LACEY LOWDOWN

The 2019 Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam wrapped up on Saturday at HoopQuarters with Blue Chips and Gauchos getting the wins with almost identical score lines.

Gauchos beat Birdmen 106-102 whilst Blue Chips got the better of Railsplitters winning 103-102.

There were plenty of heavy scorers in both games topped by Southland Sharks guard TinasheMatambanadzo (42pts) and Rosmini College wing Sean Murphy (35pts).

Blue Chips 103– Sean Murphy 35, Dru Leo Leusage-Ape 24, Nick Barrow 17, Ollie Hayward 8

Railsplitters 102– Jaga Mete 33, Levick Kerr 18, Josh Leger 16, Alex McNaught 14

Gauchos 106– TinasheMatambanadzo 42, Denhym Brooke 19, Jaga mete 14, Dontae Russo-Nance 11, Ollie Hayward 10

Railsplitters 102– Jaylen Gerrand 26, Dom Kelman-Poto 24, Joel Vaiagina 14, Zack Riley 12, Ryan Laumatia 9, Reihana Maxwell-Topia 8

The Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam is supported by HoopQuarters, SAS and ABSL.

In the latest round of the Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam there were wins for Gauchos and Birdmen.

Gauchos appeared to be heading for defeat when they trailed Railsplitters by fifteen points (78-63) at three-quarter time. However, with Taine Murray scoring 13 points in the final period, Gauchos completed a comeback to win 96-91.

A Marvin Williams-Dunn drive and a Denhym Brooke put back opened the Gauchos scoring in the final frame but with Tinashe Matambanadzo and Kazlo Evans making baskets the Gauchos revival was instantly visible.

Railsplitters were still in control with 5:30 to play leading 86-72 but the complexion of the contest changed when Murray landed a triple and Williams-Dunn and Brooke went back to back – the Splitters needed a timeout.

Matambanadzo scored on the resumption but it was meagre pickings for the Splitters and when Matt Lacey scored from beyond the arc the scores were tied at 90 points apiece with 1:30 to play.

Dillon Boucher scored from the foul line for the Splitters but the Gauchos closed out the win as Murray and Lacey earned successful trips to the charity stripe.

Earlier the Boucher’s, Dillon and Jayden, were to the fore as they continually picked holes in the Gauchos defence creating opportunities for Ethan Skelton, Luka Vea, Matambanadzo and Evans. They led 49-42 at half-time and appeared on track for the win as the lead increased in the third frame.

Gauchos had other ideas!

Gauchos 96– T Murray 18, M Williams-Dunn 17, Z Te Puni 12, M Lacey 12, D Brooke 9

Railsplitters 91– T Matambanadzo 24, D Boucher 9, E Skelton 9, K Evans 8

* Note there were no individual scorers recorded in the first quarter therefore player points are only for quarters 2-4..

Paced by 32 points from Davidson College boundSam Mennenga and 22 from guard Jaylen Gerrand Birdmen proved too strong for Blue Chips winning 110-98.

Kiani Saxon made the early running for Birdmen whilst Dru Leo Leusage-Ape showed his ability to get to the rack for Blue Chips in a first quarter that ended 28 points apiece.

Birdmen had the better of the second leading 53-45 at the interval but the scores were back to level pegging (75-75) at three-quarter time.

The two teams traded buckets early in the final period – Chris McIntosh, Nate Wilson and Leusage-Ape helping Blue Chips keep pace with Birdmen.

A couple of inside baskets from Levick Kerr helped Birdmen to a 92-83 lead before Kevin Braswell and McIntosh responded.

Leusage-Ape scored ten points in the final frame for Blue Chips but Mennenga and Gerrand controlled proceedings in the closing minutes – a corner three from Harry Payne putting the exclamation mark on a deserved win for Birdmen.

Birdmen 110– S Mennenga 32, J Gerrand 22, L Kerr 15, K Saxon 12, H Payne 10

Blue Chips 98– D Leusage-Ape 21, K Braswell 15, N Wilson 13, C McIntosh 13, J Mete 8

The Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam is supported by HoopQuarters, SAS and ABSL.

