The final score flattered the Magic, as Otago Boys' pulled to within three points with just over 1min remaining. However, a flurry of fouls sent the Magic to the free-throw line and the win was sealed.
Saturday's Magic side was vastly different from last season's. Micah Lepaio was unavailable, due to Otago Nuggets commitments, and Fergus Bevin-McCrimmon was injured, while Riki Buckrell and Hayden Miller no longer live in Dunedin.
Liam Rawstorn marked his Magic debut by drilling six three-pointers on his way to 25 points against his former team. Ben Dick (25 points), Luke Miller (13), Lee Deverux (12) and Brent Cheshire (12) also cracked double figures.
In a game where the lead changed hands 17 times, Otago Boys' will rue a sluggish fourth quarter. Trailing 68-67 with a quarter to play, the schoolboys, who were without the injured Sam Timmins, lacked patience and paid for some poor shot selection.
Otago Boys', which lost standout forward Chris Hood to the Falcons this season, played up tempo offensively and were led brilliantly by guard Josh Petermann.
He led all scorers with 30 points and showed off his accurate jumper, as well as the ability to take the ball to the hoop with his slick handles.
Petermann scored on the fast break and drained a pull-up jumper to give his side a 14-8 lead midway through the first quarter. However, Rawstorn tied the game up with a pair of trademark baseline three-pointers.
Otago Boys' went on a 7-1 run to open up its biggest lead of the night, 21-15, but the Magic came storming back to lead 28-26 after the first quarter.
Both sides seemingly scored at will in the second quarter, the lead changing hands seven times in the process. Otago Boys' struggled to contain Dick in the paint, as he dominated the boards and caused all sorts of problems inside.
However, the school boys found their range from outside, as Petermann, Liam Aston and Benoit Hayman shot Otago Boys' to a 48-46 halftime lead.
Petermann scored 13 of his team's 19 third quarter points, but the Magic took a one point lead into the final quarter, thanks to a barrage of three-pointers by Rawstorn and Miller.
In the afternoon's other matches, James Ross racked up 33 points as the St Kilda Saints edged Varsity A 72-70.
Meanwhile, Chris Hood scored 26 points for his new club as the Falcons overcame the Bombers 67-63.
There is no men's A grade basketball over Easter.
By Robert van Royen.
