Westlake Boys beat Rangitoto to remain unbeaten
Courtesy of LACEYLOWDOWN
A large vociferous crowd was in attendance for the game of the week in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier Grade Boys competition as the unbeaten pair of Westlake Boys High School and Rangitoto College went head to head.
Neither side was at full strength as Westlake’s Isaac Letoa and Rangitoto’s Sam Waardenburg are both representing New Zealand at the FIBA 3X3 Under 18 World Championships in Kazakhstan.
Cam Stone opened the scoring for Rangitoto and Dan Fotu glided to the basket for a couple of baskets prompting Westlake coach Phil Campbell to call an early timeout with his team 11-1 down.
A pair of Josh Hidalgo jumpers sparked a Westlake revival but Rangi were in control 23-15 at quarter time.
A Thabo Manyere block excited the visiting fans and when he converted a put back Lake were within five points. He and James Moors continued the Westlake second quarter resurgance but Stone converted three triples in as many minutes as Rangi edged the half 43-39.
A Logan Anderson baseline three followed by a Fotu break away dunk took the Rangi lead out to 57-44 but thereafter Westlake held most of the attacking cards.
A Moors block and fast break drive cut the lead to 62-56 then good work from Reuben Fitzgerald and Luke Day dragged it back to 63-61.
Manyere tied the scores, then made the go ahead free throws, 67-65 Westlake in the lead at the third interval.
Point guard Marc Malingin was busy for Westlake as he; Manyere, Moors and Greg Vukets stretched the advantage to 78-71 with 2:10 remaining.
Rangitoto coach Kenny Stone took his growing frustration out on referee Gareth Teahan and was hit with a technical in the closing moments. Moors scored from the subsequent free throws and despite scores from Stone and Zac Te Puni, Westlake were able to preserve their unbeaten start to the season as Malingin, Manyere and Moors again, calmly slotted home free throws.
For the second successive year Westlake stole the early season win on Rangitoto’s home court.
Final score:
Rangitoto 80 – Fotu 27, Stone 16, Anderson 9, Te Puni 8
Westlake 89 – Manyere 24/11, Moors 23/9, Fitzgerald 12, Vukets 8
Other Results
| Team | Opposition | Result | |
| Westlake Boys | Premiers | Rangitoto College | Won 89 – 80 |
| Westlake Boys | Senior A | WBHS Senior C | Won 83 – 55 |
| Westlake Boys | Senior B | Birkenhead College | Won 83 – 65 |
| Westlake Boys | Senior C | WBHS Senior A | Lost55 – 83 |
| Westlake Boys | Senior Junior Development | Takapuna Grammar School | Lost 24 – 100 |
| Westlake Boys | U17A | Kristin School Jade | Won 64 – 24 |
| Westlake Boys | U17B | WBHS U17 C | Won 69 – 58 |
| Westlake Boys | U17C | WBHS U17 B | Lost 58 – 69 |
| Westlake Boys | U17Red | Orewa College | Lost 35 – 38 |
| Westlake Boys | U17Green | Long Bay College | Lost 28 – 82 |
| Westlake Boys | U15Green | Orewa College | Lost 35 – 36 |
| Westlake Boys | U15Red | Northcote | Win 56 – 38 |