WBHS Premier Basketball vs Kelston Boys High School
On Friday night Westlake’s Premier Basketballers played their first competition game in the new gym facility. Kelston Boys High School, newly promoted for 2016 were very keen to test themselves in the Auckland Premier Competition and brought great intensity from the opening Tip Off. The first quarter showed the offensive skill of both teams with great ball movement, leading to easy shots and open lanes. Both teams could not contain the other team on the defensive end and by the end of the quarter there was only 3 points in it.
Both teams brought much better defensive pressure in the second quarter. Westlake managed to limit Kelston’s top scoring threat Jakzst, thanks to some great man on man denial defence from Scott Telfer. On the offensive end Isaac Letoa led from the front, scoring and creating a lot of ball movement. Reuben Fitzgerald and James Moors kept the scoreboard ticking over with some great shooting. Westlake had pulled away into the half, to lead 58-44.
During the third quarter Westlake kept pulling away with some great defence, continuing great shot making from the first half. By now all the Westlake players were easing into the first game of the competition season. Going into the final period Westlake was leading by 25 points.
In the final quarter Kelston kept up the intensity and started to the lead back early in the quarter. After an early timeout both Thabo Manyere and Isaac Letoa went back onto the floor focused and wanting to close the game out. Both players scored the majority of Westlake’s fourth quarter points. Westlake closed the game out, taking their first home win in the New Gym with a 99-78 victory. Captain Isaac Letoa led from the front with 35 points and James Moors scored a great 18 points. Scott Telfer’s lock down defensive effort on Kelston’s best player helped the team pull away after a very tight first quarter.