The Schick Championships Secondary Schools National ‘A’ Basketball Tournament came to a climax tonight in Palmerston North with both the Boys’ and Girls’ Grand Finals producing exciting finishes. At the final buzzers, Opunake High School beat Manukura to win the girls’ title, while Stratford High School beat Hillmorton High School for the boys’ title.
The ‘AA’ competition semi-finals will be played tomorrow.
Schick Championships – ‘A’ GIRLS’ GRAND FINAL
The Schick ‘A’ Girls’ Grand Final featured local side Manukura and Opunake High, an absorbing contest eventually won by the defending champions 58-56.
Isabelle Cook opened the scoring and Iritana Hohaia landed a three as Opunake started confidently. Rochelle Fourie and Kiwi Hunter-Rogan responded with some strong inside moves for Manukura that trailed 21-17 at quarter time.
Six straight points off turnovers from Hohaia prompted a timeout from Manukura coach Joe Frost with his team trailing 29-21. Mia Waiariki reduced the arrears briefly but Cook responded with an And 1 play to take the Opunake lead into double figures – 36-25.
A 6-0 Manukura run brought them back into the contest before Hohaia garnered another steal and converted the layup. The livewire point guard led all scorers at the interval with 18 points almost matched by Cook with 15 points as the defending champions led 40-31. Fourie was the best for Manukura with 13 points at an efficient 5 from 7 shooting.
A disgruntled Opunake coach Angelo Hill called an early second half timeout after Carys Dellinger was granted an open lay-up. Jessica Roach got the scoreboard moving again for Opunake with back to back outside shots – 44-34 in their favour at the midpoint of the third.
Forwards Cook and Fourie impressed for their team and it was Cook with steals on consecutive plays plus a basket in transition that kept Opunake ahead 46-37 with two minutes to play in the third.
Brody Manson scored a couple of baskets in the shadows of three-quarter time to cut the Opunake lead to three points (47-44) at the last break.
Harata Coleman trimmed the Opunake lead to a single point but soon after lost Fourie as she picked up her fifth foul.
Tenaeya Sutcliffe made a basket for Opunake but with both teams tiring scoring slowed significantly.
Cook scored inside with a neat left handed basket but a triple from Coleman plus a freebie after being fouled and then a lay up from the lively Manson tied the scores at 53 apiece with 3:30 to play.
Harata restored the Opunake lead – 56-53 – reduced by a Carys Dellinger free throw with 1:09 to play.
Dellinger tied the scores in the final 20 seconds much to the delight of the home support only for Tournament MVP Isabelle Cook to seal the game with 8 seconds to play.
An emotional Opunake coach Angelo Hill was extremely happy after the game.
“We have a family culture at the school and this team is an extension of my family,” he said.
“I’m demanding, I’m tough on them, but I love them like my own family – they busted their tails off for me.
“It was an intense final and I must commend Joe (Manukura coach Joe Frost) because his team has improved so much this year and they deserve great credit.
“Isabelle (Cook), Iritana (Hohaia) and Simone (Cooke) have been our rocks this season. Simone couldn’t get her shot off tonight, but her leadership and composure has been key’” Hill added.
FINAL SCORE:
• Opunake 58 – Hohaia 23, I Cook 22, Roach 4, Sutcliffe 4
• Manukura Fourie 56 – Fourie 14, Coleman 12, Manson 8, Dellinger 7, Hunter-Rogan 7
(Third and fourth place result: Nga Taiatea Wharekura, 72. Te Aroha College, 57.)
Girls’ Schick Championships ‘A’ Competition Final Teams Placings
1st Opunake High School
2nd Manukura
3rd Te Kura Kokiri
4th Te Aroha College
5th Buller High School
6th Stratford High School
7th Aquinas College
8th Hillmorton High School
9th Ellesmere College
10th Te Wharekura o Mauao
Girls’ Schick Championships ‘A’ Competition MVP
Isabelle Cook (Opunake High School)
Girls’ Schick Championships ‘A’ Competition Tournament Team
1.Sally Kurei (Te Kura Kokiri)
2.Tayla Sweeney (Te Aroha College)
3.Nicole Stuart (Buller High School)
4.Katie Jones (Stratford High School)
5.Briarley Rogers (Aquinas College)
6.Simone Cook (Opunake High School)
7.Rochelle Fourie (Manukura)
8.Iritana Hohaia (Opunake High School)
9.Harata Coleman (Manukura)
10.Isabelle Cook (Opunake High School)
Girls’ ‘A’ Competition Third Place Officials
Joel La Roache & Mikayla Ludlow
Girls’ Final Officials
Te Kirikauri Pene & Darcy Hika-Munroe
Schick Championships – ‘A’ BOYS’ GRAND FINAL
The Boys’ Grand Final was a north versus south match up as Canterbury representatives Hillmorton High School took on Taranaki’s Stratford High School.
A fast paced opening period was won 24-19 by Stratford with double digit contributions from Willem Ratu and Cameron Trethewey.
Trethewey was proving a handful on the boards, his put back stretching the Stratford lead to 31-21. Fletcher Jennings stretched the lead further before Ihaia Kendrew and Aleni Paulo converted after some Stratford ill-discipline.
A Morgan Trott tip-in was answered by a Joshua Nickel triple but Stratford was in control at the break with a 41-28 lead.
Trethewey led all scorers with 19 points ably assisted by Ratu’s 17 points. Kendrew kept the Stratford defence busy making a dozen points for Hillmorton.
