The Schick Secondary Schools Nationals Qualifying Tournaments are underway.
The 24 spots at the AA Nationals for both Boys and Girls teams commenced today and we will be keeping an eye on proceedings.
Here is a preview of the action.
Cashmere High are back-to-back McDonald’s Thomson Trophy champions, defeating Rangiora in a convincing 86-61 win in the last game of season, with Nic Wenmoth taking the Finals MVP award (19PTS, 7REB). During the first half both teams kept the game close with the score being 36-31 to Cashmere. When the fourth quarter started Rangiora struggled to score and Cashmere took advantage consistently making easy buckets. The Cashmere bench outscored Rangiora’s 36-6 over the entire game, which helped contribute to their biggest lead of 26 points.
In the first quarter both teams traded buckets, Jack Exeter setting the pace of the game driving hard to the rim each time and his partner Lachie MacFarlane hitting some jump shots for Rangiora. But Cashmere’s ability to get the free throw line, stopping Rangiora’s momentum, was pivotal. The quarter ended 17-15 in Cashmere’s favour, with Thomas Webley leading the scoring with eight points after ten minutes.
Cashmere’s Louis Oskam also ended the first quarter on a strong note, and started the second quarter with consecutive jump shots. Rangiora answered and levelled the score thanks to MacFarlane’s mid-range shooting. In the last three minutes of the half, Paul Conner made liberal use of his substitutes, giving the starters some rest for the next half. Impact sub Finn Barclay managed to drain a three and followed this with a pair of free throws and Cashmere’s defensive presence were able to maintain the lead going into the half 36-31.
The third quarter action started off with Cashmere bringing their starters back. In the first four minutes here Oskam and Wenmoth combined for 11 points, but Exeter and MacFarlane dug deep to bring the Rangiora team back into the game, linking for 13-points to make the game 55-51 with two minutes left in the period. Cashmere again subbed their bench in, and managed to see out the third quarter up 61-53.
With only ten minutes to go, Cashmere resting their starting players was essential for their fourth quarter dominance, as they went on a 14-2 run. Quick transition buckets from Cashmere’s starting line-up made the game 75-55 with only six minutes remaining. Rangiora had no answer now, and struggled to get a defensive stop. Exeter managed to sink a couple of free throws, but immediately at the other end, Quinten Conner delivered a back-breaking three. Cashmere did not stop there and continued to show their hard-work and ability by scoring on almost every possession. Paul Conner’s team outscored their opponents in the fourth quarter 25-8. Oskam finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds, while Jack Exeter and Lachie MacFarlane both scored 18 points.
Paul Connor said this after the win: “As a team we knew Rangiora were going to come out firing and step up for the final. They did this which produced challenges for our team, which we needed to adjust to constantly.
“Rangiora are a well-coached team and their lead players play to their strengths efficiently. Our team’s depth shone through in the fourth quarter, but until then Rangiora were in the game and we knew they will be a challenge if we meet them at the South Island Premiership next week.
In the McDonald’s Whelan Division One Final between Rangi Ruru and St. Andrew’s, it was Charlotte Whittaker who put on a show for the crowd. Whittaker started the game by scoring 13 of St. Andrew’s points in the first quarter, coming from all areas around the court. Rangi Ruru’s Alice Sproat (17PTS,14REB) made a strong first impression as she scored six in the quarter. This helped get the two-time defending champions into a rhythm. However, with the rest on the team struggling from the field, the first quarter ended being 24-11 to St. Andrew’s.
In the second quarter, it was a similar story. St. Andrew’s had all the momentum with multiple players scoring easy buckets. At the four-minute mark the score was 35-20, and it seemed like Rangi Ruru had no answer for stopping them. Whittaker and Millie Nesbit combined for 11 points here, allowing St. Andrew’s to take a 42-22 lead into the second half.
StAC continued to dominate Rangi Ruru in the second half. Sproat and Ashlee Strawbridge (20PTS, 13REB) managed to bring a bit of life into the team here, as they combined to score 8-points. They were still no match for Whittaker and her ability in the low post, as she alone managed to score 10-points in the third quarter. Notably for St. Andrew’s Billie Watson, Nesbit and Te Rina Cooper also contributed to the score and helped create a comfortable 23-point lead going into the fourth, up 61-38.
