LACEY LOWDOWN

There was plenty at stake on Sunday at St Kentigern College as the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade Qualifying Tournament came down to the final four teams – the winner’s of the two semi-final games gaining entry to the elite top eight Premier competition.

The first semi featured Mt Roskill Grammar and Kelston Boys HS, both teams having to warm up in semi darkness as organisers searched for the power switch.

The gloom continued for Roskill in the opening quarter as Kelston forged a 22-12 advantage, guard Sam Brooking making a couple of eye catching baskets.

Play was held up before the start of the second quarter as running repairs were carried out to the floor. The break seemed to help Roskill, as Randy Sjafre, Jordan Tahana and Zarne Lueluaia-Hughes all made threes to help the red and black’s tie the game, 38 apiece at half-time. Linus Jakszt led the Kelston scorers with a dozen points in the half.

Forwards Jakszt and Myles Pinono took control of the boards as Kelston dominated the third period, piling on 29 points, to lead 67-51 at the last break.

Brooking knocked down a triple to open the fourth quarter and when Jakszt repeated the dose Kelston were 20 points to the good and a place in Prem grade almost assured. The teams exchanged baskets in the final minutes, with the result decided, coach Jeff Fahrensohn and his team able to celebrate an unbeaten run through the qualifying tournament.

Final Score;

Kelston 93 – Sam Brooking 25, Linus Jakszt 23, Kale Lawson 13, Myles Pinono 10

Mt Roskill 68 – Zarne Lueluaia-Hughes 26, Randy Sjafre 22, Jordan Tahana 12

Early St Kentigern turnovers forced coach Aaron Young to call two timeouts in the opening seven minutes against unbeaten Mt Albert GS, the mistakes proving costly as MAGS opened a commanding 28-8 first quarter lead.

Joel Vaiangina and Max Shorter attempted to turn the tide for the hosts but the MAGS flow was constant and they led 43-17 at half-time. Michael Gardner was a continuous threat for the visitors constantly finding a route to the basket for scores or assists. He led all scorers at the main break with 15 points.

Vaiangina produced the highlight play of the game with a two handed put back dunk in the third period but even that flash of brilliance was not enough to inspire a St Kent’s comeback, the lead 65-33 at three-quarter time.

Joel Vaiangina gets a jump shot away against St Peter’s  Photo courtesy of Chris Agnew

MAGS boasted greater depth than any of other team in the tournament and this was evident as they had a balanced scoring effort with nine players getting on the scoreboard.

Gardner and the tireless Jack Morrison were outstanding but coach Cartwright would have been pleased with the effort of all his players.

Final score;

Mt Albert 87 – Michael Gardner 12, Jack Morrison 11, Luke Fitzpatrick 11

St Kentigern 43 – Joel Vaiangina 12, Max Shorter 10, Kyle Robb 10

MAGS and Kelston join Rangitoto College, Westlake Boys HS, Liston College, Rosmini College, Onehunga HS and Auckland Boys GS in this season’s Premier competition.

MAGS coach Daryl Cartwright

The Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade Qualifying Tournament has come down to the final four, the winner’s of the two semi-final games gaining entry to the elite top eight competition. Those games to be played at St Kentigern College on Sunday morning feature MAGS v St Kentigern College and Kelston Boys HS v Mt Roskill GS.

MAGS were without coach Daryl Cartwright, absent with a bout of food poisoning, but were still composed enough to secure top spot in Pool B. They were pushed all the way by a valiant Pakuranga College before eventually winning 80-63.

Second place in Pool B was decided by an exciting encounter between St Peter’s and St Kentigern College. St Peter’s led by the impressive Finlay Morris shaded the first half 38-33 but a Joel Vaiangina dunk edged St Kent’s ahead 54-53 at three-quarter time. The left handed centre continued to keep the score ticking over in the final quarter as the hosts forged a ten points lead with under five minutes to play. That lead was extended further in the final minutes, St Kent’s booking a semi-final berth with an 80-67 victory.

Kelston Boys High School dominated Pool A and like MAGS finished pool play with a 4-0 record. They were given a scare by Macleans college when the scores were locked 54 apiece early in the third quarter. However Kelston dominated the back end of the game to win 102-85. Later in the day they comfortably accounted for Avondale College 79-50.

Runners-up in Pool 2 was not decided until the final game of the day. The swarming Pakuranga College defence held Mt Roskill to just 8 points in the second period helping them to a 30-25 half-time lead.

Ironically Pakuranga were held to 8 points themselves in a low scoring third period as they hung on to a 38-37 advantage.

