LACEY LOWDOWN

Just three Schick National Championships qualifying spots remain to be decided after Day 3 action at the Schick Premierships Zone 1 Qualifiers at NSEC on Friday.

The six girls places have been finalised but three boys places are still to be settled on Saturday.

The Girls Tournament ended up going to form with the top six ranked teams from the Auckland Premier Grade securing places at the Schick National Championships in Palmerston North early next month.

With the semi-finalists having already booked their places most interest centered around the two play-off places for the remaining two places.

Massey High proved too good for Epsom Girls winning 80-52 and in a tighter encounter St Mary’s outlasted Carmel College to win 75-58.

St Mary’s 75 – J Kailahi-Fulu 25, Z Kailahi-Fulu 25, S Te Nana-Williams 9, A Moore 8

Carmel 58 – T Dalton 26, I Cattermole 11, I MacGregor 7, E Broomfield 6

Massey 80 – S Povey 25, R Fuiavaa 17, T Aratangi 9, A Schuster 7

Epsom 52 – F Dallow 15, S Aruwa 13, A Todd-Pemerika 6

In the semi-finals there were wins for Mt Albert and Auckland Girls Grammar. Mt Albert lost to Westlake at the same stage of proceedings last year but on this occasion prevailed 68-55.

Rangitoto pushed Auckland Grammar all the way for the second time in two weeks but again came up just short going down 61-57.

Girls Semi-Final Results:

 AGGS 61 – H Blakey 19, M Latu 14, Z Hettig 12, L Tuaiti 10

Rangitoto 57 – H Wentworth 15, G Hasler-Ewins 13, I Elgar 10, A Rogers 9

MAGS 68 – S Pupuke-Robati 20, R Fiatau 12, J Manase 11, T Talo-Tomokino 10

Westlake 55 – J Moors 11, E Shearer 9, M Davidson 6, E Pugh 6

Meanwhile in the Boys Tournament the four quarter-final winners (see results below) can relax with their places in Palmerston North now secure.

St Kentigern lost to Mt Albert in the semi-finals of the Auckland Premier competition last month but turned the tables on this occasion to win 74-66.

Rosmini didn’t need to get out of first gear to see off surprise package Selwyn College and although Macleans College put up more resistance against Auckland Grammar they were still comfortably beaten 80-57.

The tightest game was between Westlake and Rangitoto. Westlake fought back from a double figure deficit but couldn’t overcome a determined Rangi effort.

Rangitoto will play St Kentigern in one semi-final with AGS and Rosmini set to meet in the other.

Boys Quarter-Final Results:

Rosmini 117 – J Boucher 14, T Murray 13, T Morgan 13, S Murphy 12

Selwyn 30 – Z Pene 8, R Woodbridge 7, R Noguera-Perez 6

St Kentigern 74 – S Broughton 21, M Shorter 14, L Kerr 14

Mt Albert 66 – S Tawera 21, N Wilson 16, M Dorcill 15, C Pinono 11

Westlake 80 – T Cowie 30, S Mennenga 25, J Wuthrich 6

Rangitoto 83 – E Skelton 20, H Payne 19, L McIntosh 14, T Te Puni 9

AGS 80 – A Rissetto 26, T McCarthy 12, C Ngan 11, T Caldwell 8

Macleans 57 – T Kempton 15, M Babaran 12, T Hughson 10, H Smith 8, S Kuvelkar 8

The four losing teams will scrap for the remaining qualifying places on Saturday with at least one non Auckland Premier team (Macleans College or Selwyn College) guaranteed a trip to Palmerston North.

 The Boys teams are fighting over seven qualifying spots for Nationals whilst the Girls teams contested six places.

Boys Pools Final Standings – Top two teams advanced to quarter-finals

Pool A

5-0 Rosmini

4-1 St Kentigern

3-2 Liston

2-3 Northcote

1-4 Long Bay

0-5 Manurewa

Pool B

• Rangitoto

3-2 Macleans

3-2 Mt Roskill

3-2 St Peter’s

1-4 Birkenhead

0-5 Waiuku

Pool C

5-0 Mt Albert

4-1 Selwyn

3-2 Whangarei

2-3 Massey

1-4 Kelston

0-5 Onehunga

Pool D

5-0 Auckland Grammar

4-1 Westlake

3-2 Avondale

2-3 Orewa

1-4 Pakuranga

0-5 Kristin

Four qualifiers for the Schick Secondary Schools Nationals have been found after Day 2 action at the AA Premierships Zone 1 Qualifiers at NSEC on Thursday.

