Fast and the furious as Masters pip SE Systems

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Any work on intestinal fortitude should reference The Masters v SE Systems.

Masters beat Systems 34-32 but not before the Adrian Sparks-coached SES put up their best performance of the Gisborne Basketball Association women's club league to date.

Week 7 results at the YMCA also featured Turanga's 55-38 win against Gisborne Girls' High School, Manu Toa's uproarious 50-13 victory versus Turanga Health and defending champions Ngati Porou beating Ritana Toa 57-38.

GBA marshal Masters captain Amoe Tarsau has reason to be delighted with the success of the competition.

“The league has produced some really close games, which is awesome, and that last one was amazing,” Tarsau said.

“I'm proud of Jasmine Sparks and her SE team. They're improving by the week. They deserve all the accolades.”

The Masters-Systems clash opened at a furious pace maintained throughout.

Masters centre Dyani Johnson (15 points) was a match-winner at both ends of the court through her height, strength and skill. The imposing left-hander makes scoring difficult for every team.

The Masters' physical presence was a factor the young SE team had to come to terms with in the first period, as when tall Lara Gillies blocked the younger team's path to the hoop.

Petra Sparks' three-point shot from the left corner at the seven-minute mark was an early sign Systems would back their skills.

With 26 seconds to play in the first period, SE's diminutive Ariana Kepa (4pts) took a rebound and scored off the put-back to draw Systems within a point of the veterans.

Jasmine Sparks (5) showed courage, determination and did it all on the floor, running the fast break, attacking the ring and hustling on defence.

She made a superb up-fake and bank shot play to close her team to within three points.

After trailing the Masters 8-9 and 15-19, Systems took a 26-25 lead into the fourth quarter.

Olivia Whitfield was immensely valuable to SES with her height and ability to dissuade shooters, forcing an alteration on release.

During the last quarter, she made four consecutive defensive stops.

But Johnson, Monique Carmichael (10) and the Masters stayed in the fight by never allowing the opposition to get away from them on the scoreboard.

With 55 seconds left, Petra Sparks raced over halfway and found Freya Watson (4) open on her left to catch and shoot.

Thirty-five seconds from fulltime, Johnson missed two free-throws and her first attempt at a put-back before making her next put-back attempt for 32-32.

She also scored the field goal which won the game.

■ Turanga play slick basketball.

They beat a team in progress, Gisborne Girls' High School, 55-38.

Any team who have three players score in double figures (Peyton Riri, 22, Hana Wilkinson, 12, and Alicia Kepa, 10) will stretch their scrambling opposition.

Girls' High and Turanga benefited from a high standard of officiating.

Referee Ethan Ngarangione-Pearson, 16, did as good a job with his whistle for games 1 and 2 as Riley Lewis (9) did offensively for the younger team. Her 20-foot shot gave GGHS a 9-4 lead in the first quarter.

Riri hit four three-pointers with superb form for Turanga, who are playing better hoops by the week.

Shooting technique in ladies' club ball has improved markedly in the last decade. With the input of passionate, knowledgeable coaches, young players have had the opportunities to learn and develop fundamental skills.

■ Manu Toa's 52-13 win against Turanga Health was good clean fun with the occasional “Carry On” comic play.

For all that, Te Amokura Te Rauna-Lamont of Manu Toa was sensational for 24 points, her all-time best individual tally in club ball, while teammate Melissa Mackey-Huriwai (10) also played with energy.

Manu Toa led 24-0 into the third period when Tyler Riri got Turanga Health off the mark.

Nina Tarei — in her first season of GBA club ball — made Turanga Health's play of the night in the second half.

On the left side of Manu Toa's basket, she caught a lob-pass, and established a strong position from which to pivot and score.

The night's most entertaining moment came when tough, dynamic veteran Mackey-Huriwai inexplicably missed an open shot, then two uncontested put-backs before Turanga Health's Natalie Tarei returned to her own hoop and took the ball back up the floor .

■ Ritana Toa (Lytton High) made Ngati Porou work hard for their 57-38 win.

The women's champions were challenged by a skilful Lytton High team, with tall left-hander Ohomauri Hailey scoring 15 points for two weeks in a row.

That Hailey was the only Ritana player to score in double figures was fortunate for Ngati Porou, who had three of their own do the same — captain Bronya McMenamin (19), Ata Mangu (14) and Maia Rickard (12).

Chiarn Waikawa dropped a three-pointer from the right wing for Ritana. Teammate Lindsey Pomana, scored from a put-back two plays later to close their deficit to 12-7.

Rising Suns legend Reggie Namana, as lead official, made an excellent foul call for Rickard, who completed the three-point play to give Ngati Porou a 34-31 lead in the third period.

Mangu made a phenomenal, fearless driving scoop shot at 38-31 and shortly seconds before three-quartertime, cut out of the left corner, took an assist from her skipper and made the reverse lay-up for 40-31.

Hailey made the last great play of the night, a three-point effort.

“That was a fast game,” McMenamin said. Lytton were very physical and they attacked the ring. Over the course of the season, Ata's played better and we're happy. It's good to be challenged.”