It was a single point game with 4 minutes to play but a pair of long threes from Zane Lueluaia-Hughes broke the game open and aided by Randy Sjafrie Roskill pulled off a 65-57 win to earn a semi-final play-off against Kelston on Sunday.

Day 2 Results

Pool A

St Kentigern 100 – Max Shorter 33, Joel Vaiangina 32 Macleans Coll 79 – Blake Van Uden 18, Sairaj Kuvelkar 17

St Peter’s 87 – D’Angelo Niupopo 25, Finlay Morris 20 Avondale Coll 69 – David Gatolai 17, Kennedy Nikolaison 13

Macleans Coll 85 – Blake Van Uden 25, Scott Pu 11, Alex Arthur 11 Kelston 102 – Linus Jakszt 48, Kale Lawson 15

St Kentigern 80 – Joel Vaiangina35, Kyle Robb 13 St Peter’s 67 – Finlay Morris 15, George Boersen 14

Kelston 79 Avondale 50

Pool B

Mt Albert 65 – Michael Gardner 22, Jack Morrison 16 Alfriston Coll 37 – Joel Singsam 18, Jakob Hura 7

Mt Roskill 108 – Randy Sjafrie 45, Zarne Lueluai-Hughes 36 Massey HS 78 – Roy Iro 25, Austin Cameron 24

Mt Albert 80 – Michael Gardner 17, Xjana Luamanuvae 11, John-Afi Stowers-Atafu 11 Pakuranga 63 – Devan Nathan 15, Christian Blanque 13

Alfriston 77 – Joel Singsam 34, D’troit Leef-Hama 13 Massey 74 – Austin Cameron 27, Emmanuel Tusa Fa’alili 15

Pakuranga 57 65 Mt Roskill

Standings after Pool Play

Pool A

4-0 Kelston Boys HS

3-1 St Kentigern Coll

2-2 St Peter’s College

1-3 Macleans Coll

0-4 Avondale Coll

Pool B

4-0 Mt Albert GS

3-1 Mt Roskill GS

2-2 Pakuranga College

1-3 Alfriston Coll

0-4 Massey HS

Mt Albert Grammar School underlined their status as favourites at the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade Qualifying Tournament.

Being played at St Kentigern College, MAGS dominated proceedings on day one against Mt Roskill GS and Massey High School.

Pakuranga College and Kelston Boys High School are also unbeaten entering day two on Saturday and will be hopeful of making the semi-finals on Sunday.

The top two teams from each pool will contest the semi’s with the winner of each game securing Premier Grade status for the 2016 season.

The two qualifiers will join Rangitoto College, Westlake Boys HS, Liston College, Rosmini College, Onehunga HS and Auckland Boys GS in this season’s competition.

Day 1 Results

Pool A

Kelston Boys 98 – Linus Jakszt 23, Samuel Brooking 22 St Peter’s 51 – Christian Fromont 13, Espinosa Toffer 12

Avondale 82 – Darnell Kalolo 25, Peneueta Brunt 15 Macleans Coll 91 – Blake Van Uden 35, Sairaj Kuvelkar 16

Kelston Boys 78 – Linus Jakszt 27, Myles Pinono 19 St Kentigern 61 – Joel Vaiangina 14, Max Shorter 13

Macleans 66 – Andrew Fei 15, Alex Arthur 13 St Peter’s 81 Gerard Boersen 25, D’Angelo Niupopo 22

Avondale 78 St Kentigern 88

Pool B

Pakuranga 79, Tevita Latu 26, Devan Nathan 14 Massey 62 – Emmanuel Tusafa’alili 15, Austin Cameron 8

Mt Albert 92 – Trent Kimianga-Tau 14, Jonty Vink 13 Mt Roskill 54 – Zarne Lueluai-Hughes 20, Jordan Tahana 15

Pakuranga 86 – Tevita Latu 26, Ezekiel Flores 10 Alfriston 48 – Joel Singsam 15, D’troit Leef-Hama 10

Mt Albert 112 – Michael Gardner 24, Xjana Luananuvae-Su’a 22 Massey 45 Tyler Lonergan 8

Mt Roskill 62 Alfriston 41

Standings after Day 1

Pool A

2-0 Kelston Boys HS

1-1 Macleans College, St Peter’s College, St Kentigern Coll

0-2  Avondale Coll

Pool B

2-0 Mt Albert GS, Pakuranga College

1-1  Mt Roskill GS

0-2 Massey HS, Alfriston Coll