Black were 17-9, 36-23 and 42-28 ahead throughout, with Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown pouring in 26 points — a Boys’ High individual scoring record against City Lights. His 10 first-quarter points included two three-pointers, while fellow guard, left-hander Max Scott, hit long jump shots in the third and fourth periods.
Six-foot-five-inch Sam Veitch and first 15 rugby locks Ofa Tauatevalu and Khian Westrupp gave the school team the muscle needed to compete at both ends of the court, but class shone out occasionally. Former Boys’ High captain Joseph Te Maari found City Lights teammate Carl Riini on the run left-side with a superb bounce pass for points that cut the Boys’ High lead to 15-7.
Riini (17pts) and springheels Aubrey Yates (13pts) were constant threats for City Lights, Riini ending the first quarter with his third straight field goal.
Boys’ High Red — despite a 12-point loss to Uawa — were gutsy in Game 2 at the YMCA. The Tolaga Bay-based visitors’ 44-32 win was no walkover.
A 20-point game by powerful forward Harley Phillips was central to Uawa’s cause. Rising Suns legend Reggie Namana (6pts) also steadied the ship as required. Uawa held the upper hand 11-8, 16-14, 30-26 but Boys’ High continued to stay in touch and make big plays.
Veitch, who played for both Boys’ High Red and later Black, led the Red scorers with 14 points in Game 2, including two three-point shots before halftime. He benefited from a fine refereeing display from Cliff Blumfield, who as trail official called an “over-the-back” foul by Namana on an entry pass to Veitch on the left sideline, four and a half minutes into the second quarter. Over the back is an infraction often missed by whistle-blowers of lesser experience.
Jorje Tofilau and Jake Noble also played well for Red, Tofilau (5pts) scoring for 23-all in the third period, while a more confident Noble’s athleticism and height make him a valuable forward in the open court, not just beneath the ring. He is an intelligent player.
They were close enough — and they were good enough.
The Drae Calles-led East Coast beat Lytton High School 49-43 in the Week 4 opener at the YMCA, but Lytton know that victory was no mere pipedream.
Genesis Bartlett-Tamatea (19pts) was again outstanding for Lytton and is the heir to a tradition of fast-break basketball. On the day that his teammates run lanes as Rikki Crawford and Chad Rose once did, they will not just win games, they’ll bring the spectators to their feet.
Calles (16pts) and Joe Kiri (11pts) were the Coast’s leading scorers but the older team couldn’t shake their younger opponents until the fourth quarter. The score was 14-all at the end of the first period. The Coast led 21-20 at halftime and 35-29 at the business end.
Coast captain Calles had committed four personal fouls of a possible five with just under seven minutes to play and his staying in the game was a huge factor in the result.
“This is a very even competition and we took a while to get into the game,” Calles said.
“It was good to win it, but we have a few rookies this year. They need to step up.”
Lytton skipper Bartlett-Tamatea was pleased with his team’s match-effort, in particular that of Darius Waititi-Leach, who took his knocks taking the ball to the hoop.
“It’s always good to play against the Coast,” Bartlett-Tamatea said.
“My boys gave their all.”
Campion should be proud.
Campion College beat the Young and the Useless 55-53 in Game 1 at the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre. It was a nail-biter, but no fluke. Campion led 15-12, 24-20 and 39-33.
They were superbly led by guard Orlando Pedraza, who scored 14 points, while teammate Tana Ward played a match-winning hand. He produced 26 points, hit three three-point shots in the first quarter and made a three-point play in the fourth period. Remarkable quickness lies at the heart of his success.
Stefan Pishief (18pts) and Quentin Harvey (12pts) used their size to good effect at close quarters for the Young and the Useless, who also fielded two six-foot-plus youngsters of real promise in Carew Fearnley and Oscar Ruston. Both are juniors at Boys’ High.
SE Systems’ 43-39 win against Dragons may have been played at a slightly lower tempo but Game 2 was no less exciting for that. Veteran Jackson Leach scored 23 points for SES.
“Tonight was all about Jackson,” Systems captain Adrian Sparks said.
“He carried the ball for us, scored for us, showed leadership. He was excellent value.”
SES were up 10-6 and 29-16 by the break and threatened mayhem against Dragons, who then fought back to reduce the deficit to four points (33-29 to Systems) by three-quartertime.
Dragons guard Angi Te Hau and teammate Keenan Ruru-Poharama both scored 10 points, the former hitting two three-pointers and the latter making a rare four-point play.
Livewire Marty Reid ran the floor hard for eight points but the Dragons gave SES too much of a head start and then couldn’t reel them in.
The Filthy Dozen’s 59-40 win against the High Flyers rested on an 18-point game from Wi Brown, while more greased lightning — in the form of former City Lights whippet Zade Donner — rattled up 14 points for the Flyers.
The Dozen were comfortably ahead (13-5, 24-13, 41-28) through the match. With the likes of Dom Wilson on the court, they elevated their play according to whim, not so much need.
