Rosmini Basketball takes out 3 x 3 title
Rosmini College 16 : St John’s College 14 (AOT)
It’s early in the year but the Senior Boys Elite Final may qualify as one of the most exciting high school games of 2023. It will be especially memorable for Rosmini as the team overcame a five points deficit to force overtime before claiming the title.
The game started in favour of St. Johns, who wasted no time with getting the scoring underway thanks to an opening shot courtesy of Kobe Reed with less than 10 seconds passed. It didn’t take long for Rosmini to get on the board as Chris Wyllie answered with bucket to tie proceedings.
Further scoring contributions from Elias Lepou, Sam Maggof and Mahnaya Heke kept St. Johns in the lead for the majority of the game, however Rosmini didn’t give up. Trailing 11-6, Rosmini’s comeback was spearheaded by Zion Anderson.
Anderson made a crucial basket either side of scores from the Wylie brothers Chris and Josh then added another point to trim the deficit to 11-10 with two minutes remaining.
Lepou gave St. John’s a 12-10 advantage, then Anderson again pulled Rosmini within one.
In a frantic finish a Harlan Roudon 2-pointer put Rosmini 13-12 ahead – Reed knotted the scores then, after he and Anderson exchanged scores, overtime ensued.
Rosmini started overtime with a quick basket from Roudon to put his team ahead 15-14. With the intensity increasing it was Anderson, the Grand final MVP, that made the winning shot as Rosmini claimed a 16-14 come from behind win.
Congratulations to all of the six teams who competed in the tournament - you all did yourselves and Rosmini College proud!
Photos courtesy of Basketball New Zealand
