‘Brilliant stuff’ on court

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

Round 1 of the Gisborne Basketball Association’s secondary schools’ league last night was simply brilliant stuff.

In Division 1 of the boys’ league, Safin Tuwairua-Brown was consistently superb at the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre.

He scored 42 points for Gisborne Boys’ High School Diesel in a loss — the Sebastian Wilson-led GBHS Carbon took Game 1 68-61.

Wilson led Carbon’s scorers with 19 points in a fast-paced opening to the season. He and Will Collier made some smart plays for Carbon, while Diesel big man Cody Tarei hit three three-point shots in support of Tuwairua-Brown.

The GBHS Junior Premiers made an excellent start to their campaign with a 74-45 win against the Campion College Seniors.

Campion captain Robert Fysh is a returner and their most experienced player. His team have some talent — Max Vanderbilt was good for 18 points first game up.

Kahurangi Waititi-Leach (16pts) topped the list for the Junior Prems, four of whom scored in double figures. The younger team have much improvement within their reach.

Campion coach Shane McClutchie said his boys enjoyed the run. They’d all played well and he was looking forward to seeing his new-look crew build on that.

Weighn Wilson, take a bow.

Wilson, one of the liveliest and most committed young players in the local game, came to the party for the GBHS Senior B team in their 91-51 win against Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Uri a Maui.

Wilson scored 21 points in Game 3 and it can fairly be said that he never stops running. His enthusiasm is infectious.

For Nga Uri a Maui, sharpshooter Allies Rangihuna (16pts) was in fine form, as was big man Te Haeora Kerekere-Puke (10pts). Kerekere-Puke is a solid, skilful player who could be tremendous in years to come.

Caleb Poole dominated Game 4 in a win to Lytton High School.

The towering Poole scored 38 points in an 84-36 result against GBHS Junior Crimson.

This league has several players 6ft 3in (1.9m) and taller — Poole is one of them. His teammate Tumau Tuwairua scored 16 points, and Kelly-Morehu Paenga-Rangihuna impressed for Crimson — he earned every one of his nine points as much with courage as with flair.

GBA chair Kylie Turuwhenua-Tapsell was impressed by what she saw yesterday evening.

“We’ve had a great start to the competition and we’re grateful for the support from our local schools and youth,” she said.

“It was neat to see some familiar faces coaching and we’d like to thank the families in attendance. It all made for a great vibe.”

Gisborne BHS Carbon 68 (Sebastian Wilson 19, Will Collier 16, Manahi Bishop 11, Wailer Waihi 10) GBHS Diesel 61 (Safin Tuwairua-Brown 42, Cody Tarei 9). Q1 Carbon 17-13, Q2 Carbon 39-32, Q3 Carbon 56-44.

GBHS Junior Premiers 74 (Kahurangi Waititi-Leach 16, Te Kani Wirepa-Hei 12, Clinton Tarei 12, Jaiah Garrett-Brown 9) Campion College Seniors 45 (Max Vanderbilt 18, Robert Fysh 9, Freddie Frain 8). Q1 GBHS 21-9, Q2 GBHS 37-21, Q3 GBHS 53-34.

GBHS Senior B 91 (Weighn Wilson 21, Kapreece Phillips-Clay 11, Tupai Matenga 11, Hamu Broughton-Pakuru 10, Levi Julies 10) Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Uri a Maui 51 (Allies Rangihuna 16, Jayden Brown 11, Te Haeora Kerekere-Puke 10). Q1 GBHS 24-10, Q2 GBHS 49-17, Q3 GBHS 71-32.

Lytton HS Seniors 84 (Caleb Poole 38, Tumau Tuwairua 16, Tasman Guirau 12) GBHS Junior Crimson 36 (Kelly-Morehu Paenga-Rangihuna 9). Q1 LHS 18-8, Q2 LHS 48-14, Q3 LHS 67-20.