The final round of Auckland Secondary Schools Girls Premier regular season games has been completed and the semi-final line-ups confirmed.
Manurewa High School rounded out an 11-3 record, with victory against Takapuna to secure a home semi-final tie – ironically it will be against Taka!
St Kentigern College beat Epsom Girls to lock-in second spot and will now host Northcote College in the other semi.
Northcote and Takapuna were tied in third place with identical 8-6 records and having beaten each other once placings were decided by points differential – Northcote on the right side of the ledger at +8 with Taka on -8.
Manurewa and Takapuna played out an entertaining contest eventually won 83-66 by the regular season champions.
Two-way guard Shirley Tuilimu was the game’s outstanding performer adding rebounds, steals and assists to a game high 27 points. Emily Tanira had a 23-point outing and Bella Manu-Moore scored 16.
Takapuna also had major scoring efforts from a trio of players led by point guard Amelia Glenn with 23 points, skipper Amy McKenzie made 19 while Natalja Burton scored a dozen.
Takapuna 66 – Glenn 23, McKenzie 19, Burton 12, Arabella Neville 5
Manurewa 83 – Tuilimu 27, E Tanira 23, Manu-Moore 16
St Kentigern College had the most significant win of the round defeating Epsom Girls Grammar 81-52. The victory lifted St Kent’s to clear second on the ladder after entering the round tied with Takapuna and Northcote.
St Kent’s were again led by Kilani Tuineau who scored 21 points and she had valuable support from Jorja Dixon and Rosie Ward who tallied 18 points and 11 respectively.
For Epsom Talia Vea and Draun Forbes combined for 35 points.
St Kentigern 81 – Tuineau 21, Dixon 18, Ward 11, Charlie Yock 7, Gigi Forster 7
Epsom 52 – Vea 18, Forbes 17, Kiki Reti 6, Oriwa Tipene 5
Mt Albert Grammar School continued their late season run of form with a 75-69 home win over Northcote College.
Once again Sahara Katene top scored for MAGS scoring 33 points – that’s 104 points tallied in the last three games with victory achieved in each.
Meiya Lemafa was the other major contributor with 12 points while four players were in double figures for Northcote.
Lis Gear topped the billing with 24 points, DJ Hannah had 13 , Misha Aitchison 10 and Lily Morgan, in her final game for Northcote, scored 15 points.
Morgan heads to college in Canada in the coming days and will miss Northcote’s play-off game(s) and upcoming Nationals Qualifying Tournament.
MAGS 75 – Katene 33, M Lemafa 12, Giana Tiatia 8, Amelia Nathan 6
Northcote 69 – Gear 24, Morgan 15, Hannah 13, Aitchison 10, Ema Lavemaau 7
Westlake Girls High and Rangitoto College had little to play for other than pride and it was 2023 champions Westlake that prevailed winning 100-37.
Led by Emma Schroeder’s 27 points Westlake had five players in double figures while Maddison Skelton was the only Rangi player to achieve that mark scoring 10 points.
Rangitoto 37 – Skelton 10, Mela Andrews 9, Bella Anderson 7
Westlake 100 – Schroeder 27, Zenthia Stowers 18, Imani Rasmussen 17, Charlotte Mawston 15, Honor Coates 11
Girls Standings at conclusion of regular season:
11-3 Manurewa
9-5 St Kentigern
8-6 Northcote
8-6 Takapuna
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7-7 Rangitoto
6-8 MAGS
4-10 Westlake
3-11 Epsom
LACEY LOWDOWN 