Gisborne players ‘have the bug’

BASKETBALL

They want to do it.

And while the Gisborne Boys’ High School junior basketball team under Luke Bradley lost all five games at the Zone 2 premierships in Rotorua, they have the basketball bug.

“The boys learned a lot — we just need to play more structured ball, train as we want to play and push each other,” coach and former GBHS point guard Bradley said of his crew, who battled hard against bigger teams at the Energy Events Centre over four days.

On the first day, they lost 109-52 to Rotorua Boys’ High School and 87-39 to Fraser High of Hamilton.

On Day 2, Gisborne were beaten 83-55 by Rotorua’s John Paul College and 83-61 by Te Awamutu College.

On Tuesday, they lost 117-47 to Mount Maunganui College.

Gisborne Boys’ High captain Cody Tarei said the standard was high.

“We passed well and we shot the ball well, even when contested,” he said.

“But the big thing is that we kept our heads up when the score was against us, and fought from the first whistle to the last.”

Results — Day 1

Rotorua Boys’ High School 109 defeated Gisborne Boys’ High School 52 (Weighn Wilson 11 points, Cody Tarei 8, William Collier 8). Quarter scores: RBHS 25-11, 53-20, 83-43.

Fraser High School, Hamilton, 87 def GBHS 39 (Grayson Ngaru 10, Weighn Wilson 8, Fern Maaka 8). Quarter scores: Fraser High 29-8, 47-14, 73-20.

Day 2

John Paul College, Rotorua, 83 def GBHS 55 (Te Uenuku Patea-Taylor 12, Seb Wilson 9). Quarter scores: John Paul College 24-13, 48-29, 64-43.

Te Awamutu College 83 def GBHS 61 (Luke Crosby 10, William Collier 8, Seb Wilson 7). Quarter scores: 22-22, Te Awamutu 40-36, 62-44.

Mt Maunganui College 117 def GBHS 47 (Seb Wilson 12, Te Uenuku Patea-Taylor 10). Quarter scores: 37-15, 64-24, 92-33.