All four are in the Girls Tournament which is at a more advanced stage than their male counterparts with quarter-finals completed on Thursday.

All four winners below now advance to the National Championships in Palmerston North early next month.

Quarter-Finals Results:

Auckland Grammar 73 St Mary’s 55

Westlake 85 Massey 60

Mt Albert 66 Epsom 44

Rangitoto 79 Carmel 63

The four losing teams are left to sweat over the remaining two places on offer for Nationals with two winner-takes-all battles scheduled for early Friday afternoon – Carmel will face St Mary’s and Massey will lineup against Epsom.

Meanwhile in the Boys Tournament six teams remain unbeaten.

In Pool A Rosmini and St Kentigern are both 4-0 and will put their unbeaten records on the line on Friday morning when they face each other.

 In Pool B Rangitoto have a perfect record although three other teams are also in contention for a quarter-final place. The Rangitoto versus St Peter’s and Mt Roskill against Macleans ties on Friday morning will decide the top four placings.

 Mt Albert have recorded four straight wins in Pool C and the winner of the Selwyn College versus Whangarei game early on Friday will join them in the quarters – both have an identical 3-1 record.

 In Pool D Auckland Grammar and Westlake (both 4-0) have secured play-off berths – the two will do battle to decide top place at 12.30pm on Friday.

The Boys teams are fighting over seven qualifying spots for Nationals with the Girls teams competing for six places.

Boys Standings after Day 2

Pool A

4-0 Rosmini, St Kentigern

2-2 Liston

1-3 Northcote, Long Bay

0-4 Manurewa

Pool B

4-0 Rangitoto

3-1 Mt Roskill, St Peter’s

2-2 Macleans

0-4 Birkenhead, Waiuku

Pool C

4-0 Mt Albert

3-1 Whangarei, Selwyn

1-3 Kelston, Massey

0-4 Onehunga

Pool D

4-0 Auckland Grammar, Westlake

2-2 Avondale

1-3 Pakuranga, Orewa

0-4 Kristin

Mt Roskill Grammar produced the biggest upset on Day 1 of the Schick Premierships Zone 1 Qualifiers at NSEC on Wednesday beating Premier side St Peter’s College 77-63 in Pool B action.

The win gives Mt Roskill, the Greater Auckland Open Grade champions, a shot at a quarter-final place if they can overcome Senior A champions Macleans College on Day 2.

Selwyn College also had a notable win squeaking past Massey High by 106-105 in Pool C. Also in Pool C Whangarei Boys are also very much in contention after recording two wins on the opening day and sit equal top of the pool alongside Mt Albert.

Other ties went largely to form with the Auckland Premier teams emerging largely unscathed in other fixtures.

In the only all-Premier tie on Day 1 Westlake won a high scoring encounter against Avondale 104-94.

The Premier Girls teams all emerged unscathed – all seven teams look certain to qualify for the quarter-finals later on Day 2 with Epsom rounding out the last eight.

The Boys teams are fighting over seven qualifying spots with the Girls teams competing for six places for the Schick National Championships in Palmerston North next month.

Boys Standings after Day 1

Pool A

2-0 Rosmini, St Kentigern

1-1  Liston, Long Bay

0-2 Northcote, Manurewa

Pool B

2-0 Rangitoto, Macleans

1-1  Mt Roskill, St Peter’s

0-2 Birkenhead, Waiuku

 Pool C

2-0 Mt Albert, Whangarei

1-1 Selwyn, Kelston

0-2 Massey, Onehunga

Pool D

2-0 Auckland Grammar, Westlake

1-1  Pakuranga, Avondale

0-2 Orewa, Kristin

Girls Standings after Day 1

Pool A

1-0  Auckland Grammar

1-1 Epsom

0-1 Orewa

Pool B

1-0  Westlake, Carmel

0-2 Birkenhead

Pool C

1-0 St Mary’s, Mt Albert

0-2 Mt Roskill

Pool D

2-0 Massey, Rangitoto

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0-2 Avondale, Long Bay

The Schick Secondary Schools Nationals Qualifying Tournaments are underway.

