Boys’ High one place away from qualifying

File picture

Gisborne Boys’ High School Senior A finished sixth of 21 teams at the Zone 2 basketball premierships on Saturday.

They were only one place away from qualifying for the national secondary schools’ basketball tournament.

The last Gisborne Boys’ High team to qualify for the national tournament was the 1991 crew captained by Jimmy Hills.

While a lot can change — for better or worse — in 12 months, the improvement and depth being fostered by the school’s programme is such that qualifying in 2019 is a realistic goal.

All bar one member of head coach Dwayne Tamatea’s 12-man party at this year’s Zone 2 premierships are Y12 or below, and the innovation of having two teams (GBHS Black and Red) in the local club basketball league ensures not just competition for places but more court time for players.

They lost their fifth/sixth playoff to the Jeff Green-coached Fraser High School by 27 points but Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown (21 points), Jorje Tofilau (12pts) and Khian Westrupp (10pts) all had their moments. Tuwairua-Brown hit four three-point shots and Sam Veitch hit three.

Four-time first-division title-winning Green’s Fraser High are tough opposition: they won the playoff 82-63. The quartertime score was 25-all but by halftime Fraser were 53-42 ahead and heading into the fourth period they were up 71-50.

Gisborne Boys’ High finished the premierships with five wins from eight games but they have no time to rest. Third-placed Boys’ High Red face sixth-placed Lytton High School in the club competition quarterfinal at the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre at 7.30pm tonight.

A Grade men’s competition leaders City Lights and the No.2 team, Boys’ High Black, have a bye tonight and go straight through to next Monday’s semifinals.

WEEK 10, men’s club basketball at the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre, GBHS — Tonight — 5.30pm, B Grade: East Coast (4th) v Campion College (5th).

6.30pm, A Grade: SE Systems (4th) v Uawa (5th).

7.30pm, B Grade: GBHS Red (3rd) v LHS (6th).

8.30pm, A Grade: Filthy Dozen (3rd) v Dragons (6th).

WEEK 10, women’s club basketball at the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre, GBHS — TOMORROW — 5.30pm: Lytton High School (1st) v Gisborne Girls’ High School (8th).

6.30pm: Rebels (2nd) v Uawa (7th).

7.30pm: Paikea (3rd) v Campion (6th).

8.30pm: Ngati Porou (4th) v Revolution Fitness New Zealand (5th).