LACEY LOWDOWN

Emme Shearer (photo courtesy of Sylvia Wilkins)

The top four teams were already known ahead of the final round of the Girls Premier Grade competition in Auckland on Friday. What was not known was the order they would finish in.

With a comfortable 80-46 victory against Avondale College, Auckland Girls Grammar School claimed the regular season title over Westlake Girls High School.

Both AGGS and Westlake finished with a 12-2 record but Grammar claim top spot on point’s differential. Recently Westlake prevailed 69-65 but earlier in the season AGGS had won 60-43 giving them a +13 advantage.

The Rangitoto College versus Mt Albert Grammar School tie, with MAGS prevailing 75-65, decided third and fourth positions.

Rangitoto opened up an early double digit lead off the back strong play from Tabitha Jenkins and Bella Elgar

MAGS awoke in the second quarter and began to pressure the inexperienced Rangi guards (missing Riana Rangi-Brown and Sophie Bond) but Rangi still led by 5 at the half.

Sharne Pupuke-Robati was a difference maker in the third as the Rangi forwards who enjoyed a free flowing first quarter found it tough against her physicality.

The two sides exchanged baskets in the final quarter and the scores were locked at 57 each with 4 minutes left. Some costly Rangi turnovers in their own backcourt have MAGS the lead for the first time in the game forcing coach Morgan Maskell to call a timeout.

Rangi struggled to score in the dying minutes of the match as MAGS iced the game with free throws in the final minute.

Westlake Girls High School established an early double-digit lead against Orewa College stretching the advantage to 25-4 at quarter time with Jess Moors and Jordyn Maddix nabbing 8 points each.

Despite being without a number of regulars Westlake were able to stretch their lead to 49-13 at half-time – guard Emme Shearer scored 14 points in the second period.

Fuelled by some simple transition baskets Westlake began the third period with an 8-0 run before Holly Kagan-Dower opened Orewa’s second half account.

Ariana Henare scored with a neat left handed hook shot to keep the score ticking over for the visitors who welcomed back coach Tony Webster after a recent expedition to the States.

Mareta Davidson scored 12 straight points for Westlake either side of the three-quarter time recess to stretch the advantage to 73-20.

Orewa battled on gamely but struggled to quell the offensive transition game of the hosts.

Final Score: Westlake 94 – Shearer 21, Davidson 18, Maddix 14, Moors 12, Sianmau Talafou 8 Orewa 24 – Kagan-Dower 9, Megan Hoare 4, Henare 4, Hannah Wentworth 4

Massey High School overcame a 37-30 half-time deficit to eventually overhaul St Kentigern College and win 73-70.

Shauna Povey was the star of the show pacing the Massey effort with 33 points. That effort was almost matched by Summer Jean Motufua who scored 29 points for St Kent’s.

Rose Maeli made an early three for Massey but Vilisi Tavui and Viona Silao scored all the St Kent’s first quarter points as they led 13-12 at quarter time.

Motufua then unleashed a personal scoring blitz scoring 16 points in the second period.

Not to be outdone Povey then took charge sinking three triples as her 15 third quarter points closed the game up – 54 apiece at three-quarter time.

Tavui, Gabby Umaga and Rene Flay kept the score moving for the hosts but Maeli,

Terrina Aratangi and Povey had the answers to carry Massey to the win.

Final Score: St Kentigern 70 – Motufua 29, Tavui 13, Silao 9, Umaga 6 Massey 73 – Povey 33, Aratangi 14, Maeli 12, Laticia Jost 6

Final Standings

12-2 Auckland Girls GS, Westlake Girls HS

11-3 Mt Albert GS

9-5 Rangitoto College

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4-10 Orewa College

3-11 Avondale College, Massey HS

1-13 St Kentigern College

Rosie Davison (photo courtesy of Sylvia Wilkins)

In the penultimate round of the Girls Premier Grade competition in Auckland the top four teams Auckland Girls Grammar, Westlake, MAGS and Rangitoto College were all too good for lower placed opposition.

