LACEY LOWDOWN

Rangitoto College Boys and St Peter’s School, Cambridge Girls, have retained the 2016 Secondary Schools Championship titles.

St Peter’s saw off the challenge of Mt Albert Grammar while Rangitoto College survived a stunning second half comeback, likely one of the greatest in the history of the tournament, to thwart Palmerston North Boys.

A big crowd packed the Manawatu Arena for what turned out to be a sensational Boys Final featuring the home team Palmerston North Boys and Rangitoto College.

At half-time Rangitoto were in cruise mode leading 60-35 but what transpired in the second half was remarkable.

If it had been all Rangi in the first half it was all Palmy in the third quarter as they mounted a 31-8 charge inspired by 20 points in the period from centre Callum McRae. Palmy closed the third just two points adrift 68-66 and the delirious home crowd was in full voice.

After the two teams exchanged baskets for large chunks of the fourth the frenzied Palmerston onslaught appeared to have been quelled by Rangi as Sam Waardenburg and Kaycee Anibueze scored back to back baskets that gave Rangi a 77-73 lead with a just two minutes to play.

However Palmy weren’t finished as Oscar Oswald scored four quick points and drew an offensive charge – the scores tied 79 apiece with seconds to play.

Haize Walker was fouled on the drive and he made the first of two free throws to edge Palmy ahead 80-79 with just 7 seconds to play.

The second freebie was missed. Rangi secured an untidy rebound, worked the ball just over the half way line to Cameron Stone and he launched a speculative three point attempt.

As the full time buzzer sounded the ball found nothing but net and Stone was submerged by a sea of Rangi players. A courageous, remarkable comeback by Palmerston was denied – Rangitoto home by the skin of their teeth 82-80.

Earlier Jack Henry and Walker made opening quarter threes for Palmerston North but 14 first quarter points from Dan Fotu propelled Rangitoto to a significant 31-16 advantage.

The lead grew to 39-18 as Sam Waardenburg and Zack Te-Puni connected from long range prompting a Palmerston timeout.

Rangi were almost unstoppable as they headed to the half-time break 60-35 ahead on the back of shooting splits 63/71/100. Six players landed shots from beyond the three point arc as they jointly connected with a stunning 10 from 14 attempts.

Palmerston North started the third with a 12-4 run as they consistently went inside to centre McRae. The tactic continued to work dividends as the 7 footer proved almost impossible to stop.

The momentum stayed with Palmerston North before Stone had that final say.

Tournament MVP Sam Waardenburg remembers it as the craziest game he has ever been involved in.

“Just the way it ended, my last high school game ever, with a great group of guys, it was ridiculous I still can’t believe it.

“I knew there were seven seconds left after the free throw shot but after that went up there was a lot of loose ball stuff going on I had no idea how long remained.

“I’m just so happy Cam let the shot fly. It was just a crazy moment and I had no idea if there was time left or the game was over.

“I have huge respect for the Palmy boys, they were gracious in defeat and the haka that their team and supporters performed after the game was awesome,” he added.

Final score; Rangitoto 82 – Fotu 27/7rebs/5assists, Waardenburg 18/8, Stone 9/5assists, Te Puni 9,Anderson 8

Palmerston North 80 – McRae 33/17, Oswald 22, Henry 10, Walker 6

The 3^rd/4^th play-off game was won 63-56 by New Plymouth Boys against Auckland Grammar.

The sustained excellence of Charlise Leger-Walker carried St Peter’s School Cambridge to a second consecutive title. She produced a stunning 35 points (14/28FG) and added 14 rebounds. There were terrific supporting roles from fellow Junior Tall Fern Kendell Heremaia, junior international Ella Bradley and the tireless Georgie Edgecombe but it was Leger-Walker who stole the show and led her team to victory.

St Peter’s led 21-18 at the end of an entertaining opening quarter. Both teams, relying on key players playing big minutes, appeared fatigued but Leger-Walker landed a banked three on the stroke of half-time to keep St Peter’s ahead 32-27 at the interval.

The Junior Tall Ferns guard led all scorers with 15 points at the break, teammate Heremaia had 9 points. For Mt Albert the forward duo of Trinity Paeu (10pts) and Sharne Pupuke-Robati (9pts) led the scoring.