With the division title sitting very comfortably in the hands of St. Andrew’s and out of sight for Rangi Ruru, Strawbridge managed to create a late run scoring 10-points in the quarter with a pair of threes. With the help of Sproat’s 6-points in the quarter, the lead was cut down to 13. But St. Andrew’s tactic of feeding Whittaker in the post proved impossible to guard consistently, as she scored another 10-points in a quarter. With 45 seconds left remaining Whittaker delivered a dagger three right through the heart of Rangi Ruru, helping her team close out the game 73-59.
To nobody’s surprise Charlotte Whittaker was named Finals MVP award with an extremely impressive performance of 40 points, 18 rebounds and 5 steals.
From James Lissaman
Macleans College Boys and Botany Downs Secondary College Girls have gained promotion to the 2019 Premier Grade competition after contrasting Senior A Grand Final wins.
Macleans led from start to finish to beat Liston College 88-64 whereas Botany Downs were forced to come from behind to defeat Epsom Girls Grammar 61-54.
MacLeans had 12 points on the board before their opponents made a basket and that was extended to 31-5 by quarter time as nothing went right for Liston.
Things improved for Liston in the second quarter but they were still in trouble at half-time trailing 45-23.
A good third frame ensued for Liston, a mighty effort getting them within eleven points at the three-quarter mark (55-44).
That was as close as it got – Macleans reeled off a 9-0 run to open the fourth period and cruised through the closing stages to claim the win, the Senior A trophy and a return to the Premier Grade for coach Adrian Boyd and his charges after an absence of just one season.
Macleans captain Sai Kuvelkar played extremely well on both end of the floor and he received excellent assistance from Tyson Kempton and Michael Babaran.
Liston gained terrific service from Edward Maagdenburg, Lev Prokov and Kiani Saxon but will now have to wait until next April to secure a spot in the Premier Division – a play-off game against St Peter’s College awaits them.
Macleans College 88
Liston College 64
Epsom Girls chose the wrong time to relinquish their unbeaten record in the Senior A competition, run down in the fourth quarter by a fast finishing Botany Downs, to lose their first game of the season.
It was tight throughout but Epsom did lead 45-42 at three-quarter-time and 52-48 midway through the last.
However the loss of three starters, all falling victims of the five foul count, meant Epsom were powerless to halt the Botany charge.
Tafito Pomarlina Lafaele made the go-ahead points (53-52) with 2:36 to play but it was Sophia and Ngapipi Herewini that did most of the damage. The pair combined for 16 points in the final quarter (43 points in the game) to carry Botany to Premier status.
Earlier the two teams tied the opening period 16 points apiece before Epsom dominated the second quarter to establish a 35-27 half-time lead – Aria Todd-Pemerika and Sarah-Joy Aruwa combining for 13 second quarter points for Epsom.
Florence Dallow scored eight straight points for Epsom in the third but Sophia Herewini notched half a dozen for Botany as they reduced the deficit to three points with ten minutes to play.
Critically Dallow and Aruwa both fouled out early in the fourth and although Sarah Scoular and Todd-Pemerika made baskets it was Epsom that dominated the closing minutes to clinch automatic promotion.
Botany Downs 61 – S Herewini 24, N Herewini 19, T Herewini 8, T Lafaele
Epsom 54 – F Dallow 14, A Todd-Pemerika 11, S Aruwa 9, M Satele 6, S Scoular 6
Other 2018 College Sport Auckland Secondary Schools Basketball Championship results.