A feature of the 2019 Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam has been the closeness of the games and Round 4 was no different as Birdmen held off Gauchos to win 110-105 and Blue Chips beat Railsplitters 99-89.

Despite a combined 76 points from Tinashe Matambanadzo (30pts), Shalom Broughton (26) and Zack Te Puni (20) Railsplitters went down 99-89 to Blue Chips. The Chips were led by Jaylen Gerrand’s 37 points but Ryan Laumatia, Nate Wilson, Chris McIntosh and Dillon Boucher all made telling contributions to the victory.

Chips seemed well in control at the half leading 57-43 thanks to Gerrand’s hot hands but Te Puni and Matambanadzo shared 17 points in the third stanza as Railsplitters closed to 73-71 at three-quarter time.

The high flying Broughton kept the margin at two (79-77) before Zach Riley and Wilson increased the lead to six.

Broughton and Te Puni kept the Splitters score ticking over but Laumatia and McIntosh landed the knockout blows in the closing minutes to keep the Chips in the ascendancy.

Blue Chips 99– J Gerrand 37, R Laumatia 13, N Wilson 11, C McIntosh 11

Railsplitters 89– T Matambanadzo 30, S Broughton 26, Z Te Puni 20

A balanced scoring effort from the Birdmen, with five players in double figures, ensured they got the W against the Gauchos.

Marvin Williams-Dunn (25pts) and Southland Sharks forward Dom Kelman-Poto (19pts) were the main contributors for the Birdmen while Jaylen Gerrand, playing his second game of the day, had another 30+ outing.

Birdmen led 82-75 with ten minutes to play but when Mitch Dance scored inside the deficit for the Gauchos was just a single point (91-90).

Sean Murphy and Kelman-Poto stretch the lead again and with two minutes to play the lead was at six in favour of Birdmen.

The final stages were dominated by Gerrand’s three-point shooting and the collective effort of the Birdmen to seal the win from the foul-line.

Gerrand made three triples in the final 90 seconds but Kelman-Poto, Jett Thompson, Williams-Dunn and Jaga Mete all made free-throws to hold Gauchos at bay.

Birdmen 110– M Williams-Dunn 25, D Kelman-Poto 19, L Kerr 15, S Murphy 12, J Mete 10

Gauchos 105– J Gerrand 36, S Mennenga 13, M Dance 12, S Tawera 9

The Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam is supported by HoopQuarters, SAS and ABSL.

In the second round of the 2019 Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam, held at HoopQuarters in New Lynn, Gauchos and Blue Chips recorded wins.

Gauchos enjoyed a strong start and finish to outlast Railsplitters winning 101-89 with Sam Mennenga (39 points) and Ryan Laumatia (27 points) leading the way.

Tinashe Matambanadzo and Dru Leo Leusage-Ape scored early points for Railsplitters but they trailed 25-14 to the Dillon Boucher led Gauchos.

Casey Frank and Shalom Broughton were to the fore in the second as Railsplitters closed to within three (46-43) at half-time.

A trio of triples from Matambanadzo and a couple of athletic finishes from Broughton cancelled out triples from Matt Lacey, Kevin Gan and Laumatia – Railsplitters only two points behind (74-72) with ten minutes to play.

Mennenga, the Davidson College commit, was the go-to man in the fourth as he totalled 39 points for the second week running. With Laumatia a more than capable ally Gauchos opened up a ten point advantage early in the final period and comfortably controlled proceedings in the closing minutes to win 101-89.

Gauchos 101– S Mennenga 39, R Laumatia 27, M Lacey 13

Railsplitters 89– D Leusage-Ape 20, S Broughton 18, T Matambanadzo 17, Z Te Puni 11

In the later game Blue Chips claimed a 124-114 win against Birdmen despite trailing 73-53 at half-time.

Blue Chips unleashed a withering 23-4 run to open the second half as Alex McNaught, on his way to 32 points, Kevin Braswell, Sean Murphy and Dom Kelman-Poto wreaked havoc on the Birdmen defence.

Outscored 40-11 in the frame Birdmen did arrest the slide in the fourth courtesy of Taine Murray, Jaga Mete and Joel Vaiagina but the damage had already been done and Blue Chips maintained a double-digit lead down the stretch.

