LACEY LOWDOWN

Waikato vs North Harbour, WBC Tournament, Cowels Statium, 10/5/2019, Photo:Gamefacenz

Ahead of the re-commencement of competition on Friday here are some talking points from the first half of the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier League.

1 Both the Girl’s and Boy’s regular season titles appear to be two horse races.

St Mary’s Ponsonby (9-0) are unbeaten in the girl’s competition with Westlake (7-1) suffering just one defeat – both teams well clear of Massey (5-4), Carmel (4-5) and Rangitoto (3-4).

It’s a similar story with the Boy’s. St Kentigern (9-1) and Rangitoto (8-1) have dropped just one game each with the chasing pack some way behind. Auckland Grammar (6-4), Westlake (5-5) and Rosmini (5-4) are the closest challengers.

2 Auckland Girls Grammar and Mt Albert Grammar have been powerhouses in the girl’s competition in recent years but safe to say both are going through a rebuilding stage – MAGS with one win to date and AGGS 0-8.

3 Botany Downs withdrawing from the Girl’s Premier League is not a good look and hopefully the competition’s decision makers can take steps to avoid a similar occurrence in the future.

4 On a far more positive note the upcoming re-match between Westlake Boys and Rosmini College at Eventfinda Stadium on August 2^ndcould break the regular season attendance record. A crowd of over 1,200 watched that encounter with that figure under threat this time around. Hats off to Eventfinda Stadium, Harbour Basketball and the two teams for facilitating this initiative – next step SKY Sport!

5 There is, as always, some seriously good individual talent on show each week. Here’s what some individuals have achieved this s.eason

Sam Mennenga (Westlake) and Jaga Mete (AGS) performing well at FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece where the team finished with a highly creditable 4-3 record. Sam then went on to  play at theNBA Global Camp scoring a mightily impressive 27 points in the final.

Taine Murray (Rosmini) will be attending the Tall Blacks 24-man Selection Camp ahead of the FIBA World Cup. Incidentally 14 of those players have played Auckland Premier basketball in the past.

Tayla Dalton (Carmel) was a member of the first New Zealand women’s team to medal at a FIBA World Cup event when claiming silver at the 3×3 U18 World Cup in Mongolia.

Tayla and Emme Shearer (Westlake) both played major roles in the Harbour Breeze team that finished runners-up in the Women’s Basketball Championship.

6 The good news and the bad news. Firstly the good news is that the following have been selected to the NZ U17 teams to attend the FIBA Oceania Championships in New Caledonia next month.

Girls – Jess Moors (Westlake).

Boys – Campbell Atkinson (Westlake), Alex McNaught (St Kentigern), Connor Ngan (AGS), Taine Murray, Sean Murphy, Reihana Maxwell-Topia (all Rosmini).

7 The bad news is that all of the above will be ruled out of the Prems play-offs next month, should their respective teams qualify, as the trip to New Caledonia coincides with the semis and finals.

8 The additional bad news is that four of the sharpest minds in Auckland Premier basketball will also be removed from the play-offs.

Lindsay Tait (AGS), Aaron Young (St Kentigern), Matt Lacey (Rosmini) and Bronwen Davidson (Westlake Girls) will all have to hand the coaching reins to their assistants as they will also be in New Caledonia as members of the coaching teams with the U17’s.

To compound the problems for Rosmini, St Kent’s and Westlake international 3×3 basketball has deprived them of more players. Jordyn Maddix, Emme Shearer (both Westlake Girls), Shalom Broughton (St Kent’s) and Marvin Williams-Dunn (Rosmini) have this week been named to the New Zealand teams to attend the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in Malaysia. Those players therefore ruled out of the second week of the play-offs.

9 It’s going to be a busy time for the Prems teams as we approach the sharp end of the season.

A number of teams face five games in three weeks to conclude the regular season then we head into Prem play-offs and then the AA Schick Premierships (Shick Nationals Qualifiers) which this year will be held at Pulman Arena (September 4-7).

10 Talking of the Premierships which Senior A teams might qualify for Nationals at the expense of Prem teams?

Well certainly in the Girl’s Tournament you have to think top of the table Epsom Girls (10-0) and second placed Baradene (9-1) will have a real chance.  The top four teams in Senior A  Boys all have winning records and look capable of upsetting a couple of the big dogs.

Look out for Northcote (7-3), St Peter’s (7-3), Mt Roskill (7-3) and Long Bay (6-4) to make an impression.

Teams back in action on Friday – should be a lot of fun.

The best game of Round 9 of the Auckland Secondary Schools Girl’s Premier League was at St Mary’s College in Ponsonby where the hosts pipped Rangitoto College, but only just, 75-74 last Friday.

It was tight throughout as a half-time lead of 34-33 in favour of Rangi and the three-quarter advantage of 53-50 favouring St Mary’s suggests.

Into the final two minutes the lead was still back and forth with Hannah Wentworth levelling the scores (74-74) with 19 seconds to play.

Both teams forced turnovers only to immediately give possession away and it was Leata Te Nana-Williams who made the game winning free throw for St Mary’s with just three seconds left on the clock.

