Basketball: Trans-Tasman series winner decided in Tauranga

New Zealand Māori Men's basketballer Hyrum Harris during the fifth annual Trans-Tasman Basketball Series in Tauranga. Photo / Andrew Warner

One point and a matter of seconds.

That's all the lead the Australian Indigenous All Stars basketball team had to win the fifth annual Trans-Tasman Basketball Series for the fourth consecutive year.

The competition was tight in the best-of-three series between the All Stars and the New Zealand Māori Men's team, starting with game one in Te Awamutu on Thursday, and the final two matches at Tauranga's Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre on Friday and Saturday evenings.

But the visitors didn't need a best-of-three format.

After taking a tight 82-81 win on day one all the All Stars needed was to secure another win in Tauranga the following night - and that's what they did. Day two of the competition ended with an 89-88 win for Australia, securing themselves another title - their fourth in the five years of its inception.

Despite the winner already being determined, game three started just like the previous two with culture on display, beginning with national anthems, and a haka from the Kiwis.

The only difference was that this time, the 104-77 win went to the home team who managed to stamp out the possibility of their opposition taking a clean sweep in the competition.

Māori Basketball New Zealand acting general manager Pene Hippolite said despite not being able to secure the title, the series was "awesome" with the Kiwis not making it easy for the visiting side and quality games played over the three days.

"It's disappointing to lose but the guys played great," the former New Zealand basketball player said.

Hippolite said those first two matches, which were won by one point, "came down to the wire" proving the saying "it's not over until the fat lady sings" to be true.

She said in the first game the All Stars had 1.1 second to get a shot and secure the game, which they did, leaving New Zealand with 0.3 seconds to counter it but they "couldn't get the shot off quick enough". It came down to a similar situation in the second game.

Overall, Hippolite said everyone enjoyed the experience and "I think it's a great promotion for indigenous people".

The Australian side came with their own photography/videography team, which also helped gain more followers for both teams, which was something they would like to increase in the future.

While in Tauranga this weekend, Hippolite said she and her team and had spoken to the Australian Indigenous side about potentially bringing in an age-group indigenous team into the competition, starting with an under-16 side that would be selected from the Maori Basketball Nationals, held at the start of the year in Rotorua.

She believed the youth had the power to help gain more following to the competition through themselves, peers and family. She said it was in the early stages of discussions but something that would seriously be considered to make happen.

Hosted by Te Maru o Mauao ki Tauranga Moana Basketball Club, the Australian side were treated to a cultural experience in Tauranga, being welcomed with a powhiri on to Wairoa Marae, where they also stayed, visiting Te Wharekura o Mauao where they helped take students through some basketball drills and also learning about traditional Māori sites.