Dem Air Ballers have fundamentals

DRIVING: Peyton Riri, of Gisborne Girls’ High School, drives towards the basket as Jayda Waititi-Leach, of Ngati Porou, tries to slow her down in women’s club basketball. Waititi-Leach top-scored for Ngati Porou against Dem Air Ballers this week. Picture by Paul Rickard

Dem Air Ballers can take a lot out of their clash with Ngati Porou.

The Bronya McMenamin-led Ngati Porou beat them 35-26 in the only women’s A Grade club basketball at the YMCA on Monday night.

The Lytton High School-Manu Tu game was deferred because of Action Week and Gisborne Girls’ High School defaulted to Stretchmarks.

Oshae Rangihaeata (11 points) was the only Air Ballers player to score in double figures. She has been in good form since the league began.

Whether it be Kiara Swannell (10pts on opening night against Lytton High School) or Harata Hailey (12 against Manu Tu and 19 against Gisborne GHS), at least one DAB player each week has stepped up offensively.

Scorers in double figures for Ngati Porou were Jayda Waititi-Leach (13) and Shay Waikawa (10).

Ngati Porou have dominated women’s basketball for close to a decade and are tremendous to watch.

Waititi-Leach is a guard and a scorer. She has made a difference to them with both a mid-range shooting game and her outside shot.

More importantly, she penetrates and passes as well as any other guard on show. She gives teammates a good open look at the basket.

Ngati Porou led 8-2, 13-11 and 20-19 and Dem Air Ballers were able to stick with such strong opposition because they have good fundamental skills, such as a good left hand, and the ability to see the floor, and create and attack space.

Over at the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre, the action was fast and furious. Manu Toa beat Riverina 59-37 on the back of a 27-point game by Taimarie Matahiki and 20 points from Arihia Turei. They kept Manu Toa ahead at the quarters, 18-4, 34-12 and 41-23.

Erin Sycamore (10pts) was Riverina’s only scorer in double figures.

Sycamore acknowledged the edge Manu Toa had in terms of fitness.

“You could definitely see the difference between a team who train and a social team,” she said.

“They’re skilful, and they were able to outrun and outshoot us, although the result might’ve been different if I’d sunk my free-throws.”

SE Systems beat Horouta 45-31 in a grind.

“It wasn’t until the third quarter that we pulled away,” said Adrian Sparks, SES supremo and former president of Gisborne Basketball Association.

“Lauren Bennett hit some mid-range jump shots for us at that stage.

“The competition here gives new players a great introduction to basketball. The games are intense and close because the teams are split into A and B grades.”

Four weeks into the competition, Bennett (12pts) and Jasmine Sparks (11pts) are two of the most consistent scorers for SES. They proved they could handle pressure in steering SES.

Horouta led 11-8 at quartertime but SES were 21-17 up by the break and nine points clear (33-24) going into the fourth period.

Moreover, the SES defence — in restricting the likes of Paare Ahuriri-Leach and Lexi Rutene to a mere six points each — was a crucial factor in the outcome.

Ngati Porou 35 (Jayda Waititi-Leach 13, Shay Waikawa 10) Dem Air Ballers 26 (Oshae Rangihaeata 11) Q1, NP 8-2; Q2, 13-11; DAB Q3, 20-19.

Manu Toa 59 (Taimarie Matahiki 27, Arihia Turei 20) Riverina 37 (Erin Sycamore 10) MT Q1, 18-4; Q2, 34-12; Q3, 41-23.

SES 45 (Lauren Bennett 12, Jasmine Sparks 11) Horouta 31 (Paare Ahuriri-Leach 6, Lexi Rutene 6) H Q1, 11-8; SES Q2, 21-17; Q3, 33-24.