HoopNation success for Gizzy teams

Basketball stars: The Gizzy Hoops teams performed with distinction at the HoopNation Classic basketball tournament in Tauranga over the weekend. They are, top (from left): William Collier, Jackson Leach (under-16 boys’ coach), Cody Tarei. Third row: Huni Phillips (u16 boys’ manager), Kapreece Clay, Te Kahui Kururangi, Piper Donaldson, Te Atahuia Matahiki, Ainsley Waititi-Leach, Camille Collier (management co-ordinator). Second row: Carl Riini (u14 boys’ coach), Safin Tuwairua-Brown, Allies Rangihuna, Honey Waitai, Jamieson Tapsell, Alex Campbell-Ratapu, Felix Sparks, Arihia Turei, Weighn Wilson, Janelle Te Rauna-Lamont (u14 boys’ manager). First row: Maxine Edwards (u16 girls’ manager), Taimarie Matahiki, Ishtar Mackey-Huriwai, Clint Tarei, Aio-Bebe Hollis, Te Amo Te Rauna-Lamont, Tipene Te Rauna-Lamont, Dominique-Romain Wilson, Kingi Rakuraku, Shean Edwards, Trieste Wilson, Melissa Mackey-Huriwai (u16 girls’ coach). Front row: Janine Dixon-Smith (YMCA operations developer), Harriet Peipi (Gizzy Hoops founder/YMCA Breakaway basketball facilitator), Cam McCready (YMCA youth developer). Absent: Seth Miller, Ngaru Grayson, Khan Mason (u16 boys), Te Ataakura Swannell-Kaa (u16 girls), Jack John Maurirere (u14 boys). Picture by Liam Clayton

They wanted to make the finals, and this time they did — the Gizzy Hoops boys under 16 team, girls u16s and boys u14s all won silver at the 10th annual HoopNation Classic basketball tournament in Tauranga over Labour Weekend.

The Jackson Leach-coached boys u16s in the seven-team development grade opened their campaign at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre with a 46-25 win against the NS Dragons of Auckland, then beat Auckland team Tongan Aoteroa Basketball Association (TABA) 58-39 on Day 1. On Day 2, at Trustpower Arena, they won a nail-biter v 884 of Te Aroha 36-35, then lost 28-34 to Swish Toki of Hawke's Bay. Day 3 saw the u16s beat Taranaki 39-36 and eventual champions Tauranga outfit Buckets for Days 36-27 at the QEYC. First qualifiers Buckets turned the tables on them 35-33 in the final at the Arena on Monday morning.

The Gizzy Hoops u16 girls under coach Melissa Mackey-Huriwai lost to eventual champions the classy Mount Mafia 27-41 first-up before beating TABA 34-33 at the QEYC on Day 1. On Day 2 at the Arena they beat fellow Gisbornites the Thomas Tindale-coached Last Dance 17-14, Harbour Black 35-27 and beat An 1 Hoop 35-25. On Sunday they beat Valley Ballers 36-25 at the Arena, and Taranaki's Dunking Donuts 43-29 at the QEYC.

The girls lost the u16 final to the Mafia 44-40 at the Arena on Monday morning.

Gizzy Hoops coach Carl Riini's u14 boys in Pool B crushed Hoop 33 Thunder Blue of Auckland 73-24 at the Arena on Friday, with captain Safin Tuwairua-Brown churning out 40 points. At the Arena on Day 2 they beat Team Swoosh of Taranaki 45-23 and Tauranga crew Lil Brothaz 48-26. On Sunday at the Arena they overcame TABA 35-29 and then came from 12 points down at three-quartertime to beat Hutt Valley's Splash Brothers 40-37 in the upset of the tournament, to take 1st seed heading into the semi-finals. They beat a courageous Auckland crew the Rosmini Breakers 43-35 in the semis.

“Gizzy weren't big but they were aggressive and played hard,” said Breakers coach Tony Pompallier. “They moved the ball quickly, they took the ball to the ring and they were unselfish. As someone who played against the Rising Suns at the YMCA back in the good old days, I wasn't just impressed by them, I was proud of them. They played awesome basketball. They had a great tournament.”

Riini's team lost the final 60-34 to a vengeful Splash, but there were no complaints from him.

“I couldn't be prouder of the lads: we were undersized, and every team took us for granted,” he said. “The involvement and experience was amazing because of the great bunch of men I was able to coach; they were open-minded and trusted me.”

The first Gizzy Hoops teams did, on debut, suffer big losses at this level. For the club's teams — within the space of three years — to now be playing in finals was significant.

Paul Berridge with KJ Allen founded HoopNation and ran the first event at Whanganui in 2011.

“With the year we've had due to Covid-19, we're pleased and proud that we were again able to provide opportunities — to players of all ages — to compete against each other, see where they and others are at, and the Gizzy Hoops kids were impressive,” said Berridge. “It's great to see how their skills and basketball IQ have grown. How fortunate they are to have people to support them, and basketball, in Gisborne to foster that.”

Gizzy Hoops founder Harriet Peipi thanked all those who played a role in making it possible for the club to field three of the 163 teams, and 29 of the 1600-plus players.

“The YMCA have supported my youth kaupapa (project and drive) ‘Turanga Taiohi Taiea - Outstanding Youth of Turanga' since summer 2019 by collaborating with one of my many youth development kaupapa in sport for Gizzy Hoops,” said Peipi, whose Gizzy Hoops club's third trip to the Classic, New Zealand's premier basketball event, was by some way their most successful — on and off the floor.

“We'd like to acknowledge the HoopNation management, our parents, supporters and community for their endless work on behalf of everyone that's passionate about this sport.”