LACEY LOWDOWN

As they had been for their semi-final victory the previous week, St Peter’s College were spurred on by a large group of vocal supporters for the Auckland Secondary Schools Senior A 114-93 Final victory against Avondale College at North Shore Events Centre on Friday.

The game began at a frantic pace with both teams peeling off transition baskets by the plenty. 59 points in the opening stanza were a sign of things to come as Tauhir Toyer and Jaga Mete constantly threatened the St Peter’s defence whilst Christian Fromont and Gerrard Boersen did the same at the opposite end.

The pace dropped very little in the second frame as the two teams wrestled for control of a high tempo encounter. Kennedy Nikolaison scored 34 points in Avondale’s semi-final win last week and he was in good touch again leading all scorers with 17 points at the break. However a Boersen three on the half time buzzer took St Peter’s to a 56-50 lead at the interval.

St Peter’s made the defining moves early in the third as Whititera Parata pushed the lead into double figures. Threes from Finlay Morris and Phoenix Leupolu soon followed and suddenly the lead was over 20 points.

Nikolaison made a sweet one handed fade away but his Avondale team had given up 33 points in the quarter and trailed 89-70 at the last break.

Although the impressive Mete scored 10 points in the final quarter for Avondale and Jack Childs and Amand-Assante Donaldson chipped in with useful contributions the regular season champions were in no mood to blow their lead.

Kean Hernandez scored after excellent Saints ball movement andthe same player followed that with a score from beyond the arc. Further triples from Morris, Leupolu and Liam Watters followed to send the travelling fans into raptures.

The result means St Peter’s are promoted to the Premier Grade for the 2018 season. Avondale can still win promotion if they defeat Macleans College in a play-off game.

St Peter’s 114 – Morris 28, Fromont 22, Boersen 20, Parata 14, Leupolu 13

Avondale 93 – Nikolaison 26, Mete 22, Toyer 15, Donaldson 15, Childs 13

The Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Girls competition at North Shore Events Centre on Friday night was a match up between traditional foes Auckland Girls Grammar School and Mt Albert Grammar.

With Auckland having won both regular season tussles it was something of a surprise scoreline at quarter time with Mt Albert ahead 22-10.

A trey from Riana Rangi-Brown and half a dozen points from Jodeci Joseph did most the damage for MAGS.

The regular season champions responded via 7 straight points from Rionne Papa and a triple from Mele Latu.

Not to be outdone Moanekah Va’ai nailed a three for Mt Albert as they closed out a fine first half leading 39-26.

Auckland upped the defensive pressure in the third keeping Mt Albert to just 9 points in the period and charged back into contention. Latu, Papa and Laetitia Tuaiti found holes in the MAGS defence to close to within a point (48-47) at three-quarter time.

Early in the fourth stanza Zhanay Hettig scored inside and Auckland had the lead for the first time in the game 51-50.

When Elianna Tuaiti stretched the AGGS lead to six points (57-51) Mt Albert coach Julie Kelman-Poto needed a timeout.

A long three from Karma Skilton-Roberts with 3:30 to play looked to be the dagger to break the MAGS resistance but back they came as Manase scored in transition followed by a three from Tessa Talo-Tomokino to level the scores at 60 points apiece with 2:15 to play.

The large crowd was provided with an exciting finish as Talo-Tomokino scored again from beyond the arc to more than cancel out Latu’s put-back.

Joseph made a free throw for MAGS but Latu did the job again to tie the scores – 64 apiece with 1:15 to play.

Clutch free throws from Elianna Tuaiti with 51 seconds to play had the AGGS fans on their feet only for Moanekah Va’ai to drop a triple to put MAGS ahead 67-66 with two possessions left.

Skilton-Roberts kept her head when presented with an open look and although MAGS had another scoring opportunity they could not capitalize and slipped to an agonising 68-67 defeat.

Both teams now move on to the Nationals Qualifying Tournament with another meeting between these two fine teams a distinct possibility in the final of that event – it will be worth watching if it eventuates.

Auckland Girls 67 – Latu 20, Papa 19, Skilton-Roberts 9, E Tuaiti 6

Mt Albert 66 – Joseph 15, Manase 14, Talo-Tomokino 10, Va’ai 10, Rangi-Brown 10

By their lofty standard a 9-5 regular season effort in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier competition was nothing to write home about for Rangitoto College.

However those following the fortunes of the National Champions know that the team has been plagued by injuries this season. All the leading Premier teams have had to cope without key players at various stages but Rangi have probably been the hardest hit.

Comfortably securing the fourth play-off spot they took care of business in the semi-final last week against Auckland Grammar School to book a spot in the final against North Shore rivals Rosmini College.

Played in front of another bumper crowd at the NSEC Rangi had the better of the early skirmishes and despite a Kruz Perrott-Hunt long three led 21-14 at quarter time.

