5th.
LACEY LOWDOWN 