In the first half Birdmen had given a fine exhibition of team basketball as led by Jaylen Gerrand and Conor Ngan they continually found the open man to stretch the Blue Chips defence and give themselves a significant lead.

The second half was a different story.

Blue Chips 124  A McNaught 32, K Braswell 24, S Murphy 15, L Kerr 13, Z Riley 11

Birdmen 114–  T Murray 33, J Mete 16, C Ngan 15, J Gerrand 14, J Vaiagina 12

The Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam is supported by HoopQuarters, SAS and ABSL.

The opening round of the 2019 Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam, held at HoopQuarters in New Lynn, saw wins for Gauchos and Rail Splitters.

Gauchos, with Junior internationals Jaga Mete (21 points), Sam Mennenga (39 points) and Sean Murphy (19 points) to the fore, always headed an under-strength Birdmen eventually winning 106-95.

To their credit the Birdmen, despite being down 54-42 at half-time, stayed in the contest until the closing couple of minutes.

When Ryan Laumatia knocked down a three Birdmen were only seven points down (95-88) with five minutes to play.

Nate Wilson added further points but Tall Black alumnus Dillon Boucher orchestrated proceedings down the stretch as Gauchos continually went inside to the dominant Mennenga who scored 16 of his game high 39 points in the final period.

Birdmen guard Zach Riley lit up the opening frame draining four consecutive treys, with Jaylen Gerrand the aggressor in the second making a dozen points to keep his team’s score ticking over.

An even third quarter preceded Birdmen’s push for victory in the fourth which was stymied by Mennenga’s dominance.

Gauchos 106– S Mennenga 39, J Mete 21, S Murphy 19, O Hayward 9

Birdmen 95– J Gerrand 28, Z Riley 23, N Wilson 13, T Murray 11, F McClure 11

In the earlier game Rail Splitters earned a 90-87 win against Blue Chips.

That result appeared highly unlikely in the early stages as the perimeter shooting of Kevin Braswell and the inside presence of Dom Kelman-Poto and Zack Te Puni carried Blue Chips to a 33-14 opening quarter advantage.

The Chips lead was still 51-38 at half-time but with Nick Barrow and Shalom Broughton achieving parity on the boards and Tinashe Matambanadzo and Dru Leo Leusage-Ape getting some outside shots to drop the Rail Splitters led 66-61 at three-quarter time.

Kelman-Poto and Joel Vaiagina got busy at the beginning of the fourth to give Blue Chips an 80-79 lead with under four minutes to play.

An eye-catching reverse dunk from Broughton restored Rail Splitters lead and although Braswell and Vaiagina made threes Matambanadzo, and Leusage-Ape made critical plays in the closing two minutes to clinch a meritourious win for the Splitters.

Rail Splitters 90– T Matambanadzo 25, N Barrow 17, S Broughton 14, D Leusage-Ape 14, M Williams-Dunn 11

Blue Chips 87– D Kelman-Poto 26, K Braswell 26, Z Te Puni 11, J Vaiagina 11

The Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam is supported by HoopQuarters, SAS and ABSL.

It’s at a new location but the Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam is back.

The 2019 edition will be held at HoopQuarters in New Lynn with the first round of games played on November 2^nd.

Once again the four participating teams will showcase some of the best high school talent in Auckland with a sprinkling of Tall Blacks and NBL players out to keep the youngsters in line.

Four members of the St Kentigern College Schick National Championship winning team – Levick Kerr, Shalom Broughton Kazlo Evans Jnr and Alex McNaught will be suiting up.

Former Tall Blacks Casey Frank and Dillon Boucher will provide veteran leadership whilst Tinashe Matamabnadzo, Dominique Kelman-Poto, (both Southland Sharks) along with Nick Barrow and Jaylen Gerrand (both Super City Rangers) played in the NBL in 2019.

The opening game at 1.00pm will feature Railsplitters against Blue Chips followed by Birdmen taking on Gauchos at 2.30pm.

