NZSS Basketball: 'AA' and 'A' competition updates

The first trophies have been awarded at the National Secondary Schools' Basketball Championships in Palmerston North. The A finals were contested tonight with a lopsided decider in the girls section and a nail-bitter in the boys. In the main (AA) event the top four has been decided. 
 
A Champions Decided
The A section of this tournament is essentially Division II. The silverware went to Opunake High School in the girls section and St. Kevin's College in the boys.

Opunake College thrashed Waihi College (78-46) in the girls decider. Waihi led 15-13 after the opening quarter, but trailed 40-23 at halftime as Opunake established a superiority they never relinquished.  Iritana Hohaia and Petra McCowatt top scored for Opunake with 22 points each. The former was also a formidable presence as well collecting 19 rebounds.
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In the boys final St Kevin's College edged Manukura 71-68. Manukura had the bigger side and dominated most statistics, except turnovers which they lost 19-11. St Kevin's capitalised on this slight, but crucial advantage to prevail. Youheng Peng had a colossal game with 21 points and 14 rebounds for the victors. For Manukura Matangirei Hipango scored 22 points and fetched 19 rebounds. Manukura outscored St. Kevin's 30-12 in the paint!
 
Boys
Defending champions Rangitoto College continued their commanding form, avenging their Auckland final defeat to Rosmini College. New Plymouth BHS will achieve their best-ever finish regardless of tomorrow's result while Auckland GS ended Christchurch's promising run and hosts Palmerston North BHS edged Westlake BHS in a thriller.
 
Quarter Final Results
Rangitoto: 71 v Rosmini: 52
New Plymouth BHS: 84 v Kelston BHS: 75
Auckland GS: 103 v Christchurch BHS: 93
Palmerston North BHS: 97 v Westlake BHS: 94
 
Friday Fixtures
3:15pm: Rangitoto College v Auckland GS
7:45pm: New Plymouth BHS v Palmerston BHS
 
Girls
St. Peter's Cambridge continued their rampant form eliminating New Plymouth GHS. Mount Albert Grammar School and Westlake GHS were easy winners over their respective opponents while Auckland Girls GS struggled past Hamilton GHS to ensure that the semi-finalists extend no further south than Hamilton.
 
Quarter Final Results
St. Peter's Cambridge: 60 v New Plymouth GHS: 36
Auckland Girls GS: 66 v Hamilton GHS: 63
Mount Albert Grammar School: 76 v Melville 55
Westlake GHS: 91 v Waimea College: 59
 
Friday Fixtures
1:30pm: St. Peter's, Cambridge v Westlake GHS
6:00pm: Mount Albert GS v Auckland Grammar Girls'

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