LACEY LOWDOWN

Newly promoted Manurewa High School and Rangitoto College had mixed fortunes in Round 1 of the 2024 Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade competition.

Manurewa hosted Mt Albert Grammar School and went down 72-55 to last season’s runners-up who were paced by Sahara Katene’s 22 points. Meiya Lemafa and Peyton Uri leant helping hands with 13 points each.

Emily Tanira top scored for Manurewa with 18 points while Taisha Tanira netted a dozen and Beautiful Campbell sunk 11.

Rangitoto College, under new coach Brooke Blair, enjoyed a return to the top flight with a resounding 78-36 victory against an under-strength Epsom Girls Grammar side.

Epsom relied heavily on the scoring threat of Ivy Tino and Mya Kingi, who impressed on debut, while Rangi enjoyed contributions from across the board with seven players scoring 6 points or more. The bouquets in this instance go to Sienna Maurice and Maddy Skelton who scored 18 and 16 points respectively.

St Kentigern College, led by Kilani Tuineau’s 29 points and Ashleigh Tuumaialui’s 15, proved too strong for Takapuna Grammar, protecting home court with a 76-55 win.

Takapuna guard Bailey Flavell posted the highest individual score of the round with 31 points while Amy McKenzie chipped in with 11.

Westlake Girls successfully overcame the challenge of a spirited display from Northcote College. Northcote only trailed by 5 points (68-63) with five minutes to play before the defending champions registered an 84-72 win.

Lily Fotu (20 points) impressed for Westlake as did forward Imani Rasmussen who tallied 19. All the Northcote starters played strong hands led by skipper DJ Hannah’s 17 points and Lily Morgan’s 16.

Epsom Girls Grammar 36 – Tino 15, Kingi 11 Rangitoto College 78 – Maurice 18, Skelton 16, Eva Veale 11, Payton Laurence 9, Zoe Magiera 8, Mela Andrews 7, Kyree Rakena 6

St Kentigern College 76 – Tuineau 29, A Tuumaialui 15, Jorja Dixon 9, Jenette Tuumaialui 6 Takapuna Grammar 55 – Flavell 31, McKenzie 11

Westlake Girls High 84 – Fotu 20, Rasmussen 19, Emma Schroeder 14, Kodee Williams-Sefo 8, Katie Moors 7, Brennah Latoalevi-Nosa 6 Northcote College 72 – Hannah 17, Morgan 16, Lisa Gear 11, Ema Lavemaau 9, Misha Aitchison 8, Abby Allan 6

Manurewa High 55 – E Tanira 18, T Tanira 12, B Campbell 11, Shirley Tuilimu 8 Mt Albert Grammar 72 – Katene 22, Lemafa 13 Uri 13, Emina Tiatia 7, Lara-Poppy Coker-Lemalie 7

No fewer than four head coaches took charge of their teams for the first time in Friday night’s opening round of the Auckland Secondary Schools Boy’s Premier Basketball competition, and a fifth was pacing the sideline for his first Premier game.

Martin Windsor has overseen the Mount Roskill Grammar School Boys programme for the past six years but the visit to Westlake Boys was historic for him, the team and the school with Roskill having last played in Prems back in 1995!

However they will have to wait a little longer for their first win in the top grade in almost 30 years after going down 96-79 at Westlake Boy’s High.  

Josh Reeves took charge of St Peter’s College as they strolled up Mountain Road for the central city derby against Auckland Grammar School. Grammar proved too good winning 98-70.

There had to be a first time winner at St Kentigern College with Josh Davis in charge of the hosts for the first time and Sonny Tuaputa, the trusted assistant to Matt Lacey for the last seven years, now holding the reins at Rosmini College.

It was Rosmini that claimed the spoils with a solid 99-78 victory.

Sione Maama made it a winning debut as Head Coach at Sacred Heart College as his charges saw of the challenge of Mt Albert Grammar winning 84-66.

Sam Snowdon drained 7 threes on his way to 37 points and with Jamie Vile posting 21 Heart made it a perfect start to the season.

MAGS had made the better start forging a 24-18 lead before Heart completely bossed the second quarter to take a 48-30 lead into the main break.

