Coach admires his team’s fighting spirit

BASKETBALL

Last year, Gisborne Boys’ High School achieved their best placing in 22 seasons of Super 8 basketball: sixth.

The David Glendenning-coached Gisborne Boys’ High School team of 2020 fought hard in Hamilton this week.

They did not have returning players from the previous campaign, but they had one — Daley Riri — who played in the first GBHS crew since 1991 to make the national tournament.

On Day 1, they were beaten 122-50 by Tauranga and 111-33 by Rotorua. On Day 2 they lost 113-39 to Palmerston North and 110-43 to Hamilton. Yesterday they lost 104-56 to Hastings in the playoff for seventh and eighth.

The team contained three Year 10 players. One of the goals was exposure to high-level play, with emphasis being placed on team-building.

Even so, individuals — starting with first-year captain Henare Tofilau — stepped up.

Tofilau, Riri, 6ft 7in Carew Fearnley, Junior A captain Seb Wilson and Ethan Ngarangione-Pearson all scored in double-figures at least once.

Conceding over 100 pints in all five games may have been tough, but as Fearnley proved against Hamilton after taking a knock against Palmerston North, they are resilient.

Glendenning admired their fighting spirit.

“Jonty Evans, on his first basketball trip away, had a great tournament,” he said.

“As a group, over those three days, they became more aggressive driving to the basket and shooting confidently against strong opposition.

“From the first, our boys knew their backs were to the the wall but they stood up to be counted.”