College sport: Highs have it at basketball champs

There's been plenty of high scoring action at the national secondary schools basketball finals on the North Shore this week.

One of the leading teams, Wanganui City, features 2.02m (6ft 7in) Michael Manawaiti, who helped his team to overcome Hillcrest High 95-60.

Defending champs Church College are in their group and are so far unbeaten but yet to hit their stride.

Westlake Boys are strong in their pool while Nelson College are heading group B and feature Nelson Giants NBL player Jeremiah Trueman.

In the girls' competition Takapuna Grammar's Junior Tall Fern Micaela Cocks scored 57 of her side's points in their 104-90 loss to Mana College. Cocks scored her team's first and last 10 points, with a 14-point run of her own to close out the second quarter.

Her tally featured six three-pointers.

She also scored 31 points in her side's 63-39 win over Waimea College.

Defending girls champs Church College are unbeaten after putting Northcote to the sword 107-43.

Starting point guard Harmony Turner took a nasty fall but didn't do any major damage.

Top Auckland-based side Avondale looks odds-on to win section C.

RUGBY

Wesley have won through to the final of the national 1st XV knockout competition after dispatching Hamilton Boys High 34-10 in the semifinals.

HBHS opened the scoring with a drop goal and led 10-7 at halftime.

But Wesley, led by Sione Lea in the forwards, stormed back with lineout domination and a good forward platform.

The loss was just the fourth this year for Hamilton Boys.

They won the Tricolor Trophy and Waikato schools title, finished second in the Super 8 competition and advanced to the national final four.

Wesley will host Christchurch Boys High in Saturday's national final at midday which has special importance as the Moascar Cup is also up for grabs.

BADMINTON

Westlake Boys player Chance Cheng has an opportunity to take away another title when he lines up for the start of the New Zealand junior boys badminton championships in Auckland today.

Cheng, 17, helped Westlake win the national secondary schools title at the weekend and is top seed in what is effectively an under-19 tournament.

This year he was the top player for the New Zealand team against Australia and Canada.

His main competition is expected to come from second seed Alan Chan from Howick College.

Westlake's Henry Tam is a dark horse to make the final and Joe Wu from Canterbury, the only competitor who is not at school, could also challenge.

In the girls' section Michelle Chan, the top Kiwi playing in the win over Australia and Canada in the tri-series this year, is dominant. Her competition is expected to come from second seed Assunta Wong from Macleans College.

Wong and Alan Chan are the top seeds in the mixed while Alan Chan is also seeded first in the boys' doubles with Auckland Grammar's William Bok.

The tournament runs until Friday.

LEAGUE

St Paul's collected their eighth national schools title by beating Christchurch's Aranui 38-18 at Ericsson Stadium.

St Paul's were the stronger side in the first half, racing to a 10-0 lead and finishing the half at 22-6.

Aranui forced St Paul's on to the defensive for the first part of the second half, reducing the deficit to 22-18, before the Auckland side piled on the points. Tuu Maori and Nathaniel Pito scored two tries each of St Paul's seven. Scott Jones landed five goals.

Aranui scored three tries and Phillip Asi kicked three goals.

NETBALL

The national champs get under way next Tuesday in Timaru with Auckland Grammar and Mt Albert Grammar in section A while section B has defending champs Hillcrest from the Waikato plus Massey High.

A number of players are representing senior provincial teams in this week's NPC in Palmerston North including Massey High's Catherine Latu (Northern), Maria Tutaia (Auckland) from Mt Albert and Verdon College's Emma Moynihan (Southland). This week Today, basketball, national champs, North Shore Events Centre and AUT, until Saturday (girls' final 4.30, boys' final 6.45pm at NSEC); badminton, national junior champs, today until Friday - finals Saturday; rugby, national 1st XV final Wesley v Christchurch Boys High, midday at Wesley College at Paerata near Pukekohe.