Mana College’s Senior Girls basketball team will head to the national secondary schools championships as Zone 3’s top seed after completing an unbeaten Lower North Island tournament in Palmerston North.
The Porirua team defeated Queen Margaret College 82-67 in the final to win the Girls’ AA Premiership.
Mana opened the tournament with a 95-45 victory over Scots College before beating Wellington Girls’ College 88-56, Napier Girls’ High School 96-28 and New Plymouth Girls’ High School 83-63.
They then defeated Wellington East Girls’ College 81-53 in the semifinal to set up the championship match against Queen Margaret.
Mana averaged more than 80 points per game during the tournament, led by Eden Metekingi, Nevaeh Scirkovich and Gia Bishop, who each averaged more than 18 points.
Cassidy Karika also made important contributions during the knockout stages at both ends of the court.
The title is believed to be the first Lower North Island regional championship won by a Porirua high school in 21 years.
The Zone 3 title continues a successful season for Mana, which had already won the College Sport Wellington Premier Girls championship.
Mana defeated Wellington East 72-58 in that final to win the Sharp Cup for the first time since 2005.
Mana College’s squad is Allise Taurima, Araroa Mitchell, Cassidy Karika, Eden Metekingi, Ella Galo, Gia Bishop, Milan Keelan, Nevaeh Scirkovich, Ngarauhina Bishop, Shyra-Lei Scirkovich, Tina Leaupepe-Sua and Rosa Vaaua-Sua.
The team is coached by Boyd Scirkovich, with Arthur Trousdell and Randall Paenga as assistant coaches and Lynn Selwyn as manager.
Mana will return to Palmerston North at the end of September for the National Secondary Schools Championships, where the country’s top 20 secondary school teams will compete for the national title.