Railsplitters will be led by Frank, Barrow and Matamabnadzo with the young backcourt of Marvin Williams-Dunn (Rosmini College) and Kazlo Evans Jnr sure to push the pace. Tautoko Wynyard (Rangitoto College) will be the youngest forward on show.

If Wynyard is the youngest forward then 2019 U17 Nationals MVP Dante Nance is the youngest guard. Playing for Gauchos he will have the Boucher’s (Jayden and Dillon) plus Junior Tall Blacks Jaga Mete (Auckland Grammar) and Sam Mennenga (Westlake) amongst his teammates.

Blue Chips will have player/coach Kevin Braswell pulling the strings alongside Kelman-Poto, Reihana Maxwell-Topia (Rosmini) and the Rangitoto College pair Harry Payne and Ethan Skelton.

Former Westlake standout Jaylen Gerand will be at the point for Birdmen and will be joined in the backcourt by Sataan Tawera (MAGS), Zach Riley (Rangitoto) and Rosmini and Tall Blacks wing Taine Murray.

Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam Co-ordinator Lindsay Tait is looking forward to the seven week season.

“Summer is when real hoopers work on their individual deficiencies to improve their future standing in the game. The players recruited are a mix of the top young talent available alongside the top available men. From our targeted pool of athletes we have selected the four most competitive teams possible in order to get better as a collective in an enjoyable, competitive environment.

“Our youngsters need to learn off our veterans. Our veterans need good quality competition during the summer period,” Tait added.

The Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam is supported by HoopQuarters, SAS and ABSL.

The combined scoring power of Tall Fern forward Deena Franklin and young Massey High shooting guard Shauna Povey carried Storm to a convincing 99-70 win against Suns in the Women’s 2017 Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam final at Atlas Place on Saturday.

The pair combined for 61 points with shooting splits that Suns were unable to match – 20/32 field goals, 6/9 threes and 15 from 20 freebies.

Povey set the tone in the first quarter connecting with her first three scoring attempts – all dropping from behind the arc – to help Storm to an early 26-20 lead.

The lead became 48-36 at the interval with Millie Nathan complimenting the work of Franklin in the paint.

Olivia Berry and Franklin combined well in some pick and roll action early in the third but three straight scores from Luye Murphy and a drive from Tabitha Jenkins pulled Sun to within three points (51-48).

Jazz and Zaaliyah Kailahi-Fulu were working hard under the boards and they helped keep the Suns in touch before a late surge courtesy of Allahna Hughes and Bella Elgar took Storm to a 70-55 three-quarter time lead.

The final frame was dominated by Storm as Povey landed her fifth triple of the game, Stevee-Rose Theyers chimed in with a couple from long range and Franklin continued to dominate in the paint. 29 points from Storm in the fourth put paid to any ray of hope Suns had of a bright final quarter finish.

Storm 99 – Povey 33, Franklin 28, Berry 14, Theyers 6, Nathan 6

Suns 70 – Murphy 16, J Kailahi-Fulu 13, Z Kailahi-Fulu 13, T Jenkins 10

Kevin Braswell scored a game high 42 points to lead Birdmen to the 2017 Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam title with an ultimately convincing 123-107 victory against Railsplitters.

Birdmen led at every quarter-time break but Railsplitters, with Jaylen Gerrand, Judson Seumanu and Samson Aruwa in good form, only trailed 103-95 with four minutes to play.

At that point the former Southlands Sharks and Breakers standout put the hammer down, or put more accurately put on a shooting clinic.

He reeled off 11 straight points including a couple of trademark threes buried off the dribble. An assist for a Brandon Lucas dunk sealed the deal as a tight single digit advantage was blown out to a twenty points lead in a little over two minutes.

Earlier Juan Cruz Colla, Tinashe Matambanadzo, Dom Kelman-Poto, back from representing New Zealand Maori against the Australian Indigenous team in Cairns last week, held sway in the opening half to help Birdmen to a 63-51 half-time lead.

Another NZ Maori representative Judson Seumanu along with Gerrand kept Railsplitters in touch at the last break – down 90-81.

Birdmen stretched the lead to 103-86 early in the fourth but Gerrand, Will Heather, the Aruwa brothers and Zack Te Puni responded to pull Railsplitters back to that 103-95 margin.