Junior Boys
Auckland Grammar 36 – Cody Brown 9, Caleb Landon 9, Toby Caldwell 7, Daniel Boyd 5
Westlake Boys 30 – Harry Barnard 7, Tawhiao Kaitapu 7, Ethan Winch 6
Junior Girls
Carmel College 33 – Katie Linstrom 15, Qaizden Stephano 6, Marina Lough 5
Onehunga High 32 – Eden Ill 12, Jada Tairea 8, Tina Tu’ifua 8
U17 Girls
Auckland Girls Grammar 36 – Heeni Blakey 19, Imogene Noble 9,
Massey High 28 – Levi Fuimaono 6, Yzabelle Taveo 6, Ramona Fuiavaa 5
U17 Boys
St Kentigern College 41 – Alex McNaught 19, Martin Gan 9, Levic Kerr 8
Rangitoto College 35 – Ethan Skelton 13, Tautoko Wynyard 10
Open Girls
Westlake Red 47 – Samantha Woolford 17, Isabel Pugh 15, Maia McBirney 8
Aorere College 28 – Maria Tatupu 10, Mary Masoe 5, Maama Vaipulu 5
Open Boys
Mt Roskill Grammar 55 – Justin Sapoi 14, Harjot Johal 9, Isaiah Halafihi 9, Harlem Iaea 6, Sephaniah Damu 6
Long Bay College 35 – Hayden Druce 11, Tobeas Livock 11
Mount Albert Grammar inflicted on Auckland Girls Grammar just their second defeat in the past two Premier seasons to take out the Auckland Secondary Schools Championship winning 59-52 at North Shore Events Centre on Friday.
Opposing forwards Mele Latu and Rikki Fiatau were prominent early on as Mt Albert forged a 12-6 lead in a tight opening spell.
Laetitia Tuaiti knocked down a three for Auckland but Sharne Pupuke-Robati (a team high 21 points) replied in similar fashion for Mt Albert.
Latu had a spell on the bench after picking up three early fouls but on her return she reeled off ten points and although Fiatau scored eight points in the second quarter Auckland led 28-27 at half-time.
The outstanding Latu, who led all scorers with 26 points, continued with the hot hands in the third and aided by Elianna Tuaiti and Tyla Tuala the defending champions opened up a 38-33 advantage.
After a quick time out Mt Albert made their move – a third triple in the game from Pupuke-Robati was followed by baskets from Moanekah Va’ai and Fiatau, when Jada Manase peeled off a pair of threes Mt Albert had enjoyed a 15-2 run and led 48-40 at three-quarter time.
Pupuke-Robati stretched the lead to ten but an Elianna Tuaiti And-1 play trimmed the deficit.
It was cat and mouse in the middle stages of the final quarter with both sides searching for the ascendancy – Zhanay Hettig scored inside for Auckland but they still trailed by five (53-48) inside the final four minutes.
Latu scored her sixth triple of the game but a basket from Manase an a calmly made pair of free throws from Va’ai gave Mt Albert the victory – one that has eluded them against their arch rivals for the past couple of years.
MAGS 59 – S Pupuke-Robati 21, R Fiatau 15, J Manase 9, M Va’ai 8
AGGS 52 – M Latu 26, E Tuaiti 9, T Tuala 7
Rosmini College won the 2018 Auckland Secondary Schools Premier title by defeating Mt Albert Grammar 80-48 in front of 1,500 strong crowd at North Shore Events Centre on Friday night.
The two teams had identical 15-1 records heading into the contest but it was Rosmini that made the brighter opening with Mitch Dance and Kruz Perrott-Hunt combining for their three opening scores as Rosmini forged an early 9-0 lead.
Clarke Aiono got Mt Albert on the scoreboard but threes from Dance and Marvin Williams-Dunn gave Rosmini an 18-8 quarter-time lead.
More threes from Jayden Boucher and Perrott-Hunt pushed the Rosmini advantage beyond twenty before MAGS struck back through an And-1 play from Nate Wilson and points from Chayse Pinono, making a welcome return to the team after injury.
Dance led all scorers at half-time with thirteen points – Rosmini ahead 38-20.
MAGS point guard Sataan Tawera, who was to play all fourty minutes, dropped a triple but the early stages of the third became an arm wrestle as both defence dominated for both teams, highlighted by an athletic block from Wilson that impressed the travelling Lions supporters.
Ryan Laumatia knocked down a couple of trademark elbow jump shots but midway through the period the MAGS captain had to be helped from the court with a nasty looking knee injury – it’s to be hoped not a season ending one.