Rangi dealt in three’s to open the second quarter as Dan Fotu converted an And-1 play and point guard Harry Clarke knocked down a pair of triples – 30-14 the lead.

Marvin-Williams-Dunn, four minutes into the stanza, finally got the scoreboard ticking again for Rosmini and Matt Sokol chipped in with a bucket. Mitch Dance had the last say in the first half but Rangi were still handily placed at the interval with a 38-29 lead.

Rangi, much to the delight of their boisterous fans, threatened to take the game away from Rosmini at the outset of the third frame going on a 16-2 run.

Fotu, initiated the run, Logan Anderson solidified it with 7 straight points and Jared Thornton capped it with a sweeping left-hander.

When Harry Payne converted the Rangi lead was over 20 points (57-36) and for the first time on the night the Rosmini Faithful fell silent.

Dance was forced to the bench after picking up a fourth foul but the introduction of Terrence Abdon sparked a Rosmini revival. The livewire guard scored back-to –back baskets and when Peter Jenkins scored in the shadows of three-quarter time the Rosmini deficit had been reduced to a more manageable 59-51.

Caleb Langridge emphasized what a good addition he has been to the Rangi squad this season with a trio of baskets as Rangi maintained a double digit buffer.

All that changed in the middle of the fourth as some Rosmini full court pressure resulted in consecutive scores from Dance (twice), Williams-Dunn and Jenkins – suddenly the Rangi lead was just four points (69-65) and The Faithful were in full voice.

Fotu made plays on repeat possessions but when Abdon converted a seemingly impossible drive it was 71-67 with 2:30 to play and memories of 2016 came flooding back – in last year’s final Rangitoto were run down in the final minutes by a fast finishing Rosmini.

On this occasion the Rangitoto senior’s put paid to that notion – the cool, calm Anderson converted a drive, Langridge and Fotu engineered a nice inside basket and although Rosmini had a couple of good looks their late surge petered out.

Clarke and Fotu iced the game from the free-throw line – the 79-68 win signaling a crowd invasion from jubilant Rangi supporters.

Rangitoto 79 – Anderson 19, Fotu 17, Clarke 16, Langridge 13

Rosmini 68 – Dance 25, Williams-Dunn 12, Perrott-Hunt 10, Abdon 9

Fotu’s return has helped Rangitoto

By James Lissaman

Semi-Final week started off with an excellent game between Ellesmere and St. Margaret’s, with Josh Thompson’s team racing out to an early ten point lead. This was largely due to the defensive prowess of Kersha Timpson – scoring six straight points (19p total) after harassing the home team into turnovers. The margin stayed consistent through the first three quarters, before St. Margaret’s was able to pull ahead late in the fourth, with Emily Stewart (17p) and Madison Eder (11p) being the main catalysts. St. Margaret’s found themselves up six with only a few minutes remaining in regulation, but this lead shrank and Ellesmere’s Paris Nurse (17p) got sent to the Free Throw line with only five seconds remaining – and tied the game at 55-55. Despite missing the second, nurse had a chance to win it after an offensive rebound bounced back to her. Overtime belonged to St. Margaret’s though – with Lina Pale scoring four of her 16 points, and a spot in the finals after a 67-57 win.

Avonside Girls’ had an early ten-point lead, with Molly Cockburn hitting on tough shot after tough shot in the first half. Villa Maria was still facing a deficit in the fourth quarter, but closed the gap all the way to three points with only a few minutes to play. Avonside’s defensive resolve stiffened here, and they managed to keep their noses just ahead of Villa Maria, booking a Division II finals match against St. Margaret’s in what will be a preview of their game against each other in the BBNZ South Island Premiership.

Division One of the McDonald’s Whelan Trophy Competition was just as tight as Division II, with both games being decided on the final possession. Rangi Ruru and St. Andrew’s had a thrilling head-to-head matchup between Junior Tall Ferns Esra McGoldrick (28p) and Charlotte Whittaker (27p). Each team struggled with the pressure of the moment on the fourth – with a turnover for one team almost always being repaid in kind by their opponent. Lose Faingaanuku had 10p for St. Andrew’s in support of Whittaker, but it was Rangi Ruru’s Alida Pohatu-Barnes who came through in the clutch – hitting a big two as part of her 11p, including making three straight free throws. Whittaker almost had a miracle finish for StAC, banking in a three, and getting fouled on another attempt, but just ran out of time to finish off the comeback, as StAC fell 61-59.