From then on it was all Braswell who ruled the roost as he scored 16 of Birdmen’s last twenty points.

Birdmen 123 – Braswell 42, Matambanadzo 31, Colla 19, Lucas 17, Kelman-Poto 10

Railsplitters 107 – Gerrand 24, Samson Aruwa 21, Seumanu 18, Heather 14, Sam Aruwa 12

The Grand Finals of the 2017 Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam will feature Railsplitters and the Birdmen in the Men’s competition with Suns taking on Storm in the Women’s showpiece.

It took Railsplitters an overtime period, which they dominated 22-3, to overcome a stubborn 68A Nelson Street outfit 123-104 in the late semi-final.

Nelson Street were quickest out of the blocks as Liam Thornton, Mitch Newton, Derone Raukawa and Judson Seumanu all connected from deep to spring a 30-18 advantage.

11 points in the second from Jaylen Gerrand trimmed the deficit slightly but Nelson St still held a 58-49 lead at the break.

Newton piled in 12 third quarter points for Nelson St but Ryan Laumatia and Sam Aruwa answered for Railsplitters as the lead was cut to 80-75 with ten minutes to play.

Raukawa paced the Nelson St effort in the fourth but Railsplitters finished strong to force overtime after the scores were locked at 101 apiece in regulation.

The extra five minutes belonged to Railsplitters as five different scorers contributed to a dominating finishing spell.

Railsplitters 123 – Gerrand 29, Harris 25, Laumatia 19, Sam Aruwa 16, Jenkins 10

68A Nelson Street 104 – Newton 31, Raukawa 26, Fesolai 15, Thornton 13, Seumanu 10

Birdmen convincingly defeated Breakers Development 102-64 in the first semi-final.

Six early points from Thomas Whyte gave Breakers the early lead but the inside presence of Dominique Kelman-Poto and some three-point ammunition from Kevin Braswell carried Railsplitters to a 45-37 half-time lead.

Zack Te Puni put up some resistance for the Breakers but it was largely one-way traffic in the third as Railsplitters rattled in 36 points as multiple players registered points.

Breakers Development – Te Puni 20, Whyte 15, Williams-Dunne 12, Langridge 9

Birdmen 102– Kelman-Poto 28, Colla 16, Matambanadzo 16, Braswell 14, Barrow 10, Clinton 10,

In the first women’s semi-final Sparks were no match for Storm going down 115-55.

Storm raced to a 27-13 first quarter lead and were never challenged thereafter.

Sharne Pupuke-Robati accumulated 23 points for Sparks but Shauna Povey, Olivia Berry, Emme Shearer and Stevee-Rose Theyers each cooked up twenty points or more for Storm.

Storm 115 – Povey 26, Berry 24, Theyers 21, Shearer 20

Sparks 55 – Pupuke-Robati 23, Schuster 9, Fiatau 8, S Dil 6

Suns, led by 20 points from Luye Murphy, eventually prevailed 95-61 against Sky after a close first half.

Hannah Wentworth and Keeley Tini scored consistently for Sky as they trailed 46-36 at half-time.

The outside shooting of Murphy and Anna Lacey coupled with the inside work of Annabelle Jenkins and Zaaliyah Kailahi-Fulu was working well for Sun as they stretched out to a 68-50 three-quarter time lead.

Amanda Buck was tireless for Sky but it will be Suns that will face Storm in the final on Saturday.

Sky 61 – Buck 19, Wentworth 14, Tini 14, Te Huia 8

Suns 95 – Murphy 20, A Jenkins 12, Z Kailahi-Fulu 11, Lacey 9, T Jenkins 9

Round six, the final week of round robin play, of the Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam saw Breakers Development register their first win of the season. Boosted by the addition of forward Mitch Newton (31 points) the Breakers outlasted Railsplitters to win 102-96.

Dan Fotu, the day after becoming the 97th SKTYCITY Breaker when making an appearance against Perth Wildcats, initiated the scoring with a triple.

However Jaylen Gerrand scored three first quarter threes to help Railsplitters to a 25-20 first quarter lead.

