What: Auckland Premier Basketball Final
When: Thursday evening (27 August 2015), tip-off 7.30pm
Where: North Shore Events Centre
By Nic Sullivan
The two heavyweights of Auckland basketball over the last few years, Westlake Boys High School and Rangitoto College will meet in the 2015 Auckland Premier Basketball Competition Final this Thursday evening at NSEC.
The teams have already met twice this season and it was Westlake who had the upperhand in both games. Their first meeting of the year was at Rangitoto’s Gym with both teams having their full squads available. It was a very closely contested game but Westlake was able to pull away in the fourth quarter to take the win 70-62. Only two weeks ago the sides met for their final round robin game, an important match that would be the decider as to who would go through to the playoffs as the number one seed. Unfortunately both teams were shorthanded because of international duties and injuries. However, it still proved to be a great game that came down until the final minutes with Westlake again coming out as victor, taking the win 84-77. Westlake has had a very good season up until now, only dropping two matches during the middle of the season, even though they have had key players overseas and battled with injuries. The boys will go into this Final with the confidence that they have gained throughout the season.
This year’s team has a number of key Year 13 players and representatives at both national and regional level. Matt Freeman has had an outstanding year so far, winning the 3×3 Basketball U18 World Championship with the New Zealand team; playing for New Zealand U18 in Fiji; named as trialist for the Tall Blacks; being invited to NBA Basketball Without Borders Camp in New York and the Adidas Nations in Long Beach, California. Only two weeks ago Matt committed to the University of Oklahoma for 2016. Starting Point Guard Isaac Letoa has also had a great year being invited over to the Nike All Asia Camp, as one of only two players from New Zealand. These two players have shown great leadership alongside co-captain and Westlake Premier Basketball stalwart, Logan Hunt who played his 100th Premier Basketball game for Westlake in the semi-final win over Onehunga. It is also great to get Thabo Manyere back from playing with the New Zealand U17 Team (along with four of the Rangitoto players).
Rangitoto will also come into the final looking for the win and retain the Auckland title that they won last year. In their successful season, they have only dropped three games and will have all of their New Zealand representative players back for the final. Rangitoto has battled all season with many of its team missing games due to representative duties. One of their key players Tai Wynyard is back after playing for the Tall Blacks in their series against Australia and helping them win the Stankovic Cup. Tai has also had a very impressive year; along with being a Tall Black, he also helped the New Zealand U18 Team win the 3×3 World Championship (being named MVP) and has also committed to the University of Kentucky for 2016. Rangitoto also field a large number of age grade New Zealand and Regional Representatives, so will be very confident going into the game.
Basketball at Westlake Boys and Rangitoto College is an extremely popular sport and has provided both schools with some of their best results, nationally and regionally over the last few years. Westlake Boys have won the National Title in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2013. In the last championship in 2013 Westlake overcame Rangitoto in the National Final (Rangitoto’s best result at Nationals). Last year at Nationals, Westlake was second and Rangitoto finished third. Rangitoto are the current holders of the Auckland Premier Basketball Trophy after knocking Westlake out in the semi-final last year. The rivalry has been fierce over the last few years, with 11 games played (Auckland Competition, National Qualifying and National Championships) in the last three years with Westlake holding the advantage 7 to 4 in wins. Both teams have produced multiple Tall Blacks, with many of those recent players in the current team. For Westlake Jarrod Kenny, Thomas Abercrombie, Corey Webster, Rob Loe and for Rangitoto Isaac Fotu, along with current student Tai Wynyard. Many other Tall Blacks from the last few seasons have also come out of Westlake Boys, Kirk Penney, Tai Webster and Jack Salt.
The Auckland Premier Basketball Title has been dominated by North Shore schools over the past 10 years with seven titles ending up north of the Bridge. Rangitoto had it first title last year and will be looking to retain it. Westlake has won seven titles in 1995, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and its last in 2012. This final should be fantastic, pitting the two top teams in Auckland against one another. In what should be a very even match throughout, this one could go either way. Westlake Boys will fight hard to continue its winning ways over Rangitoto College this year. Rangitoto will want to get that first win over their rivals.