Westlake Girls were quick out the blocks against Massey High School racing to a 23-3 first quarter lead. Jess Moors, continuing the good form she displayed at Under 15 Nationals, rattled in 8 early points.

Ramona Fuaivaa and Shauna Povey got the score moving for Massey in the second quarter but Emme Shearer, Rosie Davison and Piper Manolas were more than up for the challenge advancing Westlake to a 44-15 half-time advantage.

Sylvia Wieczorek scored a couple of baskets for Massey in the third but triples from Tiarna Clarke and Jordyn Maddix kept Westlake in the ascendancy, 63-25.

Terrina Aratangi got in on the three point action in the opening stages of the fourth quarter sinking a couple for Massey but a free scoring final quarter from Westlake, led by Alesha Nathan, Davison and Shearer, took the visitors to a convincing win.

Final Score: Massey 41 – Povey 12, Aratangi 8, Povey 7 Westlake 91 – Shearer 20, Davison 17, Moors 13, Alesha Nathan 10

The young Orewa College team had their first dose of LAD (Life After Diakhaby) on Monday night and it didn’t taste too good. Diakhby has finished her time at Orewa ahead of her imminent departure for Junior College in Colorado. The scoring and rebounding prowess of the Junior Tall Fern centre was sorely missed as her former team were defeated 87-19 by Auckland Girls Grammar School.

The visitors opened up a 23-8 first quarter advantage and never looked back. Even without the injured Rionne Papa AGGS had little problem building on their early efforts leading 37-10 at half-time.

Elianna Tuaiti was in dominant form for Grammar dishing assists, securing rebounds and compiling a game high 22 points. Tuaiti was ably assisted by sister Elianna, Mele Latu and Tyla Tuala.

Orewa enjoyed a few more scoring opportunities in the fourth quarter with Sophie Emmett, Hannah Wentworth and Ariana Henare each making baskets.

Final Score: Orewa 19 –Ariana Henare 7, Hannah Wentworth 6 AGS 87 – E Tuaiti 22, Latu 19, Tuala 17, L Tuaiti 8

In other results Rangitoto College beat St Kentigern College 88-47 and Mt Albert Grammar School beat Avondale College 80-50.

Ahead of the semi-final draw the MAGS v Rangitoto game this coming Friday looks set to determine third and fourth placings.

Unless there is a major upset in the final round of games Auckland Grammar will claim top spot over Westlake on points differential. Recently Westlake prevailed 69-65 but earlier in the season AGGS had won 60-43 giving them a +13 advantage.

Premier Girls Standings

11-2 Auckland Girls GS, Westlake Girls HS

9-4 Rangitoto College

9-3 Mt Albert GS

4-9 Orewa College

3-10 Avondale College

2-11 Massey HS

1-11 St Kentigern College

Taine Wattie – one of four seniors playing last home game for Rosmini

In a full round of Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Boys Grade action on Monday night Rangitoto College moved a step closer to the regular season title, Westlake remained hot on Rangi’s heels, Rosmini continued their good run of form and Mt Albert kept alive their faint hopes of a top four finish.

Third met fourth in Takapuna with Rosmini College entertaining Auckland Grammar School. What was expected to be a close, exciting, encounter was unfortunately anything but as the hosts won comfortably 90-70.

Some sloppy AGS turnovers contributed to a 20-13 advantage in favour of Rosmini in a lively opening quarter – a couple of Will Heather hook shots catching the eye.

Grammar opened the second quarter with an 8-3 run to close within two points and when Taki Fahrensohn knocked down his second triple of the game Grammar were 26-25 ahead. That drew a 12-0 response from Rosmini necessitating a Grammar timeout.

Thomas Whyte and Connor Flanagan both scored on the resumption but a Mitchell Dance (12 points in the first half) triple on the half time siren gave the hosts a handy 51-33 lead.

