CSW Preview – Week 1
Kapiti's Ari Hartmann dribbles the ball against Upper Hutt during their Bronze Playoff Game
And just like that, we're back into College Basketball!
Friday Night it all kicks off around the Wellington Region, and The Summer Series is the place for all of the up-to-date scores and results from around the CSW Basketball scene. We'll be focusing in on players, teams and officials from The Triple Threat Summer Series 19 and keeping you in the know.
GIRLS DIVISION
FRIDAY 3RD MAY, 2019
WELLINGTON EAST GIRLS' COLLEGE
After their defeat to Sacred Heart in the SS19 Grand Final, Wellington East Girls' College will kickstart their CSW Campaign with automatic entry to the Dynasty Sport Premier grade. They face off against a Senior-depleted Hutt Valley High School, who beat them convincingly in the Semi-Finals last year. East will be looking to draw early blood against Hutt Valley and take full advantage of home court. With a stronger team in comparison to previous years, East may be one of the teams to beat, with hopes to make the Schick National Secondary School Championship after a lengthy drought.
WELLINGTON EAST VS HUTT VALLEY – 6:00PM @ WEGC SPORTS CENTRE
SACRED HEART COLLEGE
The Red Takeover begins where it all started, as Sacred Heart's strong Summer Series side take on their second team at their home court. An impressive shooting performance from Jyordanna Davey (26 PTS, 43% FG) and an outstanding overall game from Tia Rimuera (7 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST) helped the team to a 59 – 69 win over Wellington East in The Triple Threat Summer Series 19 Grand Final. They dealt East their first ever loss in The Summer Series after they were undefeated for a record ten games in a row. Sacred Heart face a pool with St Oran's and Paraparaumu College, which features players such as MVP Finalist Seri Rokotakala from Kapiti Basketball. The winner will become part of the Dynasty Sport Premier grade.
SACRED HEART 2 VS SACRED HEART 1 – 6:00PM @ SACRED HEART COLLEGE
NEWLANDS COLLEGE
Losing in spectacular style to Heretaunga College in the Division 1 Final last year, Newlands College will be looking to bounce back and start their season off with a win. Newlands will be taking on the unpredictable Naenae College, but also face some hard challenges in their qualifying pool. St Mary's and Onslow will be the teams to beat, as St Mary's will try to get back onto their winning ways after going from #1 in the country in 2017, to Bottom 4 in the College Sport Wellington Premier Division last year. Newlands will be looking to push for a spot in the Premier Grade for the first time since 2015.
NAENAE VS NEWLANDS - 6:00PM @ ASB SPORTS CENTRE
HERETAUNGA COLLEGE
Here's a matchup that has us on the edge of our seats. Heretaunga, winners of last year's College Sport Wellington Division 1 Grand Final will be top seed in their Pool to try and advance to the Premier Grade for the first time in more than a decade. With MVP Arwen Witana (21 PTS, 8 REB, 7 STL vs Newlands - Bronze Playoff) helping take change, you can guarantee the size won't be going down without a fight. With four players from last year's winning Division 1 team returning, they'll have more than enough experience combined with their three rising talents to make a team worthy of a Premier spot. Heretaunga will face Taita, Upper Hutt and Aotea in what could be the Pool of Death.
HERETAUNGA VS TAITA - 6:00PM @ ASB SPORTS CENTRE
BOYS DIVISION
FRIDAY 3RD MAY, 2019
ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE, SILVERSTREAM
Having made The Triple Threat Summer Series 19 Grand Final, Silverstream will be out to earn their spot back into the College Sport Wellington Premiere grade during their qualification rounds. They'll face off St Patrick's College Wellington 2 in their opener, along with Hutt International Boys School and former Summer Series competitors Heretaunga College within the next few weeks. Regardless of their heavy loss to Tawa, Stream are hungry for a Premier grade spot, and it won't come easy. They'll have to compete with two other Division 1 teams from last season. MVP Sautia Misa (20 PTS, 7.4 REB, 4 AST avg in SS19) will lead the way, and will be aiming for a Top 4 spot at the least.
SILVERSTREAM VS ST PAT'S TOWN 2 - 7:30PM @ ASB SPORTS CENTRE
UPPER HUTT COLLEGE
A hard loss to Tawa by 10 points in their Semi-Final last year for College Sport Wellington Division 1 meant they didn't get the chance to finish the season on a high. Upper Hutt, who were newcomers to The Summer Series in 2019 haven't stopped training, and will be sent into battle into a strong Pool B, with Premier side Onslow looking to chase them down for the qualification spot. MVP Finalist Ben McEvoy (33 PTS, 12 REB, 8 STL vs Kapiti) adds more height to the side and more aggression.
WELLINGTON COLLEGE 2 VS UPPER HUTT - 7:30PM @ ASB SPORTS CENTRE
TAWA COLLEGE
A heart-breaking one-point loss at the beginning of the 2018 College Sport Wellington competition to Hutt Valley High School meant that Tawa College wouldn't be able to compete with the Premier sides. Instead, they won their back-to-back Division 1 title, and there's nothing in their way to reach Premier grade this year. Tawa had another fantastic Summer Series run which ultimately lead them to their 2nd competition title. Losing 2017 MVP Sam Gold to injury didn't slow them down, with brother and MVP Finalist Sam Gold (25 PTS, 1.5 BLK, 20.5 REB avg in SS19) coming to the party and showing his worth. One player to watch for this well-developed Tawa side is another MVP Finalist, Malachi Collins (29 PTS, 5.5 AST, 8 REB), who's athletic ability will strike fear into any opponent. The team will play their first qualification match this Friday, and may only find problems against a rebuilding Aotea College.