A bit of everything

GOING FOR THE BASKET: Lytton High School’s Jayda Waititi-Leach takes the ball past Campion College’s Anna Spring in the women’s basketball final last year. Waititi-Leach scored 19 points against Ngati Porou last night. File picture by Paul Rickard

It was good fun.

Last night the YMCA played host to it all — superb shooting, outstanding teamwork, thrills and spills — in Week 6 of the Gisborne women’s club basketball league.

Jayda Waititi-Leach scored 19 points in 2017 champions Lytton High School’s 42-39 win against Ngati Porou, making two three-point shots.

Kiara Swannell (16pts) hit two three-pointers and Anahera Stills-Hindmarsh scored the last two field goals for Lytton.

Ngati Porou forward Tiara Weir led all scorers in the game with 20 points — including “treys” (threes) in the first period and third quarter — while her teammate Shay Waikawa (7pts) made a 20-foot shot in the third period.

The closeness of the scores throughout says it all about the fitness and skill of both teams.

Ngati Porou led 11-7 early on, but Lytton were 20-19 ahead at the break. It was 29-all at three-quartertime and finally it was the composure and shooting touch of Waititi-Leach, with two treys in the fourth period, that decided Game 4.

Paikea play hard and fast.

Their 36-18 victory over Uawa was characterised by ferocious defence and amazing physicality.

Paikea’s Maiangi Mackey (14pts) and fellow veteran Amoe Tarsau (9pts) were invaluable in the trenches, although Mackey and the promising Jordyn Tihore had both joined Uawa’s Jaymee Poutu in fouling out by game’s end.

Paikea led 9-1, 11-4, 24-12.

Forward Justine Pivac-Solomon (11pts) carried the battle for Uawa. Her physical presence and skills are major factors for them.

Revolution Fitness New Zealand may be the sharpest team in the league.

Their athleticism is dynamic. Their quickness and team-skills helped them run out 65-30 victors over a Gisborne Girls’ High School team unlucky to lose Tyler Riri to injury (right hand) in the third period.

RFNZ were ahead throughout — 14-10, 28-18 and 49-25. Lisa Basford (15pts), Courtney Stubbins (11pts), Alyse Stewart (11pts) and Renee Stewart (10pts) were their main scorers.

Peyton Riri led Girls’ High scorers with 11 points — Michaela Upston (6pts) likewise took responsibility for carrying the ball for Girls’ High — but it was Peyton Riri who brought the house down with five minutes to play in the fourth period. Heading away from the hoop, she made a left-hand hook-shot over Stubbins to close it to 53-29.

Basford responded by sending a bounce pass from her own right corner the length of the court — between defenders at halfway and the three-point line — to Renee Stewart, for a one-step scoop-shot from the left.

The Rebels showed poise and displayed great control in their 41-35 win against Campion.

Kaipo Olsen-Baker’s 18-point game was at the heart of it. She began by making a three-point play to open the Rebels’ account and hit a trey from the left wing later in the first period. Te Uarangi Olsen, her elder sister, scored six points.

The Rebels led 12-7, 24-20, 31-27.

Petra Sparks had an incredible game for Campion at both ends of the court with nine blocks and two three-point plays in a 14 point-haul.

But the Rebels showed patience in the half-court set. Not even the speed in open court or class finishing of Campion’s Jayda Banks (12pts) could unsettle them.

Overnight results from Day 2 of the Super 8 schools basketball tournament:

Napier Boys’ High School beat Gisborne BHS 79-40 (17-7, 37-20, 53-33 to NBHS; for GBHS, Sam Veitch 11pts).

Hastings BHS beat Gisborne BHS 80-59 (Hastings led 19-18, Gisborne led 36-33, Hastings led 57-44; for GBHS, Sam Veitch 13pts, Khian Westrupp 10, Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown 10).