Aroha Riley scored a game high 28 points (including four threes) and backcourt buddy Wentworth threatened a triple double (27 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds) as the two masterminded the Rangitoto effort.

A more balanced St Mary’s effort saw five players notch eight points or more led by Riana Matiseni (16 points), Alex Moore (14 points) and Leata Te Nana-Williams with a team high 23 points.

The Girl’s Premier League needs far more of these close encounters.

St Mary’s 75– L Te Nana-Williams 23, R Matiseni 16, A Moore 14, S Te Nana-Williams 9, Z Kailahi-Fulu 8

Rangitoto 74– A Riley 28, H Wentworth 27, E Moore 14, E Blyth 5

Massey High wasted little time in stamping their authority on proceedings at Mt Albert Grammar School – 7 early points from Alyesha Schuster helping them to a 20-6 lead after 10 minutes.

MAGS continued to struggle in the second spell as Maya Taingahue paced Massey to a position of strength at half-time ahead 38-13.

The hosts were much improved after the break as Monica Kelly, Tiger-Lily Cocker-Lamalie, Rikki Fiatau and Danae Tait helped MAGS reduce the deficit to 54-35 at three-quarter time.

Shauna Povey and Ramona Fuaivaa re-asserted Massy dominance in the fourth as they recorded win number five for the season.

MAGS 42– M Kelly 13, T Cocker-Lamalie 9, R Fiatau 8, D Tait 8

Massey 72– S Povey 14, A Schuster 13, R Fuaivaa 12, M Taingahue 8

In a largely one-sided affair Carmel College beat Auckland Girls Grammar 127-44.

Leah Patuwairua was exceptional scoring a massive 35 points as she carried the Grammar offense on her shoulders even in the final quarter when the team were down to four players after Milika Fonohema (7 points) and Phayezon Vae fouled out.

The highlight for Carmel was half a dozen late points for rookie India Flavell.

AGGS 44– L Patuwairua 35, M Fonohema 7

Carmel 127– T Dalton 17, I Cattermole 14, K Linstrom 11, Q Stephano 11, J Cammell 10

Premier Girls Standings:

8-0 St Mary’s

6-1 Westlake

5-3 Massey

4-4 Carmel

3-4 Rangitoto

1-7 MAGS

0-8 AGGS

The two top teams in the Auckland Secondary Schools Boys Premier League both won again as did Westlake and Auckland Grammar in the latest round of action last Friday.

After a couple of promising performances of late Mt Albert Grammar School found it anuphill battle against league leaders St Kentigern College going down 78-40.

In probably the lowest scoring opening quarter of the season visitors St Kentigern led 11-5 after 10 minutes.

It didn’t get any better for the hosts in the second period scoring just five points again to trail 33-10 at half-time – Levic Kerr, Kazlo Evans and Josh Child doing most of the damage for St Kent’s.

Nate Wilson (27 points and 16 rebounds) was playing something of a lone hand for MAGS although he did get support from Phoenix Sorensen in the third but triples from Martin Gan and Evans took St Kent’s out to 53-25 at the three-quarter buzzer.

More points from Wilson followed but half a dozen apiece from Kerr and Alex McNaught eased St Kent’s to the win and retention of top spot on the ladder.

 MAGS 40 – N Wilson 27/16r, P Sorensen 8, B Skelton 4
St Kent’s 78 – K Evans 18, L Kerr 16, J Child 12, A McNaught 11, S Broughton 9

Rangitoto College had little trouble at Liston College winning 116-68 with young forward Tautoko Wynyard posting a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds.

Liston guard Sefa Prasad scored seven early points but Rangi were racing and led 25-15 at quarter time.

Eight points from Ethan Skelton and six from Phoenix Leupolu in the second gave Rangi a 56-28 half-time lead.

Preston Karatau and Prasad kept the score ticking over for Liston in the third frame but eight points from Harry Payne and a triple late in the period from Joon Back took Rangi to an unassailable 86-42 three-quarter time lead.

Victor Ola’aiga scored in double figures in the fourth but a free wheeling Rangitoto chalked up win number nine to remain hot on the heals of leaders St Kentigern.

Liston 68 – V Ola’aiga 20, S Prasad 15, S Hickey 14, P Karatau 13

Rangitoto 116 – H Payne 19, P Leopolu 17, E Skelton 13, Z Riley 13/8a, J Thornton 12, T Wynyard 10/15r

 Macleans College forward Harry Smith scored a game high 20 points but a more evenly balanced Westlake scoring effort took Lake to a convincing 89-44 victory.

Smith had scored 11 points at half-time but by then Westlake had cleared out to a 43-18 lead.

Westlake had nine scorers in the half led by Josh Kooiman’s 11 points.

Westlake increased their lead as Paora Winitana, working his way back to match fitness after a long injury lay-off, regularly found his way to basket. Boston Caldwell added a brace of threes as Lake took a 66-26 lead into the three-quarter break.

Jesse Manuel scored six fourth quarter points for Macleans but it was small consolation for the hosts who were well beaten on the night.

