Close basketball games coming up

PROTECTING POSSESSION: Campion College’s Raphael Heria keeps the ball away from East Coast’s Brandon Paul in Gisborne club basketball. Heria and his Campion teammates will have their hands full against Pure Sound tonight, while the Coast play Pirates. Picture by Paul Rickard

IT HAS returned. Tonight the Gisborne Basketball Association men’s club league returns to the YMCA, with Pure Sound and Campion College opening proceedings.

Pirates take on Brandon Paul’s East Coast, Gisborne Boys’ High School will look for their second win of the season when they take on Uawa, and City Lights will play Lytton High School to bring the curtain down on Week 5.

The absence of two of the league’s best big men could mean the first two games will be closer than might otherwise be the case.

Pure Sound will be without powerhouse Dale Hailey due to work commitments, and Pirates will miss 6ft 4in strongman Rongomai Smith, who is with Te Manawatahi at the secondary schools kapa haka nationals at Napier.

Campion are not a tall team and so, while Wi Brown and Ainslie Paea of Pure Sound are athletic forwards, Raphael Heria’s Campion side will at least not be overpowered by Hailey to the tune of 30 points.

A slipped disc in his back meant Smith missed Pirates’ 42-30 loss to Boys’ High in Week 4. His captain, Gary Harding, may likewise miss tonight’s clash against East Coast, also with a back injury.

“We have to turn up to play, play as a team, improve our own individual skills and make sure we play defence with intensity,” Harding said.

“On the plus-side, we have TK Moeke, and his biggest asset is his presence at the defensive end.”

Moeke and what may be a threadbare Pirates crew without substitute players will have to grind it out against the Coast.

Axel Campbell and Paul led the Coast’s scoring in the opening night win against Boys’ High, rookie Campbell producing 10 points. Paul has been quiet to date — relative to his form in last year’s championship round, during which he hauled in 44 points against the Dream Team (now City Lights) — but that could change in the space of one game.

Boys’ High captain Ryan Nepe, whose team’s win against Pirates was a breakthrough result, has every reason to be pleased with his team’s attitude and performance to date.

“It’s less me, more we,” he said.

“Our experienced players are looking out for the younger guys. Freemin (Te Whare) has been a great leader for the juniors in the squad.”

Te Whare, a talented guard, and Joe Te Maari, who scored in double-figures in the win against Pirates, will be better players for the generalship of Dwayne Tamatea, a New Zealand development tour coach at age-group level.

SE Systems have the bye in Week 5 and so the game between City Lights and Lytton — two hard-running teams whatever the final score — could well be the fastest game of the night.

City Lights will be without 6ft 5in Luka Kablar, but will have in-form skipper Scott Muncaster, three-point-shooting centre Ryan Walters and the solid Dom Wilson, all of whom combine strength with touches of class.

Lytton, under Levi Hohipa-Henry, compete hard. Genesis Tamatea excelled in their last outing. His 16 points against Systems, whose big men are well organised by Ray Noble, was a top effort.

SES allow very few second-shot opportunities, making Tamatea’s effort that night, plus Tane Wills-Aranga’s ability to get into the middle and score from 10 feet, all the more remarkable.

Tonight’s draw5.30pm: Pure Sound v Campion College.

6.30pm: Pirates v East Coast.

7.30pm: Gisborne Boys’ High School v Uawa.

8.30pm: City Lights v Lytton High School.

Bye: SE Systems.