City Lights relish ‘tug of war’ win over Old School

ON ATTACK: Old School captain Reg Namana (left) scored 10 points in the close game against City Lights who won 65-57. Lights captain Scott Muncaster (right) had an exceptional game scoring 21 points. 2017 file picture

BASKETBALL

They never were one-dimensional.

But on Monday night, City Lights proved more than that their interior defence is the equal of their perimeter shooting. They proved that the hard edge around the hoop remains — even ramps up — when the three-pointers aren’t dropping.

“We find a way to stop every team, one way or the other: that was a tug of war,” said Lights’ captain Scott Muncaster of his crew’s 65-57 win over Old School in Game 2 of Week 5 A Grade action at the YMCA.

Muncaster may not have been at his vintage best in the main event of the night, but his 21-point haul still included two three-point plays and a long jumpshot.

Centre Ryan Walters was City Lights’ defensive match-winner — he had the awesome responsibility of guarding Old School power-forward Rongomai Smith.

Smith and his captain Reg Namana both scored ten points but in the absence of big Tom Tindale — and without substitute players — Old School’s Genesis Tamatea-Bartlett was the game’s leading scorer overall with 30 points. Were it not for their competitive fire, Old School would have been run off the floor. City Lights Walters (10) and mini-dynamo Carlos Pedraza (18) had a huge influence on a game CL led 14-12, 28-27, 50-43.

Gisborne Boys’ High School Red may have thumped SE Systems 108-52 but Adrian Sparks stole the show for SES in Game 3. The veteran forward scored 18 points and made a number of remarkable shots against Red. Sam Veitch (33), Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown (25), Holden Wilson (14) and Gisborne captain Max Scott (10) all had their first-half moments for a GBHS unit that was never in danger or under pressure . . . and so, absent head coach Dwayne Tamatea at courtside, played with freedom verging on abandon.

Gisborne Boys’ were in front 28-17, 55-29, 89-39 throughout and in reference to their match-effort, Scott would only say he and his team “could not complain”.

If you don’t know where he is, you’re in trouble.

The Filthy Dozen’s Wi Brown scored 28 points in his outfit’s 86-47 win against Boys’ High Black — the Week 5 opener — and he simply did what he has always done: snaffled loose ball, punished the opposition for turnovers in open court, put teammates’ misses back in the hoop.

Willie Brown (30) and Levi Tamihana (11), also of the Dozen, impressed for different reasons. Tamihana is a natural scorer. He shoots the ball well — he has all the skills.

Brown played with intensity, as when he split the defence and beat the game-clock on halftime with a scoop-shot. While the Filth held away 18-8, 41-27, 59-36 throughout, as has been the case in previous weeks, GBHS Black players stepped up on Monday night.

Black captain Tamati Horua (14) led their scorers in gutsy fashion while Henare Tofilau (10) and Daley Riri (nine pts) are also becoming more confident on the floor.

Their team is hustling: they are leading that.