The hard working Flanagan scored the first two baskets of the second half but a Taine Wattie three sandwiched between a pair of Peter Jenkins baskets kept Rozza in the ascendancy. Unfortunately a bad ankle sprain forced Fahrensohn from the court, his outside scoring threat sorely missed by Grammar.

A Ben Turpin three took the advantage to Rozza beyond 20, their all round scoring ability a little too much for Grammar who trailed 75-50 at three-quarter time.

Turpin and Kruz Perrott-Hunt landed threes to open the fourth and stretch the lead further. Tony Malosi-Solomona connected from beyond the arc in reply and Samson Aruwa battled gamely in the paint but AGS were unable to mount a serious comeback. Even the ‘Faithful’ Rosmini support was relatively subdued until the dying moments as their team eased to a comfortable win.

In a fitting gesture before the game the four seniors in the Rosmini team Taine Wattie, Ben Turpin, Sam Bowden and Nathan Curran were introduced to the crowd. All four Year 13 players received generous applause ahead of their last Premier home game.

Final Score; Rosmini 90 – Wattie 22, Perrott-Hunt 15, Dance 14, Jenkins 9 AGS 70 – Aruwa 17, Fahrensohn 15, Flanagan 15, Winitana 11

Onehunga High School were unfortunately on the end of another lop sided score-line as they were pounded 143-38 by top of the table Rangitoto College. Rangi blasted a 30-8 first quarter lead and had it all their own way after that with seven players making double figure contributions.

Final Score: Onehunga 38 Rangitoto 143 – Harry Clarke 35, Brayden Inger 34, Harry Payne 19, Logan Anderson 17, Hyrum Shin 16, Dan Fotu 15

Westlake Boys High School kept the pressure on Rangitoto College for top spot with an emphatic 102-61 victory against lowly Liston College.

Westlake stamped their authority on proceedings with a 28-16 opening burst aided by a couple of treys from captain James Moors.

Blessing Matambanadzo scored 10 points in an even second period for Liston but Moors was in commanding form scoring 25 points in the half including four triples as Westlake led 48-35 at the interval.

The Westlake scoring machine went into overdrive in the third amassing 36 points with Josh Hildago and Reuben Fitzgerald (a dozen points in the period) the main drivers.

With an 85-48 lead the fourth period was purely academic although Kim Estonactor and Matambanadzo did score 6 points each for the hosts.

Final Score: Liston 61 – Matambanadzo 17, Estonactor 13, Daysh Takimoana 8, John Fabian 8 Westlake 102 – Moors 31, Fitzgerald 19, Hildago 18, Marc Malingin 11, Lucas Menenga 9

 Mt Albert Grammar still has a mathematical chance of claiming a semi-final berth after a home win against Kelston Boys High School 62-49.

Liston opened proceedings well with all their starters troubling the scorers as they forged ahead 17-14 at quarter time.

The two teams accumulated just 18 points between them in the second stanza as MAGS edged ahead 25-24.

The decisive move came in the third with MAGS, spearheaded by Michael Gardner, Jack Morrison and Trent Kimiangatau, winning the period 18-8 to lead 43-32 at three-quarter time.

Liam Milne and Matangi Prescott did their best to spark a Kelston revival but the hosts held firm for an important win.

Final Score: MAGS 62 – Gardner 15, Morrison 10, Kimiangatau 9, John-Afi Stowers 7 Kelston 49 – Linus Jakzst 14, Milne 10, Prescott 10, Kale Lawson 10

 Boys Standings;

11-2 Rangitoto College

10-3 Westlake Boys HS

9-3 Rosmini College

7-5 AGS

6-6 MAGS

4-8 Kelston Boys HS

2-10 Onehunga HS

0-12 Liston College

There has been a three-week hiatus in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Basketball competition. However many of the players have been busy representing their local associations at National Championships or on overseas tours.