Despite being the higher seed, Middleton Grange came out tentatively against last year’s other finalist – Christchurch Girls’. Amiee Book had a huge haul of 32p, and Megan Ellis had 21p, but fellow star Lauryn Hippolite faced excellent defence and could only muster three points herself. Christchurch Girls’ faced a similar conundrum, as their star guard (Sapphire Wairau) was held to only eight points, but Alana Wouters (19p) and Bella Luhetoa (17p) kept Phil Burns’ team rolling. It looked like all was lost heading into the last quarter for the Gators, as a ten-point buffer was between them and the lead. A gradual comeback was completed, as Megan Ellis hit a clutch three to tie the game at 59-59, before a Wairua bucket in the lane after a beautiful step-through immediately gave Girls’ High the lead back, as they hung on to win 64-62.

In Division I of the Thompson Trophy, a full strength Christ’s College team easily ran away from Rangiora High 105-70, as the dynamic duo of namesakes Max (De Geest and Darling) were too tough inside and out for the young Rangiora team. Cashmere and Shirley Boys’ had the best crowd of the night, with an almost constant chant of defence being heard in the first half, no matter which team had the ball! Both teams were locked at 30-30 at half time, with Sean Kelly (15p) keeping the visitors close. A strong third quarter run saw Cashmere pull ahead 52-36 at the final break, eventually going on to win 77-52.

Papanui overcame an extremely loud crowd at Cathedral College, as they utilised their superior size advantage to win 71-52, despite an early scare when Cathedral was able to speed the game up with a few half-court steals. Hillmorton had nowhere near as easy a path, with two key players out due to injury (Jibraan Safi – ACL, and Joshua Nickel – fracture). St. Thomas and Hillmorton traded baskets throughout the first three quarters, and it looked like Neville Brooker’s team was going to claim a spot in the final, pulling ahead by nine points late in the fourth. Three Ihaia Kendrew threes (46p total) quickly erased this lead, along with 15p from Mahonri Tauiliili-Pau, and allowed the Tigers to escape with a tight 84-82 win, despite Ben Ruffles (21p), Jacob Sue (21p) and Izaac Beever (18p) all scoring well for STC.

#McDsTT and #McDsWT Finals’ Night Schedule

Tuesday, 29 Aug 2017 – Cowles Stadium (Free Entry, Shop and Live Music from DJ Justone for Division I Finals)

Thompson DI Results:

Christ’s 105-70 Rangiora

Cashmere 77-52 Shirley

Thompson DII Results:

Hillmorton 84-82 St. Thomas

Papanui 71-52 Cathedral

Whelan DI Results:

Rangi Ruru 61-59 St. Andrew’s

Christchurch Girls’ 64-62 Middleton

Whelan DII Results:

St. Margaret’s 67-57 Ellesmere (overtime)

Avonside 53-50 Villa Maria

The Auckland Secondary Schools Senior A semi-finals at North Shore Events Centre on Friday night were, in three of the four cases, comfortably won by the higher ranked teams.

In the Girls competition St Mary’s College and St Kentigern College easily won through to next Friday’s final.

In the Boys grade it is St Peter’s College and Avondale College that will clash at the North Shore Events Centre on Friday.

The Avondale College versus Liston College Boy’s semi-final was the exception. Whilst Avondale was in control for the majority of the game Liston, led by Dru-leo Leusogi (20 points) and Tyronne McClennan (21 points), were competitive throughout before eventually going down 97-87.

The Doe Williams coached Avondale side leaned heavily on Kennedy Nikolaison who paced the team with a game high 34 points.

Nikolaison was well supported by Jaga Mete (19 points) and Jack Childs (15 points).

 Avondale 97 – Nikolaison34, Mete 19, Childs 15, Toyer 9, Donaldson 8

Liston 87 – McClennan 21, Leusogi 20, Prokofyev 13, Fabian 12, Maagdenberg 8

St Peter’s College, urged on by a bus load of travelling fans, were quickly into their stride against Northcote College – a pair of Phoenix Leupolu treys helping them to a 29-18 quarter time advantage.

Miggey Falqueza rattled off 8 straight points as Northcote got things going in the second to narrow to within 5 points.

However a decisive run from St Peter’s, fuelled by Finlay Morris and Christian Fromont, took the lead out to 45-28.

As usual Northcote captain Sam Hadley was at the heart of the Northcote effort but his team were in a spot of bother at half-time trailing 54-41.

Leupolu landed his fourth triple of the game and when Joseph Dickey, much to the delight of team bench, scored with an off balance left handed drive the St Peter’s lead was out to 20 points 70-50 with four minutesto play in third.

The impressive Gerard Boersen – the game’s leading scorer with 29 points – chipped in with half a dozen third quarter points as the lead increased to 82-58 at three-quarter time.

Northcote guard Jack Burton kept asking questions of the St Kent’s defence but more problems were being posed at the other end of the court as Boersen created his own shot or dished for others to score.

Expect even more Saints support on Friday for the grand-final clash with Avondale.