A Tom Seuren basket off a deft Perrott-Hunt pass and an And-1 play from Thomas Morgan pushed the Rosmini advantage out to 55-34 at three-quarter time.
MAGS had hauled back a sixteen point three-quarter time deficit in their semi-final against St Kentigern last week but any chance of a similar feat was snuffed out as Kainoa Lepou and Taine Murray stretched the Rozza lead beyond thirty.
The hard working Wilson, close to a double-double with 13 points and 9 rebounds, and the guard duo of Pinono and Tawera ensured the regular season champions finished on the front foot but they couldn’t deny Rosmini their second title in three years.
Rosmini 80 – M Dance 24, K Perrott-Hunt 17, M Williams-Dunn 11, T Murray 8
MAGS 48 – N Wilson 13, S Tawera 11, C Pinono 9, R Laumatia 8
There was a good deal of excitement in the air throughout Canterbury, with the boys’ grades in particular being extremely tightly contested on semi-final night in the McDonald’s Thomson and Whelan Competitions. Rangiora High and Christchurch Boys’ played out a classic, with the visitors initially going up by ten points. Fletcher Arnold responded by hitting three straight from behind the arc to grab the lead and it was all on. CBHS managed to move ahead by six points with under five minutes to go, before Rangiora came back and tied it – setting us all up to witness this magic from Noa Price:
The Middleton Grange boys travelled to the league favourites – Cashmere High – and also had an extremely tight game on their hands, 62-60 being the score as the fourth quarter began. The Gators quickly found themselves down by ten points and upped their pressure – hitting threes and buckets inside, but could never close the gap closer than six points, as they eventually fell 92-85. Cashmere won their opening night game against Rangiora by twenty, and without a loss on their record this year are deserving to be labelled as the favourites here, but with Rangiora being the hottest team in the competition over the past month be ready for anything in the final on Tuesday.
The Kaiapoi girls’ team was without the playmaking ability of Alida Pohatu-Barnes, who was battling a back issue, allowing the St. Andrew’s defence to focus the majority of their attention on NZ rep Helen Mathews. Kaiapoi never gave up, but fell further and further behind, eventually falling to the #1 seeded StAC team by twenty.
Rangi Ruru continued how they finished last game against Christchurch Girls’ High, quickly jumping out to a ten-point lead. Girls’ High never gave up and had one of their former stars, Tessa Boagni, on hand to help provide motivation and advice for George Robinson’s team. The second half was much better for CGHS, closing to six points after a Sammy Arnold three, but the initial hole they were in was too much to overcome, going down 66-57. This loss, setting us up with a #1 vs #2 matchup in the Grand Final.
St. Andrew’s has won the two previous matchups against Rangi Ruru this year by 11 and 12 points respectively, but with their opponents going for a three-peat, Sussan Graham’s team knows they cannot take the result of this game for granted.
Division Two of the McDonald’s Whelan Trophy Competition also ended up with #1 vs #2 for the Final. The Avonside Lady Eagles and Lincoln High Girls started off extremely amped up in their match, with neither team able to settle in to the groove of the game. Avonside’s team wanting to do well in what was the official last game for Avonside on their current site. After a 9-9 first quarter, AGHS was able to go on a 20-5 run, with Molly Cockburn (27) and Megan Shannon (14) being a major factor. Lincoln’s duo of Samantha McCrone (17) and Kate Herman (15) again leading their team, who had a fantastic season where they improved dramatically from their two-win record in 2017.
#2 Ellesmere had no trouble with St. Margaret’s – hitting ten three-point shots, and snagging the ball 21 times from their opponents as they ran away with the game 85-56. Ellesmere bet Avonside in their previous meeting in a very tight 63-58 win, and with Sam Irvine joining the EC team since then, this game is shaping up to be decided in the final few seconds too!
