Guard Keoghan O’Brien struck from the three-point arc to snatch a 75-74 victory over Dunstan HS and the Furnware NZ “A” Secondary Schools Championship boys title for Nga Taiatea Wharekura at North Harbour.

With 3.1 seconds remaining, Nga Taiatea trailed by two points, but emerged from a timeout to present O’Brien with the chance for glory, which he took. Earlier in the tournament, Dunstan had defeated their rivals 81-64 in pool play.

The Hamilton school had already beaten Rotorua Lakes HS in the top-three playoff round.

O’Brien was later named in the tournament team, but his last-second heroics in the decider were not enough to supplant team-mate Kane Mahara as Most Valuable Player.

In the girls’ draw, Rotorua Lakes avenged their loss to Church College in last year’s final, dispatching the champions 64-59 in a fitting tournament finale.

Church’s Maureen Tuia led all scorers with 25 points and was later named MVP.

Furnware NZ “A” Secondary School Championships

North Harbour

Thursday, October 1

Boys
1st-3rd

Nga Taiatea Wharekura 75 (Kane Manara 30) Dunstan HS 74 (Thomas Mulvihill 36)

4th-6th

Buller HS (Andrew McMillan 27) 71 Paeroa College 63 (Te Rongopai Reta 32)

7th-9th

Tolaga Bay Area School 56 (Aiden Ervera 19) Stratford HS 54 (Henry Marchan 12)

4th-6th

Taumarunui HS 64 (Willie Marsden 24) Paeroa College 50 (Te Rongopai Reta 26)

1st-3rd

Rotorua Lakes HS 83 (Ben Appleton 32) Dunstan HS 66 (Thomas Mulvihill 39)

Final Placings

1. Nga Taiatea Wharekura

2. Rotorua Lakes HS

3. Dunstan HS

4. Buller HS

5. Taumarunui HS

6. Paeroa College

7. Tolaga Bay Area School

8. Stratford HS

9. Pinehurst School

Tournament Team

Ben Appleton (Rotorua Lakes HS), Joe Cooney (Dunstan HS), Reuben Elley (Buller HS), Adam Hardie (Rotorua Lakes HS), Vaughan Hodgson (Taumaranui HS), Kane Mahara (Nga Taiatea Wharekura), Thomas Mulvihill (Dunstan HS), Keoghan O’Brien (Nga Taiatea Wharekura), Te Rongapai Reti (Paeroa College), Te Kepa Walker (Tolaga Bay Area School)

MVP

Kane Mahara (Nga Taiatea Wharekura)

Girls
Paeroa College 69 (L Keith & R Tana 19) Buller HS 63 (Rata Ngatai 22)

Te Aroha College 98 (Natalie Mora 34) Mairehau HS 23 (Kirsty Walters 5)

Wairoa College 72 Paeroa College 64

Buller HS 87 Mairehau HS 25

Rotorua Lakes 64 (Gabby Adams 22) Church College 59 (Maureen Tuia 25)

Final Placings

1. Rotorua Lakes HS

2. Church College

3. Paeroa College

4. Buller HS

5. Te Aroha College

6. Wairoa College

7. Mairehau HS

Tournament Team

Gabby Adams (Rotorua Lakes HS), Lisa Adams (Rotorua Lakes HS), Lana Forbes (Church College), Natalie Mora (Te Aroha College), Ellie Ngatai (Buller HS), Corban Parata (Church College), Aroha Ropitini (Wairoa College), Shontay Ropitini (Wairoa College), Renee Tana (Paeroa College), Maureen Tuia (Church College)

MVP

Maureen Tuia (Church College)