The 24 spots at the AA Nationals for both Boys and Girls teams commenced today and we will be keeping an eye on proceedings.

Here is a preview of the action.

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Cashmere High are back-to-back McDonald’s Thomson Trophy champions, defeating Rangiora in a convincing 86-61 win in the last game of season, with Nic Wenmoth taking the Finals MVP award (19PTS, 7REB). During the first half both teams kept the game close with the score being 36-31 to Cashmere. When the fourth quarter started Rangiora struggled to score and Cashmere took advantage consistently making easy buckets. The Cashmere bench outscored Rangiora’s 36-6 over the entire game, which helped contribute to their biggest lead of 26 points.

In the first quarter both teams traded buckets, Jack Exeter setting the pace of the game driving hard to the rim each time and his partner Lachie MacFarlane hitting some jump shots for Rangiora. But Cashmere’s ability to get the free throw line, stopping Rangiora’s momentum, was pivotal. The quarter ended 17-15 in Cashmere’s favour, with Thomas Webley leading the scoring with eight points after ten minutes.

Cashmere’s Louis Oskam also ended the first quarter on a strong note, and started the second quarter with consecutive jump shots. Rangiora answered and levelled the score thanks to MacFarlane’s mid-range shooting. In the last three minutes of the half, Paul Conner made liberal use of his substitutes, giving the starters some rest for the next half. Impact sub Finn Barclay managed to drain a three and followed this with a pair of free throws and Cashmere’s defensive presence were able to maintain the lead going into the half 36-31.

The third quarter action started off with Cashmere bringing their starters back. In the first four minutes here Oskam and Wenmoth combined for 11 points, but Exeter and MacFarlane dug deep to bring the Rangiora team back into the game, linking for 13-points to make the game 55-51 with two minutes left in the period. Cashmere again subbed their bench in, and managed to see out the third quarter up 61-53.

 With only ten minutes to go, Cashmere resting their starting players was essential for their fourth quarter dominance, as they went on a 14-2 run. Quick transition buckets from Cashmere’s starting line-up made the game 75-55 with only six minutes remaining. Rangiora had no answer now, and struggled to get a defensive stop. Exeter managed to sink a couple of free throws, but immediately at the other end, Quinten Conner delivered a back-breaking three. Cashmere did not stop there and continued to show their hard-work and ability by scoring on almost every possession. Paul Conner’s team outscored their opponents in the fourth quarter 25-8. Oskam finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds, while Jack Exeter and Lachie MacFarlane both scored 18 points.

Paul Connor said this after the win: “As a team we knew Rangiora were going to come out firing and step up for the final. They did this which produced challenges for our team, which we needed to adjust to constantly.

“Rangiora are a well-coached team and their lead players play to their strengths efficiently. Our team’s depth shone through in the fourth quarter, but until then Rangiora were in the game and we knew they will be a challenge if we meet them at the South Island Premiership next week.

In the McDonald’s Whelan Division One Final between Rangi Ruru and St. Andrew’s, it was Charlotte Whittaker who put on a show for the crowd. Whittaker started the game by scoring 13 of St. Andrew’s points in the first quarter, coming from all areas around the court. Rangi Ruru’s Alice Sproat (17PTS,14REB) made a strong first impression as she scored six in the quarter. This helped get the two-time defending champions into a rhythm. However, with the rest on the team struggling from the field, the first quarter ended being 24-11 to St. Andrew’s.

In the second quarter, it was a similar story. St. Andrew’s had all the momentum with multiple players scoring easy buckets. At the four-minute mark the score was 35-20, and it seemed like Rangi Ruru had no answer for stopping them. Whittaker and Millie Nesbit combined for 11 points here, allowing St. Andrew’s to take a 42-22 lead into the second half.

StAC continued to dominate Rangi Ruru in the second half. Sproat and Ashlee Strawbridge (20PTS, 13REB) managed to bring a bit of life into the team here, as they combined to score 8-points. They were still no match for Whittaker and her ability in the low post, as she alone managed to score 10-points in the third quarter. Notably for St. Andrew’s Billie Watson, Nesbit and Te Rina Cooper also contributed to the score and helped create a comfortable 23-point lead going into the fourth, up 61-38.