The St Peter’s advantage stretched out to double figures in the third prompting a timeout from Mt Albert. Jada Manase made a three for MAGS but it was still St Peter’s advantage 50-38 at three-quarter time.

Manase led a Mt Albert surge early in the fourth as they closed to within 6 points, 57-51 with just under five minutes to play. However, St Peter’s defensive specialist Edgecombe snuffed out any thoughts of a sustained Mt Albert effort. She snared a pair of steals and made baskets on successive plays for St Peter’s to extend to 65-51 and break the Mt Albert resistance.

Mt Albert battled hard but there was nothing left in the tank and St Peter’s ran out deserved winners.

Final score: St Peter’s 68 – Leger-Walker 35/14 rebounds, Heremaia 17/10, Bradley 8/6.

Mt Albert 53 – Paeu 14/8, Pupuke-Robati 13/10, Manase 10

Auckland Girls Grammar won the 3^rd/4^th play-off game beating Westlake Girls 69-67.

Charlisse Leger-Walker orchestrated the St Peter’s win

The major news from the penultimate day of the SAS Secondary School Championships in Palmerston North is that the 2015 champions, St Peter’s School and Rangitoto College are headed back to the final.

In the first girls semi-final St Peter’s School, Cambridge edged a high quality encounter with Westlake Girls 79-76. The Junior Tall Ferns quartet of Charlisse Leger-Walker, Kendell Heremaia, (for St Peter’s) and Tiarna Clarke and Zara Jillings (for Westlake) combined for an incredible 102 points.

The decision making of Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kendell Heremaia was exemplary, particularly down the stretch, as they held off the determined Westlake side.

The game that was tight throughout. 16-15 at the first break and 34 apiece at half-time became 56-53 to St Peter’s at the last break with never more than four points in it.

A Jillings And 1 play put Westlake ahead 63-62 early in the fourth but Heremaia and the hard working Ella Bradley restored the St Peter’s lead. A long Clarke three gave Westlake the lead with three to play but the big three of Leger-Walker, Heremaia and Bradley responded  again. Jillings once again gave Lake the lead (74-73) with 1:15 to play but the defending champions would not be denied as Bradley and Heremaia made the go ahead scores and this time there was no way back for Westlake

Final score; St Peter’s 79 – Leger-Walker 30 points/14 rebounds/7assists, Heremaia 26/14, Bradley 19/7/3/3steals

Westlake 76 – Jillings 26/8/4, Clarke 20 (4/5 3PG), Tini 10/12, Shearer 10/12

In the second girls semi-final the surprise package of the tournament, Mt Albert Grammar School continued their winning run defeating local rivals Auckland Girls Grammar School 75-58.

Sharne Pupuke-Robati was huge for Mt Albert doing a lot of damage in the paint alongside Trinity Paeu. Pupuke-Robati finished with 27 points and 15 rebounds as Mt Albert led for all but the first five minutes of the game.

They opened with a 15-6 quarter, led 32-20 at the interval and 48-39 entering the last period.

Auckland started the fourth quarter strongly with tireless captain Elianna Tuiti, Mele Latu, Rionne Papa and the Tyla Tuala all working their way to basket. But every time Auckland made a run Mt Albert were able to find a counter – Rhyannon Poto often the architect of accurate offence.

A Tuala three gave Grammar hope, 64-48 with 5 minutes to play but that evaporated as Pupuke-Robati made back to back baskets, Jodeci Joseph scored off a Poto pass then the roles were reversed as Joseph fed Poto to cap a fine team performance from Mt Albert.

Final score: Mt Albert 75 – Pupuke-Robati 27/15rebs, Paeu 12, Joseph 12, Poto 10/8rebs/7assists

Auckland – Papa 18/7, Tuala 15, Latu 13/22, E Tuaiti 10/7

Both teams struggled for offensive fluency in the opening half of the first boys semi-final with Rangitoto College enjoying slightly better success leading 36-25 against Auckland Grammar at half-time. Sam Waardenburg had 16 points for the holders, Taki Fahrensohn 8 points for Grammar at the break.

Fahrensohn and Thomas Whyte made some inroads into the Rangi lead but every time a run looked like coming Waardenburg and Dan Fotu would find a way to basket. From nowhere Sam Aruwa landed a three on the three-quater time hooter and Grammar were back in contention down just 47-41.