St Peter’s 100 – Boersen 29, Fromont 21, Morris 16, Leupolu 14

Northcote 65 – Falqueza 21, Hadley 14, Burton 14, Hayward 7

In the Girl’s Grade semi-final St Kentigern College moved to a useful 20-14 first quarter lead against Epsom Girls with Courtney Griffiths and Summer-Jean Motufoua scoring all but three of the St Kent’s points.

Aria Todd-Pemerika scored 10 first half points for Epsom but St Kent’s, still led at the interval 38-29.

St Kent’s, paced by Motufoua (33 points), took the game away from Epsom in the third winning the frame 27-10. Kayla Robertson-Tekil got in on the scoring action, as did Aimee Johnson, as St Kent’s stretched the advantage to a game winning 65-39 at the third break.

Todd-Pemerika, Florence Dallow and Siniva Setoga kept plugging away but a majot Epsom revival didn’t eventuate – St Kent’s advancing to a showdown with St Mary’s on Friday.

St Kentigern 82 – Motufoua 33, Griffiths 18, Robertson-Tekil 12, Leishman 9, Johnson 7

Epsom 60 – Todd-Pemerika 17, Dallow 9, Benitez 7, Scouler 6

In the second Girl’s semi-final St Mary’s College proved much too strong for Birkenhead College winning 98-64 with Tyla Tevaga (26 points) in red hot shooting form.

A first quarter scoring burst from St Mary’s took them out to a significant 33-15 first quarter lead. Tevaga connected with three triples in the period before going on to land a school record eight treys on the night.

The second period was a much more even contest as Rashan Smith (29 points) and Rieko Tui’inukuafe led a spirited Birkenhead response – 55-35 at half-time.

Smith rattled in 11 consecutive points for Birkenhead at the start of the second half.

However Jazz Kailahi-Fulu scored the first six points in the quarter for St Mary’s and Safenunuivao Te Nana-Williams the last six as they thwarted any thoughts of a Birkenhead revival – 73-52 at three-quarter time.

Tevaga kept up her record of landing triples in every quarter by landing a couple in the fourth. Jazz Kailahi-Fulu joined in the fun by also landing from beyond the arc to cap a decisive victory and a place in the final against St Kent’s on Friday.

St Mary’s 98 – Tevaga 26, J Kailahi-Fulu 15, S Te Nana-Williams 13, Matiseni 12, L Te Nana-Williams 10, Z Kailahi-Fulu 10

Birkenhead 64 – Smith 29, Tui’inukuafe 11, B Marshall 8, Kashkari 6

Auckland Girls Grammar School lived up to its top billing by defeating Massey High School 79-38 in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier competition at North Shore Events Centre on Friday night.

Despite triples from Massey guards Shauna Povey and Terina Aratangi Grammar went to the quarter time break with a 20-8 lead with Karma Skilton-Roberts the main contributor in the period.

Kataleena Leslie dropped a couple of treys for Massey as they closed to 31-21 at the mid point of the second term however Mele Latu and Laetitia Tuaiti closed out the scoring in the half with Grammar ahead 38-21.

Latu knocked down her second triple of the game and Zhaney Hettig made a couple of inside baskets as Grammar dominated the third frame to carry a 54-28 lead into the final quarter.

With seven players scoring eight points or more Grammar cruised through the final stanza and now look forward to a match up with archrivals Mt Albert Grammar in the final next Friday in what promises to be a much closer game.

Grammar 79 –Latu 18, Skilton-Roberts 14, M Ropati 11, Papa 9

Massey 38 – Povey 12, Aratangi 11, Leslie 8

In the other semi-final Westlake Girls made a disastrous start against Mt Albert Grammar falling behind 25-8 at quarter time. Sharne Pupuke-Robati and Jada Manase shared 17 points as the MAGS ball movement created plenty of easy scoring opportunities.

If it was ugly for Westlake at quarter time it was soon a horror show as Tessa Talo-Tomokino converted from beyond the arc to extend the MAGS lead to 35-8.

Mareta Davidson did eventually move Lake into double figures. Keeley Tini scored three baskets in quick succession but points were generally proving hard to come by for Westlake as MAGS upped the defensive effort.

That effort produced transition baskets by the plenty for Riana Rangi-Brown and Trinity Paeu – the game over as a contest at half-time with MAGS ahead 57-27.

Pupuke-Robati demonstrated her scoring ability with baskets from long range and inside – as did Talo-Tomokino – 84-38 at three-quarter time.

Jess Moors, Emme Shearer and Jordyn Maddix prevented the scoreline blowing out any further in the fourth quarter but on a night when they were blown away by a dominant MAGS display it was too little too late.

