SE Systems’ tough defence was a huge factor in the game. Ray Noble did an outstanding job guarding Brown, and Pocock — at well over six feet tall — forced the Pound to adjust on shot-attempts.
SES set a high standard for rebounding at their own end of the court.
Pure Sound co-captains, pointguard Billy Maxwell and forward Siaki Tui, were their club’s best. Maxwell made two classic left-handed lay-ups and a three-point shot in his strongest showing of 2016 to date, while Tui played through the pain of a back injury to drive the ball at Pocock and company.
“They came hard and fast but Bronson’s assist to Sean at the end: that was the play of the night,” Systems’ Adrian Sparks said.
Maxwell — whose team played without substitutes — offered his take on the game: “I loved how we played. For us, it was all about defensive hustle — offence comes naturally.”
East Coast skipper Brandon Paul was superb in his team’s 50-39 win against Uawa, leading all scorers with 19 points.
“We played good defence — we hustled, we played with focus,” said the 19 year-old captain.
“We also hit our shots tonight.”
Uawa missed their most experienced player, big man Reggie Namana, and guard Trey Crawford (14pts) conceded that life without Reg on the floor can be tough.
“That was a fast game,” he said.
“We probably should have slowed it down a bit.”
Breakneck paceSome of Uawa’s personnel play the game at breakneck pace — getting them to slow down must not be an easy thing to do.
Jordan Patrick (13pts), Hoakima Harris-Marino (6pts) and Rikki Taare all flung themselves into the fray.
Patrick is a skilful guard and Harris-Marino is raw but impressive with his strength and willingness to run the floor.
Harley Phillips (6pts), who (when Namana is on the floor) is a major offensive weapon for Uawa in the half-court, rarely got the opportunity to set up in what was a scrappy game.
The Coast led 17-12, 27-20 and 36-30 throughout, Sam Manuel and Drae Calles both scoring 10 points for East Coast.
Manuel’s finishing on difficult plays and Calles’s jump-shooting were both excellent but Crawford’s two three-pointers suggest that the Uawa captain, who missed the first four weeks of competition due to injury, is starting to find his range.
It was just what they needed. Gisborne Boys’ High School will leave for the Super Eight tournament in Palmerston North this Sunday on the back of a solid all-round performance, a 63-26 win against Lytton High School.
Tawhiti Rehutai (18pts), Herewaka Katipa (14pts) and Ryan Nepe (10pts) all put up large scoring numbers but Nepe was most pleased with other aspects of the win.
“We played good team defence. With our pressure-defence, we worked hard on our positioning and not fouling.”
The tempo of pointguard Katipa’s offensive game showed awareness of space and time, while seniors Connor Mitchell, Joe Te Maari and Freemin Te Whare made major contributions with assists and in rebounding.
Mitchell has become a key man in the Boys’ High front-court and has gained in confidence.
Boys’ High holds swayBoys’ High held sway 19-7, 38-15 and 55-18 last night, while the young Lytton team, missing regular captain and excellent athlete Levi Hohipa-Henry, fought bravely.
Lytton’s Genesis Tamatea hit a three-pointer in his nine-point tally and hit a turnaround jumper over Psalm Taylor, having been propelled out of the key, while Tane Wills-Aranga (5pts) used his quickness to score against a Boys’ High unit that now has at least four six-footers in Mitchell, Te Maari, Rehutai and Sam Veitch (who made an excellent debut).
Veitch is athletic and showed the intelligent tall player’s ability to find a teammate open, close to the basket, with a good pass.
Campion College, too, are a big team in 2016. Although they lost 50-30 to Pirates, they have two 6ft 3in 16-year-olds in Tahran Ward and Fletcher Gedye, and the biggest man to take the floor in Week 6, 6ft 6in 17-year-old Konnor Gibson. These three form Campion’s biggest forward line since Jeff Helm, Marc Peard and Matariki Kowhai at the turn of the century.
Pirates led 16-2, 24-9 and 36-14 through to three-quartertime, with former Gisborne Boys’ High School guards Richie Jenkins (13pts) and Luke Bradley (9pts) making a successful return to the YMCA under the captaincy of Gary Harding.
“Campion were more physical than we thought — it was messy,” said Harding, who led all scorers in the game with 18 points and also paid tribute to young guard Bailey Hutchings, whom Harding said was “coming on”.
The draw for women’s club games at the YMCA tonight
5.30pm: Lytton High School B versus Campion College.
6.30pm: Ngati Porou v Gisborne Girls’ High School.
7.30pm: YMP v Rovers.
Bye: Lytton High School A.
