2018’s Must Watch Regular Season Basketball Games

With the season fast approaching its time for everyone to start locking in the key dates for their team’s biggest games. As a fan of all high school basketball, I have compiled my list of New Zealand’s 2018 must watch high school basketball games.

Rosmini College Vs Westlake Boys High School

Besides these two both looking to be title contenders in 2018, the rivalry between Rosmini and Westlake is one of the best in the country. It doesn’t matter whether it’s basketball, rugby, cricket or chess the two schools just can’t stand to lose to one another.

Historically Westlake has been a factory for New Zealand Basketball talent. Westlake has produced legends of New Zealand Basketball such as Kirk Penny, Thomas Abercrombie, Corey Webster and more recently Virgina Cavaliers captain Jack Salt but with the recent success of Rosmini College, you could argue their thrown has been well and truly taken. I know they would want nothing more than to get their title back as Harbours Top Basketball School.

This task will be a hell of a tough one with the 2017 National MVP Mitchell Dance looking to back up his incredibly impressive year 12 season. Adding him to Rosmini’s already star-studded roster this game is shaping up to be one of this year’s most exciting.

Lock this one in! It’s going to be one of the most tightly contested games of 2018.

Mt Albert Grammar School Vs Auckland Grammar School

The Surprise team of 2017 Mt Albert Grammar School stamped their mark on the competition last year with a great run to the Nationals. Unfortunately, they fell short to a class Rangitoto College team in the semifinals. Now I am interested to see how they follow up 2017, do they continue to compete with the nation’s best?

This will be answered when they come up against the always strong Auckland Grammar School. One thing you can guarantee with Auckland Grammar is they will make you work for your win. A very well drilled team with some of New Zealand’s top talent, none more so than Anzac Rissetto. Anzac has the frame, athleticism and shooting touch to take him a long way in this game. If MAGS can shut down Anzac and continue to score through their many experienced players, they could easily back up their breakout season.

Cashmere High School Vs Christs College

As you probably can already tell I am a big fan of rivalries and a couldn’t be happier that the South Island has a genuine rivalry match with Cashmere High School and Christs College both developing into national threats over recent years.

Christs much like MAGS had a breakthrough season last year knocking off their Canterbury rivals Cashmere before finally finishing up 4th in the nation. Now it’s time to see if Cashmere will bounce back, they definitely have the talent to do it! With returning national level talent of Thomas Russ-Hofmans and plenty of very impressive emerging talent such as Louis Oskam and Willem Russ-Hofmans they look to have one of the deepest rosters coming out of the South Island. With Christs losing much of their national championship team I am giving the slight edge to Cashmere in this one, but regardless it is surely shaping up to be one of the South Islands biggest games.

Rosmini College Vs Rangitoto College

Last but definitely not least is the national title rematch. These teams battled it out in an epic national title match last year with Rosmini College taking a very impressive win and if you asked me for a way too early season prediction I would be picking Rosmini to win this battle again. I know it’s a massive call but with the talent, Rosmini has maintained from last years championship winning team plus the inclusion of New Zealand age group representative Kainoa Lepou, forget about a big 3 this team has developed a big 5 that not many teams in the country will be able to compete with. I personally believe this team could go close to competing with the 2011 32-0 Rosmini National Championship team.

Saying that you can never count out the recent juggernauts of Harbour Basketball, Rangitoto College. National champions in 2016 and finalists in 2017 this team is super consistent and with players such as Logan Mcintosh and Jared Thornton returning from their 2017 national championship run this team has plenty of big game experience. One thing is for sure if you don’t show up with your best against Rangitoto College expect a tough day at the office.

When you add all this to the rivalry that has been created over recent years between these two, this is definitely my pick for 2018’s must see regular season game.