Boys’ High relishing prospect of tournament

BASKETBALL

It’s big.

And Gisborne Boys’ High School drew Tauranga Boys’ College for Game 1 of the first Super 8 junior basketball tournament, which started today in Hamilton.

The Seb Wilson-led GBHS team were relishing the prospect.

“We’re excited to compete at a high-level tournament against other schools from across the North Island,” said Wilson, 15, who was a starter in four of five games for the GBHS Senior A team in Tauranga this week.

“We play hard; we’re here to win,” he said.

William Collier, who played at the senior tourney, Cody Tarei (a GBHS Senior A team member who was on under-14 rugby duty for GBHS at their tournament in Palmerston North this week) and Luka Russell of the GBHS u15 rugby team give the Junior A side needed height.

Safin Tuwairua-Brown, a match-winner for the u14 rugby crew, also has great basketball talent and shooting touch at guard.

In Game 2 at 3.30pm this afternoon, Gisborne were to be in more Pool B action, against Rotorua Boys’ High.

Former Junior Tall Ferns coach Mel Bennett is in charge of Tauranga Boys’ College.

“This tournament is the pinnacle event that we were advised, during lockdown, would happen,” she said.

“The schools here have high-calibre players and coaches fronting up, making adjustments, based on what they see.”

The Keenan Ruru-Poharama coached GBHS will play Palmerston North BHS tomorrow at 10.30am, before crossover games start in the afternoon.