Gisborne basketball teams impress at Hawke's Bay tourney

GOING FOR IT: Gisborne under-13 Boys' Kaha guard Sean Mulligan (left) goes for the lay-up under pressure from a Porirua defender. Picture by Matt Tong

Gisborne Basketball Association has made a big splash in Hawke's Bay.

Five of the GBA's six teams at the Aon Under-13 Central Regional Tournament broke even on Day 1, Wednesday, with a win and a loss.

And Reg Namana's girls' A team were “right there” in terms of competitiveness, girls' B team coach Thomas Tindale said.

“They could have beaten Taranaki Black (49-39 loss) and Manawatu Black (42-39 loss) — they had their opportunities,” said Tindale, who is at his fourth u13 tourney on behalf of Gisborne basketball.

“Our girls' B team (75-21) were very sharp against Taranaki Yellow but Porirua (74-12) are good enough to play in the A Grade. All 10 of their players were well-drilled, clinical and smooth.”

Matt Tong, who is with the Boys' Toa in the C Grade, said: “Our Toa crew played hard, stuck with it when it got tough and made some great passes and finishes at the rim.

“But we've got plenty of little work-ons, too.”

Stew Whiting, who works with three of Levin's age-group teams, was impressed that GBA got 57 players away.

“It's fantastic to see so many teams from Gisborne, along with a large support crew, bearing in mind that our game is growing exponentially and requires greater funding to help meet the needs of the kids.

“It's the same people doing all the work for each association.”

GBA Boys' A 67 (Micah Tapsell 12, Isileli Taliiauli 8, Kelly-Morehu Paenga-Rangihuna 8) Levin 35 (Andre Timoti 11). Q1 GBA 22-12, HT 36-22, Q3 53-24.

GBA Boys' A 49 (Giovahni Smith-Green 10, Micah Tapsell 9, Isileli Taliiauli 9) Wellington 95 (Jai Curtis 14, Caeden Ioapo 14). Q1 Wellington 29-14, HT 47-26, Q3 67-40.

GBA Boys' B 52 (Nate Papuni 23, Rihai Harris 11) Hawke's Bay Dark 55 (Tuta-Kingi Hiha-Wano 8, Korzel Collier 7, Weston Miringaorangi 7). Q1 GBA 16-12, HT Hawke's Bay 26-21, Q3 42-36.

GBA Boys' B 67 (Nate Papuni 19, Taniora Waitai 10) Hutt Valley Green 56 (Trey Tiare Henwood 16, Frankie Treacy 14). Q1 GBA 12-8, HT 30-26, Q3 Hutt Valley Green 48-35.

GBA Boys' Kaha 42 (Sean Mulligan 14, Ryland Bright 14, Khazidy Matenga-Bishop 8) Porirua 46 (Kiharoa Landon-Lane 16, Mason Rongo 9). Q1 GBA 12-5, HT Porirua 26-23, Q3 33-32.

GBA Boys' Kaha 56 (Ryland Bright 16, Khazidy Matenga-Bishop 16) Hutt Valley White 23 (Noah Leo Hynes 8). Q1 Kaha 13-5, HT 32-9, Q3 41-16.

GBA Boys' Toa 83 (Jethro Morris 19, Mehaka Pohatu-Chaffey 14, Taimanaaki Gear 11, Devan Takarangi-Chan 10, Joshua Leighton 10) Kapiti B 41 (Jaden Buttenshaw 12, Duncan Kreuzer 8). Q1 16-16, HT GBA 43-26, Q3 54-31.

GBA Boys' Toa 48 (Mehaka Pohatu-Chaffey 11, Mack Takarangi 8, Jethro Morris 8) Manawatu White 55 (Izaya Snook 7). Q1 Manawatu 14-10, HT 27-19, Q3 44-36.

GBA Girls' A 39 (Kayla Namana 14, Kiara Namana 8) Taranaki Black 49 (Libby Tito 17). Q1 Taranaki 12-6, HT 19-15, Q3 29-28.

GBA Girls' A 39 (Kayla Namana 13, Natalie Tarei 8) Manawatu Black 42 (Kirikopi Skudder 15, Riley Cribb 10). Q1 Manawatu 14-13, HT 27-17, Q3 33-25.

GBA Girls' B 75 (Kelarne Te Rangi 32, Te Rauhuia Reeves 10) Taranaki Yellow 21 (Lilly Naughton 5). Q1 GBA 12-10, HT 41-12, Q3 57-19.

GBA Girls' B 12 (Clarke Cassidy 3) Porirua 74 (Rosaleilah Vaaua-Sua 15, DaNaiya Skipworth-Taulalo 12). Q1 Porirua 24-3, HT 34-10, Q3 52-10.