The young MAGS team were well served by Dante Tapula’ala, Mose Leiasamaivao and Lucas Cartwright but were outgunned by Snowdon and Co in this one.

Sacred Heart 84 – Snowdon 37, Vile 21, Cameron Stewart 9, Max Haaraia 6

Mt Albert Grammar 66 – Tapula’ala 20, Mose Leiasamaivao 16, Cartwright 11, Mikey Moses 10

Despite having a couple of starters absent Auckland Grammar stamped their authority on proceedings in the opening quarter against St Peter’s, surging to a 28-13 lead. St Peter’s had the better of the second spell but still trailed 46-38 at half-time.

With skipper Ryan Hunt scoring 18, Lawson Pryor making 20, Jackson Kiss 17 and Sol Anderson 13 Grammar retained control in the second half.

Mario Nola led the way for the Saints with 14 points – Gus Dallow and Bailey Smith also made double digit contributions.

Auckland Grammar 98 – Pryor 20, Hunt 18, Kiss 17, Anderson 13, Brigham Hakerara 8, Taye Thomson 7

St Peter’s College 70 – Nola 14, Smith 11, Dallow 10, Spencer Carr 9, Bryan Marsters 8

On their return to the top flight Mt Roskill Grammar looked as if they may be on the end of a hiding when they trailed 33-12 after ten minutes at Westlake as Noah Rasmussen and Troy Supple dominated the glass and the points in the opening exchanges. Rasmussen was on his way to a career high 38 points – the highest individual score of the opening round.

To their credit Roskill steadied thereafter going toe to toe with Lake throughout the remainder of the contest.

Haisem Osman and Josh Wadams led the way for Roskill while Daley Pohio, on debut, made a strong impression for the hosts.

Shout out to Westlake for producing a game day programme and hanging (long overdue) championship banners to mark their five National Championship successes (2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013).

Westlake Boys High 96 – Rasmussen 38, Supple 24, Pohio 12

Mt Roskill Grammar 79 – Osman 19, Wadams 17, Pepe Seuiavatele 12, Wai Tonga 11

Despite 26 points from St Kentigern guard Cooper Lepou, Rosmini College were able to forge a 99-78 victory at St Kent’s.

St Kent’s trailed by just 5 points at three-quarter time (71-66) before Rosmini pulled away in the closing stages with Jameer Reed and Liam Bates contributing 18 of their 27 fourth quarter points.

The Te Ratana brothers tallied 27 points for the hosts while the Wyllie’s, Josh and Chris, registered 39 for Rosmini.

St Kentigern College 78 – Lepou 26, H Te Ratana 14, C Te Ratana 13, Noah Heke 8

Rosmini College 99 – J Wyllie 21, Reed 19, Bates 19, C Wyllie 18, Bart Jackowski 14

The promotion-relegation games to decide the make-up of the Boy’s and Girl’s Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grades were played on Friday night.

Two new teams will compete in the Girl’s Premier Grade while Mt Roskill Grammar School (pictured) will replace Rangitoto College after a thrilling 75-73 win in the Boy’s decider.

The winning basket was made by Alfred Kerr with the last play of the game – joy for Roskill and despair for Rangitoto.

Rangitoto 73 – Max Mudford 26, Michael Ropotini 21, William Cheng 17

Mt Roskill 75 – Haisem Osman 16, Alfred Kerr 15, Wai Tonga 14, Ezra Ogbuze 10, Zachan Kemen 10

In the other Boy’s play-off encounter St Peter’s College remain in premier grade after seeing off the challenge of Liston College with a comfortable 96-63 victory.

There was better news for Rangitoto College with the senior girls returning to Premier Grade after a one-sided 121-23 win against Baradene College. Rangitoto are promoted alongside Manurewa High School who replace St Mary’s College for the 2024 season commencing after the April school holidays.

Rangitoto 121 – Sienna Maurice 22, Kyree Rakena 20, Maddie Skelton 18, Eva Veale 14, Mela Andrews 13, Zoe Magiera 9

Baradene 23 – Odile Dolan 9, Talia Uluinayau 4