With the division title sitting very comfortably in the hands of St. Andrew’s and out of sight for Rangi Ruru, Strawbridge managed to create a late run scoring 10-points in the quarter with a pair of threes. With the help of Sproat’s 6-points in the quarter, the lead was cut down to 13. But St. Andrew’s tactic of feeding Whittaker in the post proved impossible to guard consistently, as she scored another 10-points in a quarter. With 45 seconds left remaining Whittaker delivered a dagger three right through the heart of Rangi Ruru, helping her team close out the game 73-59.

To nobody’s surprise Charlotte Whittaker was named Finals MVP award with an extremely impressive performance of 40 points, 18 rebounds and 5 steals.

From James Lissaman

Macleans College Boys and Botany Downs Secondary College Girls have gained promotion to the 2019 Premier Grade competition after contrasting Senior A Grand Final wins.

Macleans led from start to finish to beat Liston College 88-64 whereas Botany Downs were forced to come from behind to defeat Epsom Girls Grammar 61-54.

MacLeans had 12 points on the board before their opponents made a basket and that was extended to 31-5 by quarter time as nothing went right for Liston.

Things improved for Liston in the second quarter but they were still in trouble at half-time trailing 45-23.

A good third frame ensued for Liston, a mighty effort getting them within eleven points at the three-quarter mark (55-44).

That was as close as it got – Macleans reeled off a 9-0 run to open the fourth period and cruised through the closing stages to claim the win, the Senior A trophy and a return to the Premier Grade for coach Adrian Boyd and his charges after an absence of just one season.

Macleans captain Sai Kuvelkar played extremely well on both end of the floor and he received excellent assistance from Tyson Kempton and Michael Babaran.

Liston gained terrific service from Edward Maagdenburg, Lev Prokov and Kiani Saxon but will now have to wait until next April to secure a spot in the Premier Division – a play-off game against St Peter’s College awaits them.

Macleans College 88

Liston College 64

Epsom Girls chose the wrong time to relinquish their unbeaten record in the Senior A competition, run down in the fourth quarter by a fast finishing Botany Downs, to lose their first game of the season.

It was tight throughout but Epsom did lead 45-42 at three-quarter-time and 52-48 midway through the last.

However the loss of three starters, all falling victims of the five foul count, meant Epsom were powerless to halt the Botany charge.

Tafito Pomarlina Lafaele made the go-ahead points (53-52) with 2:36 to play but it was Sophia and Ngapipi Herewini that did most of the damage. The pair combined for 16 points in the final quarter (43 points in the game) to carry Botany to Premier status.

Earlier the two teams tied the opening period 16 points apiece before Epsom dominated the second quarter to establish a 35-27 half-time lead – Aria Todd-Pemerika and Sarah-Joy Aruwa combining for 13 second quarter points for Epsom.

Florence Dallow scored eight straight points for Epsom in the third but Sophia Herewini notched half a dozen for Botany as they reduced the deficit to three points with ten minutes to play.

Critically Dallow and Aruwa both fouled out early in the fourth and although Sarah Scoular and Todd-Pemerika made baskets it was Epsom that dominated the closing minutes to clinch automatic promotion.

Botany Downs 61 – S Herewini 24, N Herewini 19, T Herewini 8, T Lafaele

Epsom 54 – F Dallow 14, A Todd-Pemerika 11, S Aruwa 9, M Satele 6, S Scoular 6

Other 2018 College Sport Auckland Secondary Schools Basketball Championship results.

Junior Boys

Auckland Grammar 36 – Cody Brown 9, Caleb Landon 9, Toby Caldwell 7, Daniel Boyd 5

Westlake Boys 30 – Harry Barnard 7, Tawhiao Kaitapu 7, Ethan Winch 6

Junior Girls

Carmel College 33 – Katie Linstrom 15, Qaizden Stephano 6, Marina Lough 5

Onehunga High 32 – Eden Ill 12, Jada Tairea 8, Tina Tu’ifua 8

U17 Girls

Auckland Girls Grammar 36 – Heeni Blakey 19, Imogene Noble 9,

Massey High 28 – Levi Fuimaono 6, Yzabelle Taveo 6, Ramona Fuiavaa 5

U17 Boys

St Kentigern College 41 – Alex McNaught 19, Martin Gan 9, Levic Kerr 8

Rangitoto College 35 – Ethan Skelton 13, Tautoko Wynyard 10

Open Girls

Westlake Red 47 – Samantha Woolford 17, Isabel Pugh 15, Maia McBirney 8

Aorere College 28 – Maria Tatupu 10, Mary Masoe 5, Maama Vaipulu 5

Open Boys

Mt Roskill Grammar 55 – Justin Sapoi 14, Harjot Johal 9, Isaiah Halafihi 9, Harlem Iaea 6, Sephaniah Damu 6

Long Bay College 35 – Hayden Druce 11, Tobeas Livock 11

Mount Albert Grammar inflicted on Auckland Girls Grammar just their second defeat in the past two Premier seasons to take out the Auckland Secondary Schools Championship winning 59-52 at North Shore Events Centre on Friday.

