02/09/2026
OUR WEEKLY WRAP featuring Tall Blacks and high school news.
The Tall Blacks were in Manilla last weekend for World Cup Qualifying fixtures against Iran and Syria with the Harbour quartet of Sam Mennenga, Sam Waardenburg and the Webster brothers Corey and Tai playing a big part in a couple of victories.
It took overtime against Iran to eke out a 93-91 win although it was far more straightforward in a massive 126-74 victory over Syria.
The forward duo of the Sam’s were massive against Iran. Sam M contributed a 15-point, 13-rebound double double while Sam W (11 points and 7 rebounds) came up with a couple of massive blocks in the last ten seconds of overtime to deny the Iranians an equalising score.
Against Syria, Corey Webster led all scorers with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists while Sam M in just 17 minutes, scored 20 points. Tai Webster helped orchestrate the offence with 9 points and 9 assists while Sam W was an efficient 5 from 6 from the field for his 13 points.
Premier & Senior A High School success for Harbour Schools.
Appearing in three finals Harbour schools were successful in all three to claim the both the Premier Boys and Girls championships as well as the Boys Senior A championship at Eventfinda Stadium last Thursday.
Grand Final Results:
Senior A Boys – Northcote College 57 Avondale College 56
Premier Girls – Westlake 63 St Kentigern College 60
Premier Boys – Westlake 107 Auckland Grammar 95
National Championship Qualifying Tournament
The Zone I Qualifying Tournament is being played at Eventfinda Stadium this week with a bunch of Harbour teams in action. The top seven boys teams will advance to Nationals and the top six girls teams.
Girls:
Pool A – WESTLAKE, Pukekohe High, NORTHCOTE
Pool B – Saint Kent’s, St Mary’s, Epsom
Pool C – Mt Albert, CARMEL, Waitakere
Pool D – RANGITOTO, TAKAPUNA, Mahurangi
Boys:
Pool A – WESTLAKE, Sacred Heart, RANGITOTO, NORTHCOTE, Avondale, Selwyn, Mahurangi
Pool B – AGS, St Kent’s, KRISTIN, TAKAPUNA, Pakuranga, Glendowie, Western Springs
Pool C – ROSMINI, St Peter’s, Mt Roskill, LONG BAY, Onehunga, Liston, Kelston
Pool D – Dilworth, Pukekohe, Whangarei, Mt Albert, Waitakere, Rosehill, OREWA