MAGS 106 – Rangi-Brown 18, Pupuke-Robati 16, Paeu 16, Talo Tomokino 16, Manase 15

Westlake 61 – Maddix 13, Moors 8, Shearer 8, R Dil 7

Wow, what a game the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade semi-final between Westlake Boys High School and Rosmini College turned out to be on Friday night.

It was a game that had outstanding individual performances, two passionate teams, a thundering climax, and all played out in front of two sets of ardent fans that turned North Shore Events Centre into a cauldron of noise and colour.

The crowd, that had partially spilled from the overflowing stands to courtside witnessed a strong opening from Westlake. James Moors and Thabo Manyere provided excellent interior defence threatening every drive and inside shot from Rosmini resulting in just thirty points for Rozza at the interval.

Moors (35 points) had a terrific game blocking shots, snaring rebounds and leading the Lake offensive effort. He had 13 of the Swans fourty points at the break with his sidekick Reuben Fitzgerald, chipping in with 11.

That Rozza were only down by ten points was largely down to Mitchell Dance (36 points) – the dynamo guard had ten points, and countless rebounds at half-time.

Things improved at the offensive end for Rosmini in the third as Dance, Matt Sokol and Marvin Williams-Dunn connected from long range. However with Josh Hidalgo connecting from deep and Lucas Mennenga making a pair of inside baskets the Lake fans were in good voice at the last break as their team led 64-61.

The fourth quarter was an arm wrestle. Williams-Dunn tied the scores only for Moors to restore the Lake lead. Then Dance evened the tie but Fitzgerald wasn’t standing for that as he landed another neat jump shot.

Westlake repelled every Rosmini surge until that man Dance finally gave Rosmini their first lead of the game (70-68) with under five minutes to play.

Rozza, backed by the ‘Faithfull’, were full of confidence and when Kruz Perrott-Hunt stretched the lead to 72-68 the defending champions were bossing the game.

Moors scored on three consecutive possessions but the hyphenated duo of Perrott-Hunt and Williams-Dunn took care of business at the other end 78-72 with 1:34 to play.

With two minutes left Westlake coach Zac Fitzgerald had instructed his players to immediately foul Rozza players on every possession. “We had to stop their momentum and gamble on sending them to the foul line,” he said after the game.

Initially it looked like the ploy had backfired as Williams-Dunn and Rehana Maxwell-Topia stroked home free throws –Rozza ahead 84-74.

What ensued in the final 95 seconds was truly remarkable.

29 points were scored in that time – yes TWENTY-NINE!

Fitzgerald’s’ ploy began to work as not only did his players immediately stop the clock when a Rosmini player gained possession but they also made some stunning plays:

Matt Cairns-Hitta landed a THREE 84-77.

Perrott-Hunt a free throw – Fitzgerald a THREE 85-80 still 50 seconds on the clock.

P-H another couple of freebies – Josh Hidalgo a lay-up 87-82 then Williams-Dunn made two at the line but Fitzgerald made a sideline THREE 89-85 with 30 seconds still to play.

Moors two quick jump shots to cancel out further free throws 91-89.

Williams-Dunn was Mr Consistent at the foul line but remarkably Moors made another THREE to drag Westlake within one – 93-92 but only three seconds left on the clock

As time ran out for Westlake it was fitting that the impressive Mitch Dance dropped the two free throws that ended a magnificent contest won 95-92 by Rosmini.

Both sets of supporters, that were brilliant throughout, were entertained by a stunning game of basketball that neither side deserved to lose.

Rosmini 95 – Dance 36, Williams-Dunn 19, Perrott-Hunt 17, Sokol 14

Westlake 92 – Moors 35, Fitzgerald 23, Hidalgo 9, Manyere 8

The final seconds

The other semi-final did not have the drama of the Rosmini versus Westlake game but it did demonstrate that a healthy Rangitoto College will be a tough assignment for any team, at the business end of the season, as they prevailed 87-74 against regular season champions Auckland Grammar.

Cam Stone is one of those still missing and acting as assistant coach alongside dad Kenny the pair saw their team establish a 26-18 first quarter lead.

Samson Aruwa scored 10 first half points for Grammar but Rangitoto, with Dan Fotu prominent (18 points in the first half) were firmly in control at the interval leading 50-30.

A Thomas Whyte triple and a couple of neat inside baskets fro Anzac Rissetto led a strong comeback from Grammar after the break – a 15-7 run narrowing the deficit to 57-45.

The Stone’s called a timeout and whatever was said worked – the guard duo of Logan Anderson and Harry Clarke pinned a couple of threes and Jarrod Thornton connected with a rolling left hander to take Rangi out to 67-48 at three-quarter time.

Logan McIntosh landed a long three keep the twenty point’s margin (76-56) but Grammar, to their credit, were not finished.