Another Whyte triple got the Grammar supporters excited and although Brayden Inger made a couple of baskets Grammar only trailed 60-53 after a pair of Farensohn buckets.

Rangi point guard Harry Clarke then stamped his mark on the game making three triples in the final period to stretch the advantage to 69-53 before Waardenburg with a dunk off a back cut put the exclamation mark on the win, Grammar outscored 29-18 in the final quarter.

Final score: Rangitoto 76 – Waardenburg 30 points/ 16 rebounds, Fotu 17/7, Clarke 9 (3/3 3PG), Inger 7, Te Puni 6/7

Auckland Grammar 59 – Fahrensohn 19/12, Aruwa 13, Flanagan 11/10, Whyte 8

In the second boys semi-final a low scoring game was won 59-53 by Palmerston North Boys High School over New Plymouth Boys High School much to the delight of large vociferous home crowd.

The home side led 32-21 at half time and 45-36 at three-quarter time. It was looking comfortable for Palmy before Corbin Giddy initiated a New Plymouth come back.

The crowd went quiet as Thane O’Leary trimmed the Palmerston advantage to just a single point, 45-44 with 4 minutes to play.

Sitting on four fouls Palmerston centre Callum McLeod was reintroduced and he immediately scored, as did Jack Henry. The impressive Oscar Oswald landed a three then blocked yet another shot and Palmerston suddenly had breathing space leading 56-48 with two minutes to play.

Baxter Fenwick landed a triple for New Plymouth but it wasn’t enough and it is Palmerston North who will face Rangitoto in the final.

Final Score; Palmerston North 59 – Henry 14, Walker 13/9, Oswald 12/5blocks, Faamausili 12

New Plymouth 53 – Giddy 20/8, Potts-Broughton 11/13, Fenwick 9, O’Leary 7/12

Zack Te Puni was in fine form for Rangitoto

Defending champions Rangitoto College Boys and St Peter’s, Cambridge Girls remain on course for successful title defences after comfortable quarter-final victories on Day four of the National Secondary School Championships in Palmerston North on Thursday.

Rangitoto led 38-28 at half-time against Rosmini College who, led by centre Will Heather, surged to within a single point, 42-41 at the back end of the third quarter.

Rangitoto had been run down by Rosmini in the fourth quarter of the Auckland Prems Final just over a month ago but were in no mood to allow history to repeat itself in this one.

Rangi got 21 points out of Sam Waardenburg but it was the the lesser lights ZacK Te Puni and Kaycee Anibueze who provided the spark in the fourth quarter to nail the win.

Rangi led just 48-43 at three-quarter time but Te Puni inside and Anibueze cutting and driving prompted a 14-2 run. Dan Fotu then nailed a corner three to extend the lead to 62-45 and it was game over. Final score 71-52.

In other Boys quarter-finals Auckland Grammar, with Taki Fahrensohn to the fore, won a high scoring encounter against Christchurch Boys High School 103-93.

Another points bonanza was won by hosts Palmerston North Boys High School but only just. With big man Callum McRae in good form they led by over 20 points  but had to survive a late Westlake Boys charge before edging home 97-94.

The fourth tie went the way of New Plymouth Boys High School who accounted for a valiant Kelston Boys 84-75.

In the semi-finals Rangitoto College will play Auckland Grammar in an all Auckland affair leaving Zone three rivals New Plymouth and Palmerston North to battle for the other grand final place.

St Peter’s Girls just purr along having little trouble against New Plymouth Girls High School. Once again the St Peter’s effort was built around defence giving up just 36 points in a dominating 60-36 performance.

If St Peter’s are to go back to back they will have to do it against the best that Auckland can throw at them.

Westlake Girls, unbeaten since the opening day loss to Mt Albert, will be their semi-final opponents. They breezed past Waimea 91-59 so now the Zone I Premiership champs face the Zone 2 Premiership champs for a place in the final.

Should St Peter’s win they will then face another City of Sails opponent as semi-final tw0 is an all Auckland affair between traditional rivals Mt Albert Grammar and Auckland Girls Grammar.

Mt Albert’s fairytale run continued as they disposed of Melville High 76-55 while Auckland  won a thriller, 66-63, against Hamilton Girls High School.

