Gisborne Basketball Association women's draft league semifinals tonight

Be at the YMCA by 5.30pm tonight.

The inaugural Gisborne Basketball Association women's draft league semifinals have points of interest that make them must-see events.

And while vaccination passes are mandatory, no cap on crowd numbers applies this evening.

In the early game, a Dreamers outfit at the top of the food chain as of last Tuesday will be out to make it two from two against Hana Wilkinson's Brick Layers, whom they defeated 38-32 in Round 3.

The late game, at 6.45pm, will have former competition leaders Butter Fingers looking to avenge their two-point loss last week. Hoops I Did it Again player-coach Petra Sparks was magic last Tuesday for 18 points, but without the scoring support of Ohomauri Hailey (10) and Ariana Kepa (9), her great-hearted efforts might have been wasted.

Sparks knows what is required of her crew this evening.

"I want us to play the hardest defence we can," she said.

"We want to be more aggressive on defence and also make smarter decisions more quickly on offence."

Butter Fingers coach Janelle Te Rauna-Lamont and her team are more than positive ahead of this crunch game.

"We're looking forward to this. We've been working on our shooting and, yes, everybody's available."

Everybody includes Kiara Swannell and Peyton Riri, who put up 20 and 13 points respectively last time out. These two, plus O'Shae Rangihaeata and a dominating figure in Dyani Johnson, could spell trouble for Hoops.

Johnson's height and strength as a defensive rebounder will almost certainly be a major factor in the result of the 2 v 3 semifinal.

Dreamers player-coach Melissa Mackey-Huriwai also wants a big defensive effort from her team, against Brick Layers.as

"We will be looking to play more pressure-defence," said Mackey-Huriwai, who places great stock in the importance of confidence-building with young players such those in her Dreamers team.

The Wilkinson-coached Brick Layers should be of good heart - but for a sublime three-point shot from Peyton Riri, one of the most well-performed GBA/club league players of the season, they might have beaten the competition's No.1 crew 52-50.

They have skilful guards in Anna Spring, Courtney Stubbins and Jayda Waititi-Leach. Brick Layers have not been outsized or outclassed; they just need more shots to drop.

As it is, if things go their way in Game 1 tonight, they could be grand finalists on January 25.

The draw for tonight at the YMCA is --

1 v 4 semifinal, 5.30pm: Dreamers (1) v Brick Layers (4)

2 v 3 semifinal, 6.45pm: Butter Fingers v Hoops I Did it Again.