Tom Higgins sprung into action with a trio of triples, LeRoy Brown chipped in with another and Rangi were looking over their shoulders as the lead was trimmed to ten points (78-68) with four minutes to play.

Whyte answered another Anderson three and although Higgins dropped his fourth trey of the game Fotu, Anderson and Clarke held Grammar at bay to ensure another Grand-Final appearance for Rangitoto next Friday back at North Shore Events Centre.

Rangitoto 87 – Fotu 22, McIntosh 19, Clarke 14, Anderson 11

Grammar 74 – Higgins 18, Whyte 15, Aruwa 13, Rissetto 11

Northcote College, thanks to a 97-86 home win against Massey High School on Monday night, have booked themselves a semi-final berth in the Auckland Secondary Schools Senior A play-offs.

Their semi-final opponents on Friday night will be St Peter’s College.

Captain Sam Hadley made seven points as Northcote made a brisk 16-4 start in front of another good crowd, the lead still a useful 25-18 at quarter time.

The second quarter began with a series of untidy turnovers from both sides but Miggy Falqueza ensured the hosts still held the advantage at half time leading 50-39.

Ropene Kurukaanga stimulated a 12-5 burst from Northcote at the outset of the third – the lead a comfortable 76-56 at three-quarter time.

Massey did cut into the lead in the fourth but with Oliver Hayward (21 points) and Hadley (20 points) bossing proceedings a Northcote victory was never in doubt.

In the other catch up game on Monday Liston College proved too strong for Pakuranga College winning a close one 94-89. Liston will therefore take on Avondale College in the other semi-final on Friday at NSEC.

Boys Senior A standings at end of the regular season.

 13-1 St Peter’s

10-4 Avondale

8-6 Pakuranga

7-7 Northcote

7-7 Pakuranga

4-10 Western Springs

4-10 Massey

3-11 Manurewa

* Northcote claim fourth spot boasting the head to head advantage over Pakuranga but it couldn’t have been much closer with just one basket separating the two teams. Pakuranga won the first game by 30 points (102-72) but the tables were turned in the second match up with Northcote prevailing by 32 points (113-81)

In the final regular season game of the Premier competition Westlake Boys thumped St Kentigern College 90-50.

The result had no bearing on the final placing’s of the comp with Westlake consigned to third spot despite having the same 11-3 record as rivals Auckland Grammar and Rosmini College – they will meet Rosmini in the semi-final on Friday at North Shore Events Centre.

St Kentigern was assured of Prem status in 2018 after beating Macleans College last Friday. Only Max Shorter and Kyle Robb managed double figures for the hosts in this one – in contrast Westlake, led by a 28 points haul from James Moors, had five players with ten points or more.

St Kentigern 50 – Shorter 19, Chan 13, Watson 9

Westlake 90 – Moors 28, Malingin 13, Martin 12, L Mennenga 12,Winter 10

Boys Premier Grade Standings at end of regular season

11-3 Auckland Grammar

11-3 Rosmini

11-3 Westlake

9-5 Rangitoto

6-8 Mt Albert

4-10 St Kentigern

3-11 Macleans

1-13 Kelston

* Rosmini and Auckland Grammar hold better head to head records against Westlake – Grammar also have the head to head advantage over Rosmini.

As expected the top of the table clash between Auckland Girls Grammar and Mt Albert Grammar was a close uncompromising affair eventually won 60-52 by the defending champions Auckland.

Mt Albert made a sluggish start only managing six points in the opening stanza – Teneva Ropati exceeded that on her own for Auckland as they carved out a 14-6 lead.

A couple of threes from Jada Manase triggered a good run in the second from Mt Albert with the scores locked at 25 apiece at half-time.

Forward Mele Latu scored 8 points in the third as Auckland once again wrestled some semblance of control to lead 40-36.

Sharne Pupuke-Robati, earning herself multiple trips to the foul line, kept Mt Albert in touch but Latu and Teneva Ropati kept finding the hoop to earn Auckland the regular season title.

Pupuke-Robati will head to North Shore Events Centre on Sunday to join the NZ Premier team against University of California, Berkley whilst the rest of the players can prepare for semi-final action next Friday.

 MAGS 52 – Manase 14, Pupuke-Robati 12, Joseph 8, Rangi-Brown 7

AGGS 60 – T Ropati 21, Papa 13, Latu 11, Skelton-Roberts 6, Hettig 6

Rangitoto College made a useful start against local rivals Westlake Girls before giving up two easy baskets in the last 15 seconds of the first quarter to trail 28-19 at quarter time.

It was 31-25 at the mid point of second stanza in favour of the hosts before Emme Shearer went back to back with a put back and a triple to add five points to the lead.

Mania Spooner replied for Rangitoto but a neat jump shot from Keeley Tini helped Westlake to a 44-27 half-time advantage.

