Boys' High realistic about their status

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne Boys' High School Senior A basketball team are under no illusions about their Super 8 status in Hamilton this week. They are underdogs.

The Keenan Ruru-Poharama coached, Daley Riri-led GBHS crew are taking part in the Super 8 tournament from today till Wednesday.

Gisborne Boys' High School's best placing at the tournament was sixth in 2014 and 2019.

Gisborne were fourth at the Zone 2 premierships in Rotorua later in 2019, thereby qualifying for the national championships for the first time since 1991. They were placed seventh of 16 in 1991. In 2019, they were 19th of 24 in Palmerston North.

Last year, GBHS were placed eighth in the Super 8, as they were in 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012 and 2011. They came seventh in 2010 and 2016.

Ruru-Poharama's outfit have some height, with Cody Tarei at 6ft 5in, William Collier, 6ft 4in, and Seb Wilson, 6ft 3in. The quicksilver Luka Russell and dynamic Rikki Noble are six-foot-plus. Riri, Ngaru Grayson, Seth Miller and sharpshooter Weign Wilson have all shown improvement as guards in local club ball, although that bears no resemblance to a tightly officiated Super 8 tourney. With the addition of a new player in Fern Maaka, GBHS are a fascinating mix.

In pool play today, Gisborne were to face Rotorua in the morning and New Plymouth in the afternoon. Tomorrow they face Hamilton in the morning and play cross-over games in the afternoon.

On Wednesday, the playoffs are to be played at 8.30am and 10.15am with the final at 12 midday.

Collier's 13-point game against the Massive Marauders was the best thing to come out of Week 10 of club ball for GBHS. He made an impact at the offensive end.

Crucial for Gisborne Boys' High will be their ability to defend the basket, limit turnovers and score.

The games will be streamed on Sideline.Live.

The local club basketball draw for today and tomorrow is —