Basketball: Wanganui Collegiate in Central final this afternoon

Lindisfarne College's Thibaul Moleana looks to shoot during the minor playoffs in this afternoon's Central Secondary Schools tournament.

The top two teams have fought their way to the final match at the Schick Central Secondary Schools Cup tournament at Springvale Stadium this afternoon

Both Wanganui Collegiate and Palmerston North Boys High negotiated their Thursday evening semifinals by comfortable margins to play the championship final, with tip off at 5.45pm.

Undefeated in Pool B, PNBHS comfortably defeated Pool A runnersup Wellington High School 79-45 in their playoff, while Pool A winners Collegiate accounted for Hato Paora College 88-61 in the other semifinal.

"It was a tight first half, we managed to get some of their key players in foul trouble," said Collegiate coach Ross Cronshaw.

Two of Hato Paora's best eventually fouled out of the game, whereas Collegiate's leading player Zachary Hill had another big match with around 36 points.

"We managed to pull away in the last quarter when they were struggling for numbers," said Cronshaw.

Nonetheless, Collegiate appreciated PNBHS will represent a tough test, given they beat Wellington by 34 points whereas Collegiate got past the same team in pool play with a three-pointer on the buzzer.

In the five-team girls competition, undefeated Tararua College went straight through to the final as the top qualifier.

Hawera High School joined them after defeating Havelock North High School 53-31 in the playoff between the second and third qualifiers.