Tini and Shearer shared 30 points for the hosts at the half – Mania Spooner had 8 points for Rangitoto.

Sophie Dil scored a couple of inside baskets for Lake as the lead stretched to twenty points.

A corner three from Ella Moore reduced the deficit but it was still 52-36 in favour of Westlake.

Bella Elgar and Shearer went one-on-one for five possessions – the Westlake guard winning that exchange 3-2

Moore landed a second triple but eight straight points from Jordyn Maddix kept Lake in control at three-quarter time with a 74-48 lead.

Threes to start the fourth from Moore and Kaitlin Burgess temporarily interrupted the Westlake flow before Mareta Davidson restored order as Westlake eased to the win.

Westlake 109 – Shearer 41, Tini 30, Maddix 17, S Dil 9

Rangitoto 66 – Elgar 19, Burgess 12, Spooner 12, Moore 10

Following a 70-46 loss at Massey High, Orewa College will face a play-off with the runners-up in the Senior A competition to determine which of the two teams will play Premier basketball in 2018.

A low scoring first half in which only Hannah Wentworth and Arianna Henare scored more than twice upset any chance Orewa College had of causing an upset.

Orewa trailed 31-16 at the interval as a pair of threes from Terina Aratangi and ten points from Shauna Povey did most the damage for the home side.

Orewa staged something of a revival in the third period. Dealing almost exclusively in threes – four of their five baskets came from beyond the arc courtesy of Henare and Wentworth – they won the period 14-9.

It was a different story in the fourth as Massey piled on thirty points with Alyesha Schuster doing most the damage.

Massey head for a semi-final match up with Auckland Grammar next Friday.

Massey 70 – Povey 19, Aratangi 12, Schuster 8, Leslie 8

Orewa 45 – Henare 12, Wentworth 12, Pretorius 10, Downer 4

Avondale College saved the best until last beating Carmel College 39-34 to secure a first win of the season in the final game of the campaign.

It was a low scoring, close affair throughout with never more than a couple of possessions separating the two teams.

Carmel produced a more balanced scoring effort but it was the 23 points haul from Metissa Brown that secured the consolation win for Avondale.

Carmel 34 – Broomfield 8, Davidson 7, Green 6, Simpson 5

Avondale 39 – Brown 23, Whiu 6

Girls Premier Grade Standings

13-1 AGGS

12-2 Mt Albert

10-4 Westlake

9-5 Massey

5-9 Rangitoto

3-11 Carmel*

3-11 Orewa

1-13 Avondale

*Carmel had a 2-0 record against Orewa therefore hold sixth spot.

It took 14 games and an overtime period to decide the regular season champions of the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Grade and even then three teams had to be split by points differential. At the other end of the ladder St Kentigern College won the decisive match against Macleans College to stay in the top flight next season.

When Mt Albert Grammar led by three points against Auckland Grammar deep inside the final minute of the game it appeared Rosmini College or Westlake Boys would be taking top spot on the ladder.

However Tom Higgins proved to be the Grammar saviour knocking down a basket to take the game into overtime with the scores tied 57 points apiece.

Grammar scored the first five points in the additional period courtesy of Thomas Whyte and Higgins but MAGS stormed back into the lead.

Ryan Laumatia made a triple and Jonty Vink a brace of baskets – an upset appeared to be on the cards.

Grammar, or more precisely Higgins, would not be denied as the NZ Under 18 forward’s triple tied the game and then in apulsating finish landed another trey to snatch victory away from a valiant Mt Albert team.

Earlier MAGS had forged a handy 31-27 half time lead on the back of fine work by Laumatia and Mandela Baledrokadroka who led all scorers at that point with 13 points.

The third belonged to the visitors as Sam Aruwa, Anzac Rissetto and Higgins went to work inside.

Baledrokadroka, with ten points in the final period, appeared to have guided MAGS to a memorable win but Higgins had the final say and Auckland progress to next week’s semi-final match up with Rangitoto College as the regular season champions.

MAGS 67-Baledrokadroka 24, Laumatia 19, Vink 7, Pumipi 7

AGS 70 – Higgins 29, Rissetto 10, Whyte 10, Aruwa 8

It has taken fourteen rounds but finally Dan Fotu, restored to something like full fitness, was able to take the floor for Rangitoto College – coach Kenny Stone also welcomed back Logan Anderson after recovering from a broken nose.

The game was delayed for thirty minutes due to the late arrival of one of the referees who shall not be named – but his daughter is a handy player!

 Westlake made up for lost time – or more precisely Thabo Manyere did as the big man threw down an early dunk – 9-1 the opening burst from the hosts.

Fotu landed a triple as Rangitoto worked their way into the contest trailing 19-16 at quarter-time.