The Ashburton College Boys continued their strong season, as they disposed of Cathedral College 102-56, building a twenty-point lead inside the first ten minutes of action, and outscoring the visitors every quarter of play. Marc Juntilla was outstanding for Ashcoll, scoring 27 in the win. Papanui shocked St. Thomas 81-78, as Neville Brooker’s team just missed on two opportunities to tie the game up in the dying seconds. Papanui will be highly motivated in the final, wanting to avoid a repeat of 2017, where they fell in the final minutes last year. Ashburton has improved their play steadily since their 81-67 loss earlier to Papanui, and will have plenty of supporters from Mid-Canterbury make the trek up to Cowles to support their young men.
Macca’s Week Twelve Results
Whelan Division II
Ellesmere 85-56 St. Margaret’s
Avonside 81-51 Lincoln
Whelan Division I
Rangi Ruru 66-57 Christchurch Girls’
St. Andrew’s 69-49 Kaiapoi
Thomson Division II
Papanui 81-78 St. Thomas
Ashburton 102-56 Cathedral
Thomson Division I
Rangiora 64-61 Christchurch Boys’
Cashmere 92-85 Middleton Grange
Finals’ Night – Tuesday 28 August at Cowles Stadium
4:00pm Thomson Division Two Final (Court One) Ashburton College vs Papanui High
4:00pm Whelan Division Two Final (Court Two) Avonside Girls’ High vs Ellesmere College
5:45pm Whelan Division One Final (Court One) St. Andrew’s College vs Rangi Ruru Girls’
7:30pm Thomson Division One Final (Court One) Cashmere High vs Rangiora High
The Senior A Boys Grand Final will feature Macleans College and Liston College, the top two finishers in the regular season, next Friday at NSEC.
Macleans are one win away from an automatic return to the Premier competition after winning a high scoring semi-final against Massey High 108-94.
Michael Babaran and Sai Kuvelkar were outstanding for Macleans amassing 43 points and 30 points respectively.
A high octane opening quarter saw Macleans out to a 40-27 lead and despite the best efforts of Cullen Tamihana (26 points) Massey were unable to overhaul the deficit.
Tamihana scored ten points in the second as the Macleans lead was trimmed to 62-55 at the interval.
Harry Smith posted nine third quarter points for Macleans, eight straight points from Tamihana keeping Massey in the hunt at 84-73.
A couple of threes from Babaran plus scores from Tyson Kempton and Smith stretched the Macleans lead to 101-83.
Robert Matakatea, Lueki Fusitua and Maxwell Hinton responded with one last effort for Massey but it wasn’t enough to unsettle Macleans.
Macleans College 108 – M Babaran 43, S Kuvelkar 30, H Smith 17, T Kempton 11
Massey High 94 – C Tamihana 26, R Matakatea 14, L Fusitua 10, B Leslie 9, C Taulapiu 9
The Liston College versus Northcote College semi-final was a contest full of momentum swings with the outcome only decided in the final two minutes.
With six minutes to play the scores were locked at 72 points apiece. An 8-0 Liston run via scores from Shawn Hickey, Kiani Saxon and Edward Maagdenburg tilted the contest in their favour.
However a Reihana Miller-Tohu triple and further counter punches from Ollie Hayward dragged Northcote to within a point (80-79) with two minutes on the clock.
The final swing went in favour of Liston as Maagdenburg, Lev Prokov and John Fabian helped them reel off an 11-0 finish to seal the win in an entertaining game.
Earlier Northcote had made the more encouraging start a trio of threes from Calvin Webster gave them a 21-16 first quarter lead.
Prokov and Saxon responded with half a dozen points apiece in the second as the two teams went to the break with the scores level at thirty-six points apiece.
Northcote shaded the third (26-23) as Sebastian Vivian, Miller-Tohu and Miggy Falqueza all made triples.
More threes from Miller-Tohu and Webster pleased the local supporters but Saxon and Maagdenburg steadied the Liston ship ahead of the final successful surge.
Liston College 91 – L Prokov 20, E Maagdenburg 18, K Saxon 18, J Fabian 11
Northcote College 79 – R Miller-Tohu 22, C Webster 21, O Hayward 15, M Falqueza 12
Epsom Girls Grammar and Botany Downs College, after finishing first and second on the ladder in the regular season will face each other in the Senior A Grand Final on Friday.
Epsom defeated Birkenhead College and Botany beat Mt Roskill Grammar in the semi-finals.
