Ngarangione-Pearson scored 27 points in the first half and sank seven three-point shots overall, but Rongomai Smith — the league's dominant inside player — was equally impressive.
Systems were as physical against Scott Muncaster's City Lights as they have ever been.
Only Muncaster (23pts), strongman Ryan Walters (14) and Carl Riini (10) made an impression on offence. Turnovers in the back-court and front-court saw Ngarangione-Pearson zip the length of the floor to punish Lights four times before the break.
“Ethan stole my shot for the night,” Muncaster said.
“He and Rongomai couldn't miss. They were on fire and we couldn't get anything to drop. We've got to be better.”
Walters — fouled by William Hocquard in the left corner two minutes 38 seconds before halftime — became the first GBA club baller this season to hit all three free-throws awarded for an attempted three-pointer. Walters closed the score to 40-25.
Sparks, whose impartiality during the game was the equal of his enthusiasm after it, asked the question on the lips of everyone at the YMCA on Tuesday night: “Can Systems be stopped if they play the way they did in the first three quarters?”
Keenan Ruru-Poharama divided his coaching week between the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre at Gisborne Boys' High School and the YMCA in equal measure.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, his GBHS Junior A team went at it with a big Napier BHS outfit under former Tall Fern Kirstin Daly-Taylor. Napier won both games, 76-49 and 77-53.
“Our juniors' transition game and pressure defence against a much taller team were very good, and our older boys made a strong start against the Raiders,” Ruru-Poharama said.
“The older guys shoot well, they're physical inside but they need to get their talk up on defence and get the ball up the floor more quickly.”
In the absence of Daley Riri, Sebastian Wilson was the GBHS Senior A game-day captain against a Raiders outfit whose approach matched that of Systems against City Lights for pure ruggedness.
With Willie Brown (19pts) at the helm for the Raiders, Dom Wilson (13), Jason Tuapawa (10) and Zade Donner (10) joined him in a heads-down, full-steam ahead assault on the Boys' High hoop.
Seb Wilson led Boys' High by example at both ends on Tuesday night, he and teammate Weighn Wilson stumping up with 11 points apiece. The former said: “We gave our best effort but really missed Daley, who pushes the ball for us. Our thoughts are with him and his family.”
The Massive Marauders should be pleased with their latest effort against Green Up.
Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown's Green Up did prevail 101-77 but 77 is by far the biggest team total the veteran Marauders have put up 11 weeks into the premier-grade season, and their big man Stefan Pishief put up 12 points — including the “last word” in the match. His improvement around the basket has been great to watch. His teammate, guard Simon Wilson, led the older team's scorers with 17 points. Marauders skipper Adam Harford and company took many positives from the game.
“We played some really good basketball on both ends of the floor but small inconsistencies let them get away from us,” Harford said.
“Green Up favour the outside shot, but they're also good at drawing fouls when they drive to the rim.”
Chief among those able to both sink the jump shot and finish at close quarters were Tuwairua-Brown (32pts) and Holden Wilson (40).
Wilson hit his nine treys from all points of the compass, led all scorers in the four GBA divisions in Week 11 and in that form might have done the same thing to any other team in the league, or at the very least stretched their perimeter defences to the limit.
