In the game of the week, 2019 Champions Kings took on 2020 favourites Texans. With both teams undefeated heading into this game, a lot was on the line. With Everard Bartlett making his season debut for Texans, it was one way traffic early on. The imposing three-headed monster of Bartlett, Alonzo Burton and Jarrod Kenny is the best on paper and on Wednesday night, it was the best on the court too.  Burton was taking no prisoners with a 17 point first quarter to give Texans a 31-18 lead. Kings were missing 2019 MVP Kareem Johnson in this one but welcomed the return of Taylor Hawks Power Forward Darryl Jones to the fold as Jones combined with Dom McGovan & Daniel Christensen to lead the way for the Kings. A 63-27 scoreline at half time showed what was to come in the second half. Burton continued his dominant performance ending with a season-high 56 points on the night leading the Texans to the top of the ladder at 3-0 after three rounds. Burton made 11 threes and Jacob Murphy chipped in with five threes of his own.

Texans 128 (A Burton 56, J Murphy 25, M Edmondson 14)
Kings 54 (D Jones 17, D Christensen & D McGovan 12)

Hastings GHS grabbed another win in their second Elite League appearance, joining Heretaunga at the top of table at 2-0. Girls High shot out to a 22-15 first quarter lead thanks to Kahlia Awa, Raedeen Blake and Jannali Johnson combining for 18 points. Pahlyss Hokianga kept Bridge Pa’s score ticking over with 11 first half points along with Kat Brown who put in 12 in the second quarter alone. Bridge Pa needed a strong third quarter to haul the lead back in and unfortunately it was more damage from Hastings GHS as Blake took her total to 16 for the game. The score stood at 71-57 coming into the final quarter and Johnson helped put the game beyond doubt with six points in a row to begin the fourth quarter as Hastings GHS closed the game out. Hastings GHS will play Heretaunga next week in a highly anticipated top of the table clash.

Hastings GHS 91 (R Blake & J Johnson 26, K Awa 14)
Bridge Pa 80 (K Brown 22, C Tuliau 19, P Hokianga 17)

Both teams were undermanned with several missing. Zoe Ebbitt came out firing with 10 of her teams first 14 points before Emma Mead chipped in with 8 second quarter points. Girls High made three 3-pointers in the second quarter to help them to a 38-28 half time lead. Every player in the Flyers chipped in during the third quarter while Girls High struggled to score. Two straight three-pointers by Madison Cunningham helped Girls High maintain a 52-42 lead coming into the final quarter. An energized Ahuriri Flyers outfit came out firing as Mead hit 6 straight points to start the fourth quarter to bring the score to 50-56 before Aliyah King made a three-pointer to extend the lead back out to 9 points, which was too much for the Flyers to overcome.

Napier GHS 67 (M Cunningham 19, A King 15, S Murphy 10)
Ahuriri Flyers 54 (Z Ebbitt 19, E Mead 18, K Crouch 8)

Akina might’ve expected to have the upper-hand on their younger counterparts but the schoolboys were up to the match in this one, trailing Akina 20-24 after one quarter thanks to a balanced scoring effort. Jacob Nahora & Reece Tuala-Fata helped propel Akina to a 45-34 lead at the half. Hastings Boys weren’t going away as Ludovick Hakiwai had 14 points through the first three quarters. At one stage the schoolboys had the game within 6 points before Nahora & Tuala-Fata put the after burners on to ensure Akina took the win.

Akina 99 (J Nahora 23, R Tuala-Fata 21, S Mataira 16)
Hastings BHS 81 (L Hakiwai 19, T Smiler Jr & D Tuala-Fata 10)

Napier BHS took on their lesser-fancied secondary school rivals in St John’s College and came out firing. Ryan McGuire had 14 points in the first quarter giving his side a 24-11 first quarter lead. Napier Boys had 5 three-pointers in the second quarter allowing them to extend their lead to an imposing 45-24 at half time. St John’s got their offence going n the third quarter; Sam Start continued to be unphased by the Napier Boys defence, continually knifing his way towards the rim – but ultimately Napier Boys had too much firepower in this one.

Napier BHS 85 (R McGuire 16, N Smith 14, T Kendon 13)
St John’s College 62 (S Start 21, P Watson 13, L Stent 10)

Toro Atu stepped on the accelerator from the get-go in this one as a blanaced scoring effort gave them a 19-7 lead after one quarter. While the Blazers stayed in touch thanks to a 12-16 second quarter; it was beyond doubt who the better team was in this one. Nick Jones led the way for the Blazers with 7 first half points. Josh Anderson had 10 points for Toro Atu in the first half with almost every player on the team got in on the action. The second half was a repeat of the first as Toro Atu claimed their second win of the competition thus far.

Toro Atu 75 (K Kara 14, J Anderson 13, R Mani 9)
Blazers 46 (Z Hohepa 11, N Jones 9)