Manukura Girls and Te Aroha College Boys were crowned champions at the ‘A’ North Island Invitational Tournament hosted by Te Aroha Basketball Association on Saturday.
The Girls Grand Final featured 2018 Secondary Schools National Champions Manukura and Te Kura Kokiri (TKK) – it was Manukura that eventually prevailed winning 51-42.
It was close throughout with TKK ahead 39-35 at three-quarter time but they hit the wall at that point managing just a single field goal in the closing ten minutes.
Tournament MVP Legacy Harrison, who scored a game high 22 points, provided the initial thrust to wrestle the lead from TKK. Keana Royal, Geneva Harrison and Parris Mason made significant contributions to see Manukura dominating the fourth quarter winning it 16-3.
Taniko Gardiner, Ngawaiata Ranapia and Hiria Fraser worked tirelessly for TKK but they were unable to deny Manukura in the final quarter.
Final result:
- Manukura 51 – L Harrison 22, G Harrison 6, P Mason 6
- Te Kura Kokiri 42 – T Gardiner 19, N Ranapia 12, H Fraser 8
The Girls 3rd/4th Play-off game between Mercury Bay Area School and Tararua College was a repeat of last year’s bronze medal game at the Secondary Schools National Championships.
Mercury Bay won the 2019 encounter but it was Tararua that prevailed this year winning 71-45. Jasmine McCleery scored a game high 19 points for Mercury Bay but Tararua had four players in double figures headed by Taufau Toleafoa’s 18 points
- Tararua 71 – T Toleafoa 18, R Ngaruhe 17, H Ngaruhe 13, L Powick 12, K Oswald 7
- Mercury Bay 45 – J McCleery 19, E Hinds-Senior 13, T Tiro 8
Whangamata Area School were the fifth placed team.
Girls All-Star 5:
- Parris Mason (Manukura)
- Legacy Harrison (Manukura)
- Taufau Toleafoa (Tararua College)
- Taniko Gardiner (Te Kura Kokiri)
- Te Kira Wairaka (Te Kura Kokiri)
MVP Legacy Harrison (Manukura)
All the livestreamed games including the finals can be viewed here.