The Herewini sisters Sophia (24 points), Ngapipi (20 points) and Tiana (11 points) took care of business for Botany.
The trio scored all of the Botany points as they jumped out to an early 24-6 lead against Mt Roskill and steadily built on that early advantage to lead 35-10 at half-time.
Akaysha Cordtz and Aquilla Toala made early scores in the third for Mt Roskill but ten points in the period from Sophia Herewini kept Botany ahead 61-28.
Jasmine Paul scored eight fourth quarter points for Roskill but Botany were always in control and recorded a convincing win.
Botany Downs 65 – Sophia H 24, Ngapipi H 20, Tiana H 11
Mt Roskill 47 – J Paul 10, M Malu 7, R Toala 7, A Toala 6
Birkenhead made a good start against undefeated Epsom Girls leading 15-12 after the first quarter – Rashaan Smith (24 points) with nine of those points.
Epsom quickly hauled in the deficit as they dominated the second quarter. Florence Dallow (24 points) made ten points in the period but Epsom enjoyed scoring contributions across the board as they led 35-25 at half-time.
Smith, Marta Bolognini and Eleanor Mahutangi ensured the Epsom lead didn’t become unmanageable, Birkenhead still in the contest at the last break trailing 49-40.
The same trio of players scored all of Birkenhead’s fifteen points in the last quarter but Dallow, Akita Papara-Welch, Sarah-Joy Aruwa and Aria Todd-Pemeric ensured there would be no upset.
Epsom head to the final with a perfect 15-0 record.
Epsom 67 – F Dallow 24, S Aruwa 8, A Papara-Welch 8, A Todd-Pemeric 7
Birkenhead 55 – R Smith 24, M Bolognini 14, E Mahutangi 11
The Steven Adams High School Invitational Games were played at Central Energy Trust Arena on Sunday.
The two games, featuring twenty of the best male and female highs school players in the country, produced plenty of action for the decent sized crowd in attendance and those watching live courtesy of Maori TV.
In the Girls game Team White dominated the second half to come from 44-33 down at the interval to beat Team Black 71-61.
Triples from Tayla Dalton, Tessa Talo-Tomokino and Rosalia Samia helped turn the tide in the third quarter and an important five points late in the fourth from Sofia Kennedy sealed the deal.
Dalton had a stats stuffing 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocks in an all-action display. Forwards Charlotte Whittaker, who led all scorers with 15 points and added 7 rebounds, and Jazz Kailahi-Fulu (12 points and 6 rebounds) also impressed. Shauna Povey (10 points) also made a double figures contribution for Team White.
Team Black looked as if they might run away with the game in the second quarter when Sharne Pupuke-Robati (7 points and 7 rebounds), Mele Latu (13 points), Grace Hunter (13 points, 4 assists and 5 steals) and Olivia O’Neill all made triples. However, despite 10 points from Emme Shearer their scoring dried up in the second half and White took advantage outscoring their opponents 38-17 in the half.
Girls Team White
Tayla Dalton (Carmel College), Rochelle Fourie (Manukura), Jazzmyne Kailahi-Fulu (St Marys College), Sofia Kennedy (Middleton Grange), Jada Manase (Mt Albert Grammar), Shauna Povey (Massey High), Rosalia Samia (Napier Girls High), Charlotte Whittaker (St Andrews, Christchurch), Tessa Talo-Tomokino (Mt Albert Grammar), Riva Walker-Pitman (Hamilton Girls)
Girls Team Black
Grace Hunter (Queen Margaret College), Mele Latu (Auckland Girls Grammar), Koha Lewis (Hamilton Girls), Olivia O’Neill (St Hildas), Sharne Pupuke-Robati (Mt Albert Grammar), Emme Shearer (Westlake Girls), Rashaan Smith (Birkenhead College), Te Araroa Sopoanga (Queen Margaret College), Kaya Walker (Palmerston North Girls High)
In the Boys game Team Black found themselves 78-72 down inside the last two minutes against Team White but snatched a late win with Anzac Rissetto (14 points) making a three with just 8 seconds left on the game clock. White turned the ball over on the ensuing possession allowing Black to steal a 79-78 win.
