City Lights have six double-figure scorers

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

City Lights and the Raiders are tough cookies.

On Tuesday night the emphasis was on ball, not bruises, as veterans rolled back the years and rookies took their game up a cog in Gisborne club basketball's 1 v 4 semifinal. City Lights beat Willie Brown's Raiders 99-48.

Rising Suns great Reggie Namana (9pts) and youngster Tahu-Potiki Te Maru-Doran (15) got Lights off to a cracking start with three-point shots in the first period; Te Maru-Doran, dynamic Paora Dewes (16), captain Scott Muncaster (15), offensive powerhouse Rongomai Smith (13), strongman Ryan Walters (13) and zippy leftie Daley Riri (11) gave City Lights six scorers in double-figures.

Smith gave City Lights a whirlwind start seven seconds into the game with a spin-move off the baseline to make a three-point play against Raiders titan Cody Tarei. Namana upped the ante with a long three-pointer for 13-6; Jason Tuapawa answered with a three-point play against Dewes to draw his team within four of City Lights at 17-13.

But to stem Lights' scoring was too big an ask leading into halftime: Smith made a put-back despite being wedged under the backboard, left-side, by Tuapawa. Namana then hit a fallaway jumpshot, and Smith tipped the ball into the hoop off a missed jumper from Muncaster. City Lights had then scored four baskets in a row.

Dewes and Raiders whippet Ethan Ngarangione-Pearson led all other scorers in the game with 16 points apiece. Ngarangione-Pearson's speed left even normally fast defensive players cast in stone. His shooting touch was superb and, aside from blowing two dunk-shots in the fourth quarter, he had a great all-round game.

Lead official Cliff Blumfield proved that great minds think alike last night: where trail referee Donna Nepia had ruled in favour of Matariki's Paige Tamatea on defence against Team 2022's Maiangi Mackey on Monday, yesterday Blumfield gave Ngarangione-Pearson that call against Te Maru-Doran.

City Lights wowed the crowd in the second period, Walters finding Riri to score, Riri then reciprocating for Walters and Muncaster twice finding the tireless Dewes cutting to the rim with assists. Lights were on top 20-13, 51-20, 70-35 and the Raiders did well to stay in the game: Allies Rangihuna (9) and Jason Tuapawa (7) went hard for the Raiders but Walters was the star of the show with long jumpers, power-moves and two memorable driving scoops.

Muncaster said: “We played a heck of a game at both ends of the court. I told Ryan — because his shot wasn't falling — keep your head up. He got some great open looks at the hoop in close but he also set up teammates and, as always, was a huge anchor to our defence.”