GBHS finish with win: team’s competitive spirit rewarded

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

They went to New Plymouth to run the floor; they went to New Plymouth to fight.

And the Gisborne Boys' High School senior premiers did just that at the Super 8 Schools basketball tournament yesterday. In Round 3, hosts New Plymouth BHS beat Gisborne 93-42; Pool B's third-placed Napier BHS under Kirsten and Aidan Taylor were too slick for the Keen Ruru-Poharama-coached GBHS and beat them 113-61.

Yesterday's competition at the tourney was up three levels on that of Monday. Hamilton edged last year's beaten finalists Palmerston North 107-103 in double-overtime on Court 2 at the TSB Arena. Hamilton, second qualifier in Pool A, last night qualified for this afternoon's final by beating Pool B winners New Plymouth 101-73 in the second semifinal, Pool A winners Rotorua BHS having earlier beaten Palmerston North 100-87 at the NPBHS gymnasium.

Left-handed Nuku Patea-Taylor made Gisborne's play of the first period against NPBHS, a scoop-shot through traffic with 27 seconds left to play. It was his third field goal of the period.

In the second quarter, Gisborne captain Sebastian Wilson, playing through injury, took 6ft 8in Gareth Washer to the basket. Gisborne Boys' High's Ngaru Grayson pinned Keanu Entwhistle's shot to the backboard and Patea-Taylor then hit two three-point shots before half-time.

The hosts led 51-19 at that stage, but Gisborne's effort from parts was considerable. Felix Sparks dived for the lay-up, right baseline, off a turnover and the great-hearted Fern Maaka dived for the loose ball. That Maaka missed two open lay-ups is nowhere near as important as the fact that he was willing to take a few knocks in the effort.

By three-quartertime and 76-35, GBHS had found new energy — Wilson hit a trey and Grayson got up to block Poulgrain's shot with four minutes left in the fourth period.

Against Napier, Collier made a strong start defensively with a block on Troy Griffin. In the second quarter, Patea-Taylor curled to the basket to close it to 35-17, Grayson got by NBHS captain Hawaiiki Pollock to score for 35-19 and later hit a trey for 40-28. Grayson also shifted gears on a driving scoop-shot.

All Games at Super 8 level are physical and played at pace, while semifinals and finals have next-level intensity close to that of national tournament play.

Gisborne finished their tournament this morning with a great win against Hastings BHS Akina, placing seventh with a win in this year's Super 8 campaign.

Nuku Patea-Taylor announced his arrival as a Super 8 calibre guard, capped by a dominant performance in the fourth period of the 110-93 win against Hastings.

Wilson (35 points), Patea-Taylor (32), Grayson (21) shone this morning in a game during which everything clicked for a team who have shown indefatigable heart. Having lost to 2021 champions Tauranga, this tournament's most physical unit Rotorua, hometown favourites New Plymouth and Napier, the oldest enemy, they led Hastings 20-14, 50-34, 78-70.