Robert Coman (12 points) and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (7 points) got White off to a 24-13 start before the game’s top scorer Mitch Dance (22 points) reeled off three triples – Shalom Broughton (11 points) edged Black ahead at the interval 38-36.
Sam Mennenga (18 points) demonstrated his versatility with 11 straight points for White to give his team a 61-52 three-quarter lead.
Kruz Perrott-Hunt (17 points) and Finn McClure threes kept White in the ascendancy until those dying seconds.
Taine Murray (12 points) dragged Black to within three with 70 seconds to play and a Dance free throw reduced the arrears to two on the next Black offence.
Then it was over to Rissetto to bring an interesting couple of games to a fitting conclusion.
Boys Team Black
Shalom Broughton (St Kentigern College), Mitchell Dance (Rosmini College), Kainoa Lepou (Rosmini College), Jake McKinlay (Palmerston North Boys High), Taine Murray (Rosmini College), Anzac Rissetto (Auckland Grammar), Max Shorter (St Kentigern College), Ezrah Vaigafa (Rongotai College), Thomas Whyte (Auckland Grammar),
Marvin Williams-Dunn (Rosmini College)
Boys Team White
Jayden Boucher (Rosmini College), Robert Coman (Kings College), William Henry (Mount College), Finn McClure (Rongotai College), Sam Mennenga (Westlake Boys), Kruz Perrott-Hunt (Rosmini College), Klein Salmon (Rongotai College), Mac Stodart (James Hargest College), Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (St Patrick’s, Wellington), Jaylin Trego-To’o (Rongotai College)
After a couple of excellent Premier Girls semi-finals at NSEC it is traditional rivals Auckland Girls Grammar and Mt Albert Grammar that will match up in the Grand Final next Friday.
Mt Albert led all the way against Westlake Girls to win 76-59 but AGGS were tested to the end by Rangitoto College before winning 79-77.
A terrific semi-final between Auckland Girls Grammar and Rangitoto College went down to the wire before the regular season champions, paced by Elianna Tuaiti (26 points) and Heeni Blakey (22 points), prevailed 79-77.
Rangitoto, very well served by Hannah Wentworth (22 points) and Aroha Rogers (25 points), made the slightly better start leading 21-18 at quarter time.
Blakey stepped up the scoring in the second quarter – she had a dozen points in the period, including a couple of threes, as AGGS led 41-31 at half-time.
Rangitoto made the better start to the second half, Wentworth and Rogers making a pair of threes apiece, to give Rangi a 48-44 lead. Bella Elgar chipped in with a trey but the defending champions finished the quarter strongly through Laetitia and Elianna Tuaiti to lead 60-54 with ten minutes to play.
Mele Latu scored inside with finesse to push AGGS out to a double figure lead, Tyla Tuala making it 73-62 with 3 minutes to play.
Rangi were not finished as Wentworth and Gracie Hasler-Ewins cut the deficit to three points (75-72) with thirty seconds to play.
The composed E Tuaiti made an important free throw but Aroha Rogers made her seventh three of the game to keep the AGGS fans on edge.
Tuala converted one of two free throws and that was just enough to maintain the AGGS lead and a fifteenth straight win.
AGGS 77– E Tuaiti 26, H Blakey 22, M Latu 11, T Tuala 9
Rangitoto 75– A Rogers 25, H Wentworth 22, I Elgar 9, M Spooner 6
It was third time lucky for Mt Albert Grammar School. Having lost both regular season games to Westlake Girls they won their semi-final encounter 76-59 with Sharne Pupuke-Robati powering her way to a game high 32 points.
It was one way traffic early on as MAGS established a commanding 24-8 lead in the opening ten minutes – Pupuke-Robati quickly into double figures, Jada Manase not far behind with seven.
Emme Shearer, on her way to a season best 27 points, scored a dozen in the second stanza but Tessa Talo-Tomokino and Pupuke-Robati took MAGS to a 41-24 half-time lead.
The scoring slowed in the third period. The two teams split 22 points – a Shearer triple taking her tally into the twenties.