A fair number of the Rangitoto College squad were in Vegas last week representing North Harbour at the Fab 48 Tournament but the 30 degree drop in temperature didn’t cool their scoring ability as they quickly established a 16-4 lead against Kelston Boys High School.

Forward Kale Lawson made a couple of baskets for Kelston late in the period but a pair of threes from Harry Payne ended a profitable opening quarter for the home side 32-14 ahead.

Kelston scored 12 early second period points, most of them to Linus Jakzst, but they still trailed 47-28 to the boys in blue.

Guard Sam Brooking knocked down a three for Kelston but Kaycee Anibueze enjoyed a productive spell as Rangi closed the half 61-36 ahead – the two Harry’s (Clarke and Payne) leading the scoring with 13 points apiece at the interval.

A Dan Fotu steal then block fuelled another Rangitoto scoring burst although Kelston, despite operating with just seven players, refused to buckle. Rangi headed to the last break 80-52 ahead.

A Liam Milne triple opened proceedings in the final stanza but Payne answered in kind. Rangi had multiple scorers in the final quarter as they once again demonstrated that they will be the team to beat in Auckland cruising to a 104-77 victory.

Final Score: Rangitoto 104 – Anibueze 21, Payne 18, Clarke 17, Brayden Inger 13, Fotu 11 Kelston 77 – Jakzst 21, Lawson 17, Milne 14.

An exciting encounter ensued at Auckland Grammar School as the hosts toppled Westlake Boys High School 93-85.

James Moors sunk a couple of threes as Westlake made the slightly better start to lead 23-21 at quarter time.

Grammar responded well with Taki Fahrensohn and Leroy Brown finding their shooting groove in a high scoring second period to help the home team to a 51-46 half-time lead.

It was basket for basket in the third with Grammar holding onto a 4 points, 72-68, advantage with ten minutes to play.

Back to back Reuben Fitzgerald baskets and another two points from Josh Hildago put Westlake up 82-80 with just over 4 minutes to play.

Farensohn then scored five straight points for Grammar only for Hildago to answer again. Fitzgerald made a pair of free throws and with 58 seconds to play the lead was just two points, 88-86, to Grammar. Rua Winitana scored a vital basket for AGS and with Westlake forced to foul to stop the clock Tom Whyte iced the game from the free throw line.

AGS will be delighted to have kept their hopes of a top two finish alive whilst Westlake will take heart from running strong opposition close without three of their starters. Isaac Letoa, Greg Vukets and Thabo Manyere were all absent for differing reasons.

Final Score; AGS 93 – Fahrensohn 25, Connor Flanagan 15, Samson Aruwa 15, Whyte 15 Westlake 86 – Fitzgerald 24, Hildago 23, Moors 20, Ethan Martin 9

Mt Albert Grammar School had little trouble disposing of Liston College winning 78-41. MAGS established an early 10 points lead with Michael Gardner and Trent Kimiangatau doing most the damage and kept the pedal down as they established a 41-23 half-time lead.

The scoring slowed from both sides as just a total of 19 points were scored in the third. MAGS put their foot down again in the fourth as an assortment of scorers continued to trouble Liston who got good service out of Emanuel Maagdenberg and Blessing Matambanadzo.

The win keeps alive Mt Albert’s faint hopes of a top four finish.

Final Score: Mt Albert 78 – Gardner 20, Jonty Vink 14, Kimiangatau 10, Paina Slade 9

Liston 41 -Maagdenberg 9, Matambanadzo 8, Mao Kim 7

It was a Rozza rampage in Takapuna as Rosmimi College demolished Onehunga High School 125-50. The game was over as a contest at half-time with the home side 75-24 in the lead. The Rosmini scoring was led by Ben Turpin but seven players rattled up double figures in a one sided romp Marvin Brown was terrific in a losing cause nailing 34 points for Onehunga.