Opposing forwards Mele Latu and Rikki Fiatau were prominent early on as Mt Albert forged a 12-6 lead in a tight opening spell.

Laetitia Tuaiti knocked down a three for Auckland but Sharne Pupuke-Robati (a team high 21 points) replied in similar fashion for Mt Albert.

Latu had a spell on the bench after picking up three early fouls but on her return she reeled off ten points and although Fiatau scored eight points in the second quarter Auckland led 28-27 at half-time.

The outstanding Latu, who led all scorers with 26 points, continued with the hot hands in the third and aided by Elianna Tuaiti and Tyla Tuala the defending champions opened up a 38-33 advantage.

After a quick time out Mt Albert made their move – a third triple in the game from Pupuke-Robati was followed by baskets from Moanekah Va’ai and Fiatau, when Jada Manase peeled off a pair of threes Mt Albert had enjoyed a 15-2 run and led 48-40 at three-quarter time.

Pupuke-Robati stretched the lead to ten but an Elianna Tuaiti And-1 play trimmed the deficit.

It was cat and mouse in the middle stages of the final quarter with both sides searching for the ascendancy – Zhanay Hettig scored inside for Auckland but they still trailed by five (53-48) inside the final four minutes.

Latu scored her sixth triple of the game but a basket from Manase an a calmly made pair of free throws from Va’ai gave Mt Albert the victory – one that has eluded them against their arch rivals for the past couple of years.

MAGS 59 – S Pupuke-Robati 21, R Fiatau 15, J Manase 9, M Va’ai 8

AGGS 52 – M Latu 26, E Tuaiti 9, T Tuala 7

Rosmini College won the 2018 Auckland Secondary Schools Premier title by defeating Mt Albert Grammar 80-48 in front of 1,500 strong crowd at North Shore Events Centre on Friday night.

The two teams had identical 15-1 records heading into the contest but it was Rosmini that made the brighter opening with Mitch Dance and Kruz Perrott-Hunt combining for their three opening scores as Rosmini forged an early 9-0 lead.

Clarke Aiono got Mt Albert on the scoreboard but threes from Dance and Marvin Williams-Dunn gave Rosmini an 18-8 quarter-time lead.

More threes from Jayden Boucher and Perrott-Hunt pushed the Rosmini advantage beyond twenty before MAGS struck back through an And-1 play from Nate Wilson and points from Chayse Pinono, making a welcome return to the team after injury.

Dance led all scorers at half-time with thirteen points – Rosmini ahead 38-20.

MAGS point guard Sataan Tawera, who was to play all fourty minutes, dropped a triple but the early stages of the third became an arm wrestle as both defence dominated for both teams, highlighted by an athletic block from Wilson that impressed the travelling Lions supporters.

Ryan Laumatia knocked down a couple of trademark elbow jump shots but midway through the period the MAGS captain had to be helped from the court with a nasty looking knee injury – it’s to be hoped not a season ending one.

A Tom Seuren basket off a deft Perrott-Hunt pass and an And-1 play from Thomas Morgan pushed the Rosmini advantage out to 55-34 at three-quarter time.

MAGS had hauled back a sixteen point three-quarter time deficit in their semi-final against St Kentigern last week but any chance of a similar feat was snuffed out as Kainoa Lepou and Taine Murray stretched the Rozza lead beyond thirty.

The hard working Wilson, close to a double-double with 13 points and 9 rebounds, and the guard duo of Pinono and Tawera ensured the regular season champions finished on the front foot but they couldn’t deny Rosmini their second title in three years.

Rosmini 80 – M Dance 24, K Perrott-Hunt 17, M Williams-Dunn 11, T Murray 8

MAGS 48 – N Wilson 13, S Tawera 11, C Pinono 9, R Laumatia 8