Moanekah Va’ai took the MAGS lead to twenty (63-43) but just when it looked as if the Lions would saunter to victory Westlake made a run.
Jess Moors led the revival with six straight points and aided by scores from Piper Manolas, Mareta Davidson and Shearer the deficit was down to ten points.
A triple from Manase plus scores from Raykesha Fiatau and Pupuke-Robati snuffed out the Westlake revival to set up a repeat of the 2017 final.
Westlake 59– E Shearer 27, J Moors 10, M Davidson 8, P Manolas 8
Mt Albert Grammar 76– S Pupuke-Robati 32, T Talo-Tomokino 14, J Manase 12, R Fiatau 9, M Va’ai 8
Photo courtesy of Anna Arrol
Mt Albert Grammar and Rosmini College have booked their Auckland Schools Premier Grade Grand Final places for next Friday but the two came through their semi-finals in vastly contrasting styles.
Rosmini secured a relatively comfortable 94-57 victory against Auckland Grammar whereas Mt Albert had to come from 19 points down to pip St Kentigern 68-66.
St Kentigern looked to be headed for their debut appearance in the Grand Final when they led 64-48 at three-quarter time but unfortunately endured a nightmare final quarter managing just two points against the fast finishing regular season champions.
Point guard Sataan Tawera (23 points) initiated the comeback with a long three and when Ryan Laumatia dropped back to back jump shots, to cut the deficit to eight points (64-56), the travelling Lions supporters were starting to find their voices.
Shalom Broughton (23 points) converted a free throw and added an acrobatic block to the highlights reel but Rishon Royce and Tawera ate more into the deficit (65-62).
St Kent’s were looking anxious and although Max Shorter made a freebie MAGS were within two (66-64) when Nate Wilson scored with 1:20 to play.
St Kent’s anxiety heightened when Clarke Aiono tied proceedings, the MAGS comeback complete when Royce calmly stroked a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left on the clock.
St Kent’s launched one last vain effort to regain the lead, the final buzzer leaving the MAGS players and supporters in raptures, their opponents utterly dejected.
Earlier at had all been going well for St Kent’s as they built a handy 21-18 first quarter lead and an even more promising 44-33 half-time advantage with Broughton and Shorter doing most the damage.
Aiono scored a couple of much needed baskets for MAGS but when Levic Kerr and Alex McNaught scored consecutive buckets things were not looking too good for the Lions trailing 60-41.
Tawera and Dorcil gave MAGS a lift shortly before the three-quarter break – what happened after the restart was scarcely believable.
Mt Albert Grammar 68– S Tawera 23, R Laumatia 12, C Aiono10, R Royce 9
St Kentigern College 66– S Broughton 23, L Kerr 15, M Shorter 14, A McNaught 7
Ilaisa Tela scored a couple of early baskets for Auckland Grammar before scores late in the first from Joe Hylton and Terrence Abdon gave Rosmini a 21-8 early lead.
Teacum McCarthy, who had a fine game, and Isara Nua helped close the gap to single digits but when the influential Anzac Rissetto departed after picking up a third foul the complexion of the game changed.
With Rissetto not patrolling the paint Mitch Dance, Marvin Williams-Dunn and Jayden Boucher pounced to take Rosmini out to a 50-27 half-time lead.
Rissetto demonstrated his versatility with a triple to open the third frame and along with McCarthy and Nua the trio kept pace with Rosmini early in the third.
However Rozza moved into ‘Kruz’ control later in the period. Tall Blacks trialist Kruz Perrott-Hunt capped off a ten points quarter with a classy drive and finish to take his team out to a 71-43 lead at three-quarter time.
Perrott-Hunt with a dish for a Tom Seuren basket and a couple more triples from Williams-Dunn – he had six on the night – extended the Rosmini lead. Thomas Morgan and Sean Murphy applied the finishing touches to a convincing win.
Auckland Grammar 59– A Rissetto 22, T McCarthy 16, I Nua 11, I Tela 10
Rosmini94 – K Perrott-Hunt 22, Williams-Dunn 20, T Morgan 8, M Dance 8
LACEY LOWDOWN 