Looks like a day in front of the little screen on Friday watching semi-final action courtesy of Maori TV live streaming.

Half way through the basketball extravaganza that is the Secondary Schools Nationals and the quarter- finalists have been found in both the Boys and Girls Competitions

In Boys Pool A the game to decide top spot between Westlake (4-1) and Rangitoto (5-0) was a low key affair with both teams giving prolonged court time to their bench players and just going through the motions ahead of more serious business on Thursday – Rangi winning 101-79.

These two teams now cross-over with the top finishers in Pool C. The unbeaten Palmerston North Boys HS (5-0) will take on Westlake in one quarter-final with Rosmini College (4-1) having the unenviable task of trying to knock over Rangitoto College.

Rosmini are 2-2 against the defending champions this season so it could be a fun watch and hopefully live streamed.

In Pool B Mt Albert GS (3-2) gave it a shake against New Plymouth Boys High School (5-0) in their quest for a quarter final spot but were eventually beaten 81-55.

Earlier in the day NPBHS had edged Auckland Grammar (4-1)  82-74 to ensure the more favourable match up moving ahead.

The Pool B protagonists cross-over against the top two sides from Pool D, the highly fancied Christchurch Boys High School (5-0) and a little surprisingly  Kelston Boys High School. They and St John’s College, Hamilton finished with an identical 3-2 record but Kelston progress courtesy of a 96-84 victory in the head to head.

The result means that Zone 2 will not have a representative in the last eight.

Boys Quarter-Final draw:

Rangitoto  v Rosmini

Palmerston North v Westlake

Christchurch Boys High  v Auckland Grammar

New Plymouth Boys High  v Kelston Boys High

Zone 1 have 5 representatives, Zone 2 have zero, Zone 3 have 2 and Zone 4 have 1

In the Girls competition St Peter’s Cambridge breezed through the preliminaries to secure top spot in Pool A (5-0) with Auckland Girls Grammar (4-1) second.

Hamilton Girls HS tussled with New Plymouth Girls HS to decide the top two spots in Pool C. Both were through but the winners would avoid St Peter’s and it was Hamilton that claimed the win 58-49.

Mt Albert Grammar (5-0) emerged from Pool B unscathed leaving St Mary’s College, Wellington and Westlake Girls to battle it out for second place in the final round of the day for the second spot. And what a battle it was the result going down to the wire before Westlake emerged 63-59 to the good and advance to the last eight.

It also took the last round of the day to settle Pool D. Melville High (4-1) had to wait for the outcome of the Rangi Ruru v Waimea College game to see who progressed. If Rangi Ruru could cause an upset all three teams would have a 4-1 record. Form prevailed and Waimea (5-0) won 82-74

Girls Quarter-Final draw;

St Peter’s Cambridge v New Plymouth Girls HS

Auckland Girls Grammar v Hamilton Girls

Mt Albert Grammar v Melville HS

Westlake v Waimea Coll

That’s 3 teams from Z1, 3 from Z2, and 1 each from Zone’s 3 and 4

12 to be precise – 6 girls teams, 6 boys teams.

With a number of American College coaches an scouts looking on the cream has started to rise to the top at Secondary School Nationals in Palmerston North on Day 2.

In the Boys Competition Westlake and Rangitoto will advance from Pool A. The only Boys Pool to have completed four round robin games the two North Shore teams are 4-0 and quarter-finals bound. There clash tomorrow will sort out rankings and local bragging rights.

Pool B appears equally clear cut with New Plymouth Boys High and Auckland Grammar heading the pack with 3-0 records.

Pool C is less clear. Palmerston Boys High School (3-0) look assured of topping the pile but who will advance with them? With two games scheduled on Day 3 Rosmini College (2-1), Hamilton Boys (1-2) an Te Awamutu College (2-1) will all give it a nudge.

Kelston Boys (2-1) threw the cat amongst the pigeons by beating St John’s Hamilton (2-1) late on Day 2 in Pool D. Like Pool three there is a clear leader in Christchurch Boys (3-0) but there is plenty to play for for the chasing pack

Mt Albert Grammar (3-0) continue to be the storyline in the early stages of the Girls competition, they top the Pool of death otherwise known as Pool B. Due to a lopsided draw at Premierships MAGS finished fifth but were always going to be dark horses at Nationals having been good enough to finish third in the Auckland Premier competition.

