GBHS’ Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown made six three-point shots in his 36 point-haul to lead all scorers in the first round; Holden Wilson (18 points, four three-pointers) and Scott (17 points, two 3s) were Gisborne’s second and third scorers.
Palmerston North were 12-11 in front, 38-24 clear and 61-56 ahead before Gisborne Boys’ went to town in the fourth period, rattling up 29 points in the period — their highest-scoring quarter in 21 years of S8 hoops.
“Resilience and a never-say-die attitude got us through: in the fourth quarter we were on fire and played smart basketball to come away with the win,” said Tamatea, whose outfit had drawn level — 80-all, with two minutes left in the game.
“Our boys came to believe in themselves during the game — they were elated — and they are starting to understand their roles and the parts they play in the team.”
GBHS couldn’t repeat the heroics of R1 yesterday afternoon, going down to Tauranga Boys’ College 70-108 (Wilson 17, Tuwairua-Brown 14 — TBC led 34-19, 71-35, 90-54).
TBC’s shooters were in sublime form and they applied fearsome pressure-defence.
If Gisborne beat Hamilton BHS in their last Pool A game at 12pm today — as the second-placed team in their section — GBHS will play a 6.15pm semifinal tonight v the R3 winner of Napier BHS-Rotorua in Pool B.
Round 1, Pool A: Gisborne Boys’ High School 85 Palmerston North BHS 82, Tauranga Boys’ College 74 Hamilton BHS 72.
Pool B: Rotorua BHS 89 New Plymouth BHS 63, Napier BHS 101 Hastings BHS 54.
Round 2, Pool A: Hamilton BHS 67 Palmerston North BHS 65, Tauranga BC 108 Gisborne BHS 70.
Pool B: Napier BHS 104 New Plymouth BHS 62, Rotorua BHS 84 Hastings BHS 31.