 Macleans 44 – H Smith 20, R Jiang 7, J Manuel 6

Westlake 89 – P Winitana 16, J Kooiman 14, C Atkinson 9, C Silbiger 7

Despite 47 points from Taine Murray Auckland Grammar proved too good for Rosmini College winning 97-82.

Grammar, on the back of threes from Daniel Boyd and the outstanding Connor Ngan (26 points), were 15 points ahead (80-65) three minutes into the final period and having led for the duration of the game appeared to be heading for a comfortable win.

Rosmini then seized the initiative as Taine Murray scored ten straight points (including a pair of rim rattling dunks) and when Sean Murphy added a put back the margin was just two points (81-79) with four minutes to play.

However from there momentum swung back in favour of the hosts, Ngan controlling the tempo as Luka Vea, Caleb Landon and Ilasia Tela added the finishing touches to a polished AGS performance.

Earlier Grammar had forged a 25-20 opening quarter advantage extended to 52-43 at half-time – Tela up to 15 points at the break.

Murray was in fine form and his twelve third quarter points, coupled with contributions from Reihana Maxwell-Topia and Murphy, trimmed the AGS lead to 70-65 at the last break.

Rosmini made that run in the fourth but AGS stood firm – the two teams now locked in third spot on the ladder with identical 5-4 records.

AGS 97 – C Ngan 26, I Tela 20, D Boyd 19, L Vea 12, C Landon 11

Rosmini 82 – T Murray 47, S Murphy 11, R Maxwell-Topia 10

Premier Standings:

9-1 St Kentigern

8-1 Rangitoto

5-4 Rosmini, AGS

5-5 Westlake

3-6 MAGS

2-7 Liston

0-9 Macleans

Two Auckland Secondary Schools Boy’s Premier games were played on Monday night. Mt Albert Grammar won at Liston College 81-74 and St Kentigern College defended home territory against Westlake Boys winning 89-78.

In the catch up game from Round 7 Mt Albert Grammar led from start to finish at Liston College turning the tables on the hosts who had beaten them 70-59 when the teams last met in Round 2.

For large parts of the game MAGS appeared in total control but every time they threatened to bust the game open Liston, led by Kiani Saxon and Preston Karatau (29 points), would respond and narrow the gap.

When Karatau banked a three from NBA range with three minutes to play the Mt Albert lead, which moments earlier had been ten points, was suddenly trimmed to three (74-71).

Phoenix Sorensen then eased the MAGS nerves with a trey and when Josh Leger converted a neat turn-around jump shot it was 79-71 to the visitors with 90 seconds left.

Liston weren’t quite finished – the hard working Shawn Hickey scored off a neat pocket pass from Sefa Prasad and converted a free throw on the next trip down the floor.

However MAGS were in no mood to let this one slip as they managed the clock in the closing seconds to win 81-74.

Sataan Tawera and Leger dominated the early stages as MAGS built a 22-15 lead in front of a good crowd at St Dominic’s College.

Karatau lit up proceedings in the second scoring 17 points as Liston kept in touch – down 49-41 at half-time.

Saxon and Nate Wilson engaged in a personal dunking contest in the third frame – both players pulling out some athletic plays – 64-59 to the visitors with ten minutes to play.

It was basket for basket in the fourth before Leger and Sorensen made those vital baskets.

Three wins on the bounce for MAGS and a top four berth now within reach.

Liston 74– P Karatau 29, K Saxon 16 S Hickey 12, D Helu 9, S Prasad 8

MAGS 81– N Wilson 22, J Leger 20, S Tawera 19, P Sorensen 7, P Mengistie 7

Westlake guard Josh Kooiman knocked down nine threes at St Kentigern College in what may well be a Prems record three-point shooting performance. All 27 of his points were accumulated from beyond the arc but despite that effort Lake went down 89-78 to the league leaders.

Kooiman got busy early knocking down two first quarter threes but Levic Kerr’s seven points gave St Kent’s a 20-15 early lead.

Reuben Natusch joined in the three-point making for Westlake and Alex McNaught for the hosts. However Kerr and Kazlo Evans kept St Kent’s in the ascendancy, 41-35 ahead at half-time.

Point guards McNaught and Jett Thompson were the main architects of their team’s fortunes in the third both players scoring nine points as the St Kent’s lead narrowed to 57-55 with ten minutes to play.

Kooiman saved his best until last landing five triples in the closing quarter as Westlake tried desperately to snatch the win. However three scores apiece from Shalom Broughton, Evans, McNaught and Kerr, plus a late three from Sam Chan took St Kent’s to victory and maintained their place at the top of the table.

St Kent’s host MAGS on Friday while Westlake will want to arrest a four game losing streak when they visit Macleans College.

St Kentigern 89– L Kerr 21, A McNaught 20, K Evans 17, S Broughton 15, E Watson 9

Westlake 78– J Kooiman 27, J Thompson 19, A Luetich 8, J Wuthrich 6, P Winitana 6

Premier Standings:

8-1 St Kentigern

7-1 Rangitoto

5-3 Rosmini

4-4 AGS

4-5 Westlake

3-5 MAGS

2-6 Liston

0-8 Macleans