Latrell Treka opened the second half scoring with a pair of triples and a break away lay up and although Kendrew and Mahonri Tauiliili-Pau punctured the Stratford defence the lead was still twenty points 53-33 in favour of Stratford.
Another three, this time from Ratu, prompted a timeout from Hillmorton coach Marques Whippy with the scoreline 63-43 in favour of Stratford. Hillmorton scored the last six points of the quarter including a three from Aleni Paulo, but still trailed 63-45 with ten minutes to play.
Stratford was dealt a blow early in the fourth when Trethewey fouled out and to compound the problem Hillmorton scored the first eight points of the final quarter to close to 63-53.
Trott finally initiated the scoring for Stratford – they led 67-53 with 5:30 to play – coach Willie Banks deciding a timeout was prudent.
Sakaria Maoluma scored for Hillmorton off a neat inside pass and Tauiliili-Pau from a penetrative drive 68-59 with 3:30 to play.
Trott fouled out and Kendrew nailed a sideline three – 68-62 with 3:15 to play.
Both teams exchanged baskets before Kendrew nailed another three – 70-67 with two minutes to play.
Ratu eased the pressure with free throws (72-67) and a terrific left handed floater before Kendrew yet again landed from beyond the arc.
Whippy strategized in a timeout but his charges trailed 76-70 with 31 seconds to play – Brad Cross made the jump shot after the restart, but Ratu iced the game from the foul line to carry his team to a hard earned 77-72 victory.
Stratford coach Willie Banks paid credit to Hillmorton for the second half comeback they staged.
“Even though we forged a twenty point lead at one stage, I knew they had the ability to make a run and we couldn’t rest on our laurels – we were holding on at the end.
“Willem Ratu was justifiably named MVP, and along with Morgan Trott and Cameron Trethewey were the backbone of our team. I’m blessed to have shared the journey to the championship title with them,” said Banks.
FINAL SCORE:
• Stratford 77 – Ratu 32, Teka 13, Trethewey 11, Trott 10
• Hillmorton 72 – Kendrew 30, Nickel 13, Tauiliili-Pau 12, Sakaria 10
(Third and fourth place result: Te Kura Kokiri took third place after defeating Te Aroha College, 82-68.)
Boys’ Schick Championships ‘A’ Competition Final Team Placings
1st Stratford High School
2nd Hillmorton High School
3rd Nga Taiatea Wharekura
4th Te Aroha College
5th St Kevins College
6th Manukura
7th Greymouth High School
8th Otaki College
9th Onewhero Area School
10th Catholic Cathedral College
11th Te Kuiti High School
Boys’ Schick Championships ‘A’ Competition MVP
Willem Ratu (Stratford High School)
Boys’ Schick Championships ‘A’ Competition Tournament Team
1. Patrick Ransfield (Otaki College)
2. Cai Zepeng (St Kevins College)
3. Nicholas White (Te Aroha)
4. Manahi Short (Nga Taiatea Wharekura)
5. Shae Brown (Manukura)
6. Morgan Trott (Stratford High School)
7. Joshua Nickel (Hillmorton High School)
8. Cameron Tretheway (Stratford High School)
9. Ihaia Kendrew (Hillmorton high School)
10. Willem Ratu (Stratford High School)
Boys’ Schick Championships ‘A’ Competition Third Place Officials
Reagan Ashley & Devyn Showler
Boys Final Officials
Danielle Kooge & Tamatea Bennett
PREVIEW – AA SEMI FINALS AND QUARTER FINALS WRAP
The semi-finalists of the Schick Championships ‘AA’ Boys Competition have been found. Multiple championship winners Westlake Boys were eliminated by Auckland rivals Mt Albert Grammar. After only their second season in the Premiere Grade after a eight year absence, and a tough season with injuries and sick players, MAGs are having a great tournament.
Rangitoto College prevailed against Palmerston North Boys’ High for the second successive year in a thrilling game. Mt Albert will take on Rangitoto College after the defending champions beat local favourites Palmerston North 65-54 in front of a large crowd at the Central Energy Trusts Arena.
Rosmini College outlasted Rongotai College with a decisive third quarter taking the Zone 1 champions to a 91-75 victory. Rosmini will meet Christ’s College with the South Island representatives edging Auckland Grammar 79-74.
‘AA’ Boys’ Competition Quarter-Final Results:
• Rosmini College 91 Rongotai College 75
• Auckland Grammar 74 v Christ’s College 79
• Westlake Boys 50 v Mt Albert Grammar 68
• Palmerston North Boys 54 v Rangitoto College 65
Defending champions St Peter’s, Cambridge will face Auckland Girls’ Grammar in the Schick Championships ‘AA’ Girls semi-finals after defeating a resilient Westlake Girls 65-58. Auckland Grammar, as they did in the Auckland Premiership Grand Final, stole the win (76-75) in the dying seconds.
In the other semi-final it will be Zone 3 winners St Mary’s that will take on Melville High. St Mary’s proved far too strong for Hutt Valley High beating its rivals from the capital 81-52. Melville won the Waikato derby defeating Hamilton Girls’ High 65-47.
Girls Quarter-Final Results:
• St Peter’s, Cambridge 65 Westlake Girls 58
• Mt Albert Grammar 75 Auckland Girls Grammar 76
• St Mary’s College 81 Hutt Valley High 52
• Hamilton Girls High 47 Melville High 65