Final Score: Rosmini 125 – Ben Turpin 21, Mitch Dance 18, Sam Bowden 16 Kruz Perrott-Hunt 15, Taine Wattie 15, Reihana Maxwell-Topia 12, Matt Sokol 10  Onehunga 50 – Brown 34, Clinton Saio 7

Boys Standings;

10-2 Rangitoto College

9-3 Westlake Boys HS

7-3 Rosmini College

7-4 AGS

5-6 MAGS

4-7 Kelston Boys HS

2-9 Onehunga HS

0-10 Liston College

Diakhaby (No 14) heading to Colorado

Katie Diakhaby played her last game for Orewa College on Friday night before heading to Colorado to begin a two year stint at Northeastern Junior College.

The Junior Tall Fern signed off with a typically strong performance landing a game high 27 points as Orewa secured their Premier Grade status for next year (the bottom two teams have to play off for qualification in 2017) with a hard fought 62-54 win against St Kentigern College.

Orewa guard Hannah Wentworth opened the scoring with a triple and there were some early points for St Kent’s forward Vilisi Tavui but Orewa ended the first period 17-13 ahead.

Summer Jean Motufua led the St Kent’s reply in the second as they closed to within three points, 31-28 at the interval.

Diakhaby was a constant threat for the home team and with Wentworth and Ariana Henare landing shots from beyond the three point arc Orewa took a handy 47-41 lead into the last period.

Motofua and Tash Leisman kept the score ticking over for St Kent’s but it was to be Orewa’s day, their team able to wave their USA bound centre off with a valuable win.

Final Score Orewa 62 – Diakhaby 27, Henare 16, Wentworth 12 St Kentigern 54 – Motufua 20, Tavui 8, Renee Flay 8, Leisman 8

The Westlake Girls High School trio of Tiarna Clarke, Rosie Davison and Keeley Tini shared 59 points as their team edged Auckland Girls Grammar School 69-65 in a top of the table clash.

Clarke scored three triples in a tied first quarter before Rionne Papa converted a pair of threes to compliment Mele Latu’s free scoring to give AGGS a 36-26 half-time advantage.

The two teams exchanged baskets in the third as the home team preserved their double-digit lead.

Westlake stormed back in the final quarter with Clarke adding two more treys sandwiched between Tini and Davison scores as the visitors went ahead 57-56 with 4 minutes to play.

Elianna Tuaiti and Latu responded for AGGS but Sophie Dil made a crucial basket and Tini (12 points in the final quarter) iced the game from the free throw line to see Westlake home.

Final Score: Auckland Grammar 65 – Latu 22, Karma Skilton-Roberts 16, Papa 10, E Tuaiti 9 Westlake 69 – Clarke 22, Tini 19, Davison 18.

Ngakita Paton-Young ended a low scoring first quarter by giving Avondale College a narrow 12-10 lead at Rangitoto College.

Annelina Crosbie scored a triple for Rangi to begin the second quarter and with Riana Rangi-Brown (11 points in the first half) and Bella Elgar finding holes in the Avondale defence the home team eked out a narrow 33-28 half-time advantage.

Teneva and Mariah Ropati shared 12 points for Avondale in the third but 11 points in the period from Kaitlin Burgess and 8 points from NZU16 international Gracie Hasler-Ewin ensured Rangitoto closed a dominant third 63-42 to the good.

Maania Spooner scored a neat left handed finger roll basket and Elgar helped herself to some transition buckets as Rangitoto had little trouble protecting their lead in the final period.

Final Score: Rangitoto 82 – Elgar17, Rangi-Brown 17, Burgess 16, Hasler-Ewin 15 Avondale 54 – Teneva Ropati 19, Mariah Ropati 14, Tuave Fepuleva 8

The result of the Massey High school v Mt Albert Grammar fixture will be posted later.

Premier Girls Standings

10-2 Auckland Girls GS, Westlake Girls HS

8-4 Rangitoto College

7-3 Mt Albert GS

4-7 Orewa College

3-9 Avondale College

2-8 Massey HS

1-10 St Kentigern College