Newton paced the Breakers with 11 second quarter points and with Marvin Williams-Dunn landing from deep the Railsplitters lead was trimmed to a single point (48-47) at the interval.

Samson Aruwa reeled off 8 straight points for Railsplitters at the beginning of the third stanza but the two Mitchell’s – Newton and Dance – kept Breakers in touch trailing 78-76 at the end of the third frame.

Rory Fannon and Gerrand briefly extended the Splitters lead but it was 92 points apiece with 5:30 to play when Kruz Perrott-Hunt dropped a triple.

The Breakers finished the stronger down the stretch – Fotu made three straight baskets with Newton sealing the win with a couple of visits to the foul line.

Railsplitters 96 – Gerrand 33, Aruwa 26, Fannon 10, van Uden 8

Breakers Development 102 – Newton 31, Fotu 26, Dance 16, Perrott-Hunt 15

Derone Raukawa feasted on the high scoring encounter against Birdmen finishing one point shy of a half century as 68A Nelson Street ran away with the contest in the final quarter to win 136-112.

Mitch Newton, who played two games due to a number of players being unavailable, and Juan Cruz Colla got Nelson Street of to a strong start. However they were reeled in by a combination of the inside presence of Nick Barrow and the perimeter shooting of Quinn Clinton and Kevin Braswell – 61-59 in favour of Nelson Street at half-time.

Carl Buck knocked down a triple to open the scoring in the third but the second half became something of a shoot-out between Raukawa and Braswell.

Braswell showed he still has an eye for the basket with 21 points, including five triples, in the third although it was still 102-94 in favour of Nelson Street at the last break.

Raukawa peeled off 15 points in the final quarter and with Dillon Boucher and Colla adding the finishing touches the Birdmen were caged going down 136-112.

68A Nelson Street 136 – Raukawa 49, Colla 26, Newton 23, Boucher 10, Buck 10

Birdmen 112– Braswell 35, Barrow 27, Clinton 25, Matambanadzo 8

Final Round Robin standings:

4-2 Birdmen, Nelson Street

3-3 Railsplitters

1-5 Breakers Development

In a free flowing encounter Sparks, thanks to a combined 38 points from the NZ U18 duo of Tayla Dalton and Sharne Pupuke-Robati, defeated Suns 73-65.

Kayla Kiriau, fresh from a successful season with Gladstone Power in the Queensland State League, scored 7 first quarter points as Sparks established an early 16-10 lead.

That advantage was extended to double figures by Dalton and Pupuke-Robati before Tabitha Jenkins and Morgan Ili hit back for Suns – 36-28 at half-time.

7 points from Anabelle Jenkins in the third countered threes from Dalton and Mikayla Blair and when Anna Lacey converted twice from beyond the arc either side of the three-quarter break the Sparks advantage was just three points (53-50).

Ili was outstanding for Suns but another three from Blair and contributions from the Westlake pair of Mareta Davidson and Sophie Dil closed out a second win of the season for Sparks.

Suns 65 – Ili 19, T Jenkins 13, A Jenkins 9, Lacey 8

Sparks 73 – Dalton 20, Pupuke-Robati 18, K Kiriau 13, Blair 6

A combined 51 points from Sky forward Ashleigh Kelman-Poto and guard Jordyn Maddix wasn’t quite enough to overcome Storm who were paced by Deena Franklin and Shauna Povey.

Maddix hit three first quarter triples for Sky but they were outscored 26-16 in the opening spell.

10 points from Kelman-Poto in the second kept Sky in the hunt but the consistent Franklin ensured Storm led 45-34 at half-time.

Povey dropped three treys in the third although regular scoring from Summer-Jean Motufoua and Kelman-Poto kept Sky in touch – 68-60 down at the three-quarter mark.

Jordyn Maddix landed a further two triples – she had six in the game – but scores from Olivia Berry and Alanna Hughes complimented the work of Franklin to ensure Storm finished with four wins alongside Suns.

Sky 78 – Kelman-Poto 29, Maddix 22, Motufoua 13

Storm 87 – Franklin 22, Povey 18, Berry 12, Hughes 7,

Final Round Robin Standings

4-2 Suns, Storm

2-4 Sky, Sparks