On day one they beat the more favoured Westlake Girls (2-1) and St Mary’s College, Wellington (2-1). Today they disposed of Rangitoto College (1-2)  and now have one foot in the quarter-finals.

St Peter’s, Cambridge (4-0) comfortably trumped Auckland Girls Grammar (3-1) in Pool A with both likely top 8 bound.

In Pool C Hamilton Girls and New Plymouth Girls High are 3-0 as are the South Island pair of  Rangi Ruru and Waimea in Pool D. It will be a surprise if any of these four fail to progress to the quarters.

Day 2 results

Fraser 67 V 78 Scots (AA Boys Pool D)
Te Awamutu 100 V 95 Selwyn (AA Boys Pool C)
Kings 58 V 73 St Johns Hamilton (AA Boys Pool D)
Palmerston North Boys 76 V 73 Rosmini (AA Boys Pool C)
Hastings Boys 60 V 49 Hamilton Boys (AA Boys Pool C)
Manukura 60 V 66 St Kevins (A Boys Pool A)
Epsom Girls 54 V 77 Marlborough Girls (AA Girls Pool C)
Kelston Boys 61 V 113 Christchurch Boys (AA Boys Pool D)
Rotorua Girls 67 V 78 Hamilton Girls (AA Girls Pool C)
Hutt Valley 52 V 58 New Plymouth Girls (AA Girls Pool C)
St Peters Cambridge 88 V 36 Napier Girls (AA Girls Pool A)
Cashmere 67 V 74 Otago Boys (AA Boys Pool A)
Rangitoto 90 V 58 Melville (AA Boys Pool A)
Wellington Girls 48 V 85 Auckland Girls Grammar (AA Girls Pool A)
Fraser 92 V 41 Tauranga Girls (AA Girls Pool A)
Westlake Boys 99 V 83 Hillcrest (AA Boys Pool A)
Rangi Ruru 64 V 55 Massey (AA Girls Pool D)
Auckland Grammar 94 V 74 Christs Col (AA Boys Pool B)
Mt Albert Grammar 65 V 60 Rangitoto (AA Girls Pool B) Arena 2
Rangiora 68 V 70 Hastings Girls (AA Girls Pool D)
Westlake Girls 97 V 68 Christchurch Girls (AA Girls Pool B)
St Marys Wellington 105 V 43 Middleton Grange (AA Girls Pool B)
Waimea 67 V 42 Melville (AA Girls Pool D)
St Patricks Kilbirnie 51 V 60 Mt Albert Grammar (AA Boys Pool B)
Nelson Col 69 V 74 New Plymouth Boys (AA Boys Pool B)
Palmerston North Boys 75 V 55 Hamilton Boys (AA Boys Pool C)
Selwyn 58 V 120 Rosmini (AA Boys Pool C)
Te Awamutu 76 V 74 Hastings Boys (AA Boys Pool C)
Fraser 58 V 89 Kings (AA Boys Pool D)

Rotorua Girls 83 V 49 Hutt Valley (AA Girls Pool C)
Scots 58 V 94 Christchurch Boys (AA Boys Pool D)
Hamilton Girls 89 V 35 Marlborough Girls (AA Girls Pool C)
Kelston Boys 96 V 84 St Johns Hamilton (AA Boys Pool D)
New Plymouth Girls 90 V 47 Epsom Girls (AA Girls Pool C) Arena 2
Melville 68 V 79 Westlake Boys (AA Boys Pool A) Court 1
Tauranga Girls 61 V 83 Wellington Girls (AA Girls Pool A) Court 2
Hillcrest 99 V 87 Cashmere (AA Boys Pool A) Court 4
Auckland Girls Grammar 57 V 84 St Peters Cambridge (AA Girls Pool A) Court 5
Napier Girls 73 V 72 Fraser (AA Girls Pool A) Court 6
Otago Boys 46 V 67 Rangitoto (AA Boys Pool A) Court 8

Most games went with seedings on the opening day of the SAS Secondary Schools National Championships in Palmerston North on Monday.

Defending champions Rangitoto College had a couple of ton up performances to begin their campaign and Westlake Boys also had a couple of wins to share top spot in Pool A

In Pool B Auckland Grammar and New Plymouth Boys High School look like the teams to beat after both recorded a brace of victories.