Harry Clarke opened the second quarter with a spinning drive – a 9-0 run taking Rangi into the lead for the first time and Westlake coach Zac Fitzgerald needed a timeout.

James Moors responded landing a triple but a thundering Fotu one handed jam kept the visitors ahead 32-26. A pair of Logan Anderson triples carried Lake to a 41-28 half-time lead.

A Reuben Fitzgerald three got the large home crowd involved as Westlake closed to within five points – 44-39 at the mid point of the third stanza – but with Caleb Langridge a menace inside and the Rangi guards in good touch Westlake were unable to get any closer.

Logan McIntosh fouled out with five minutes to play but it didn’t appear that would matter with Rangi thirteen points to the good 72-59.

An Ethan Mandeno triple stretched the Rangi lead to fifteen (75-60) but it also awoke James Moors who took the game by the scruff of the kneck.

The Westlake swingman had only returned from the Adidas Nations Camp in the States 24 hours earlier – where he played alongside Fotu for the Asia Pacific team – and had naturally looked a little jaded.

Moors proceeded to score the next seven points via a triple, a baseline drive and an off balance floater – 76-67 and the crowd came to life.

Fotu scored with a put back but Moors struck twice with back to back threes – 78-73 with 1:15 to play and the crowd more than excited –

Anderson steadied the Rangi ship with a couple of free-throws but Matt Cairns-Hita’s hinted at a grandstand finish by pulling Westlake to within four points (80-76) with 21 seconds to play.

However Westlake were forced to foul in order to stop the clock and the experienced Anderson and Fotu quietened the Lake support by making the free-throws on offer – 19 fourth quarter points from Moors not quite enough.

Westlake head to a semi-final match up next Friday with Rosmini, Rangitoto will take on Auckland Grammar.

 Westlake 76 – Moors 29, Fitzgerald 17, Hidalgo 12, Manyere 8

Rangitoto 84 – Anderson 21, Langridge 17, Fotu 16, Clarke 15

Kelston, already relegated to Senior A basketball in 2018, made a useful start against Rosmini only down 18-17 at quarter time as Liam Milne, Matangi Prescott and To’o Mase kept the visitors defence busy.

Rosmini had much the better of the second stanza – a late three in the period from Terrence Abdon plus a trio of buckets from Peter Jenkins took the visitors to a 47-34 half-time lead.

Mase did his best to keep Kelston in the hunt but threes from Thomas Morgan, Sean Murphy, Marvin Williams-Dunn and Abdon stretched the Rozza lead to 74-54 at the three-quarter mark.

Solomon Faapoi fired three straight baskets for the hosts but Rozza were not seriously threatened and can now plan for a semi-final meeting with Westlake next Friday.

Kelston 70 – Mase 18, Prescott 18, Faapoi 8, Milne 6, Arellano 6

Rosmini 90 – Dance 17, Jenkins 13, Williams-Dunn 13, Abdon 12

St Kentigern College preserved their Premier status with an 81-69 victory over Macleans College.

Incredibly St Kent’s made 15 threes on the night – over 50% of their points coming from beyond the arc.

Zac Chan gave St Kentigern’s a great start nailing three triples in the opening quarter, Hyland landed a brace in the second and the home team had a nice ten points buffer at the break – 37-27.

Blake van Uden, Sai Kuvelkar and Alex Arthur brought Macleans back into the game but more threes from Ryan Jones, Max Shorter and Chan -who landed six from the land of plenty – ensured a decisive St Kent’s win.

The result means that Macleans will face a play-off game with the second placed team in Senior A – the winners to play Premier basketball in 2018. Aaron Young and his charges can relax and prepare for the Nationals Qualifying Tournament in a couple of weeks.

St Kentigern 81 – Chan 20, Shorter 20, Hyland 18, Jones 14

Macleans 69 – van Uden 17, Kuvelkar 13, Babaran 13, Arthur 12

Boys Premier Grade Standings

11-3 Auckland Grammar

11-3 Rosmini

10-3 Westlake

9-5 Rangitoto

6-8 Mt Albert

4-9 St Kentigern

3-11 Macleans

1-13 Kelston

* The outstanding Westlake v St Kentigern fixture will be played on Monday August 14^th. The result will not affect the above positions as Rosmini and Auckland Grammar hold better head to head records against Westlake.

The top two spots in Senior A are locked in place but on Monday night a couple of important games will decide which out of Pakuranga, Liston and Northcote will take the other two semi-final berth.

I am reliably informed the winner of the Pakuranga tie will finish third but the loser will be eliminated if Northcote beats Massey, that game also to be played on Monday.

Senior A Ladder (unofficial)

 13-1 St Peter’s

10-4 Avondale

7-6 Pakuranga

7-6 Liston

6-7 Northcote

4-8 Western Springs

3-10 Massey

3-11 Manurewa