Teams in Pool C and D only had one game each. In Pool C there were wins for Rosmini College, Hamilton Boys HS and Palmerston North Boys HS whilst in Pool D Christchurch Boys HS, St John’s College and Kelston Boys came away with the W’s.

The big winners on Day I in the Girls tournament were Mt Albert Grammar School beating both the Zone 1 winners Westlake and the and Zone 3 winners St Mary’s College, Wellington. Barring an upset they look certain to progress from Pool B with Westlake, St Mary’s and perhaps Rangitoto College fighting for the second berth.

In Pool A defending champions St Peter’s College, Cambridge cruised to a couple of wins as did Auckland Girls Grammar school.

Hamilton Girls, New Plymouth GHS and Hutt Valley were on the right side of the ledger in Pool C with victories in their only game of the day.

The top two seeded teams in the South Island Rangi Ruru and Waimea College both had a pair of win’s in Pool D as did Melville High to leave all to play for over the next couple of days.

Day 1 Results

Westlake Boys 87 V 72 Cashmere (AA Boys Pool A)
Melville 88 V 71 Otago Boys (AA Boys Pool A)
St Patricks Kilbirnie 82 V 73 Nelson Col (AA Boys Pool B)
Christs Col 55 V 73 New Plymouth Boys (AA Boys Pool B)
St Marys Wellington 98 V 52 Christchurch Girls (AA Girls Pool B)
Westlake Girls 56 V 70 Mt Albert Grammar (AA Girls Pool B)
Auckland Grammar 89 V 78 Mt Albert Grammar (AA Boys Pool B)

St Peters Cambridge 62 V 25 Tauranga Girls (AA Girls Pool A)
Middleton Grange 27 V 91 Rangitoto (AA Girls Pool B)
Napier Girls 31 V 78 Auckland Girls Grammar (AA Girls Pool A)
Rangitoto 114 V 40 Hillcrest (AA Boys Pool A)
Fraser 76 V 89 Wellington Girls (AA Girls Pool A)

Rangi Ruru 53 V 39 Rangiora (AA Girls Pool D)
Christchurch Boys 96 V 61 Kings (AA Boys Pool D)
Waimea 92 V 59 Massey (AA Girls Pool D)
Melville 72 V 50 Hastings Girls (AA Girls Pool D)
Rosmini 90 V 39 Hastings Boys (AA Boys Pool C)
Hamilton Boys 93 V 83 Te Awamutu (AA Boys Pool C)
Hamilton Girls 103 V 18 Epsom Girls (AA Girls Pool C)
New Plymouth Girls 81 V 74 Rotorua Girls (AA Girls Pool C)
Marlborough Girls 44 V 90 Hutt Valley (AA Girls Pool C)
Scots 83 V 86 Kelston Boys (AA Boys Pool D)
St Johns Hamilton 86 V 63 Fraser (AA Boys Pool D)
Selwyn 81 V 90 Palmerston North Boys (AA Boys Pool C)
New Plymouth Boys 68 V 60 St Patricks Kilbirnie (AA Boys Pool B)
Mt Albert Grammar 56 V 52 St Marys Wellington (AA Girls Pool B)
Nelson Col 54 V 91 Auckland Grammar (AA Boys Pool B)
Mt Albert Grammar Boys 82 V 67 Christs Col (AA Boys Pool B)
Otago Boys 61 V 80 Westlake Boys (AA Boys Pool A)

Tauranga Girls 45 V 66 Napier Girls (AA Girls Pool A)
Wellington Girls 32 V 62 St Peters Cambridge (AA Girls Pool A)
Cashmere 57 V 104 Rangitoto (AA Boys Pool A)
Christchurch Girls 72 V 69 Middleton Grange (AA Girls Pool B)
Rangitoto 61 V 82 Westlake Girls (AA Girls Pool B)
Hillcrest 89 V 79 Melville (AA Boys Pool A)

Massey 25 V 89 Melville (AA Girls Pool D)

Hastings Girls 58 V 59 Rangi Ruru (AA Girls Pool D)
Rangiora 53 V 66 Waimea (AA Girls Pool D)
Auckland Girls Grammar 73 V 61 Fraser (AA Girls Pool A)