New players, teams generate energy

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

There’s something different about it.

New players and teams generated incredible energy in Week 4 of the Gisborne Basketball Association women’s club league.

Lytton High School, the competition’s youngest champions yet, were too fit for Paikea Nation and won 72-20, Ngati Porou Nation outclassed feisty Uawa 77-19, newcomers Resolution Fitness New Zealand (RFNZ) wowed the YMCA with their slick teamwork at Campion College’s expense, 38-30, and Gisborne Girls’ High School beat the Rebels by default.

RFNZ’s Diana Akroyd (9 points), Renee Stewart (8pts) and Paare Ahuriri-Leach (7pts) were excellent value against a Campion unit who made some tremendous plays, such as Lauren Bennett’s three-point play against Ahuriri-Leach for 9-9 to beat the quartertime buzzer.

RFNZ led 13-12 at the break but Campion opened the second half scoring in sensational style. Bennett gave a superb lead-pass to skipper Petra Sparks for 14-13.

RFNZ’s Courtney Stubbins found Stewart low-left on the baseline for the backdoor lay-up at 22-16 — a classic play. With the foul by Campion’s Pierre Durdy, Stewart’s three-point play made the score 23-16.

The new team held sway 28-20 at three-quartertime.

Durdy’s left-handed hook-shot to draw Campion within six points of RFNZ — 32-26 — got the crowd up but RFNZ closed out the game efficiently.

GBA teams don’t roll over — club or rep teams.

Uawa may have been outgunned by Ngati Porou — the team who have set the standard for Gisborne women’s club basketball in the past five years — but they scrapped for every point.

Ngati Porou Nation beat the Tolaga Bay visitors by 58 points. NPN forward Tiara Weir led all scorers with 30 points, speedster Ata Mangu (19pts) and captain Bronya McMenamin (13pts) also lending a hand.

McMenamin said: “It was a good physical game. The scoreboard doesn’t reflect the intensity both teams put out there on the floor.”

Club ball veteran Janelle Te Rauna-Lamont is one of the driving forces behind Uawa. They can and will improve.

Lytton High School were outstanding in 2017 and they were a cut above all others on Tuesday night.

They led Paikea Nation 18-4, 33-7 and 52-15 in a stunning display of ball-movement and speed in transition.

Kiara Swannell was the star of the show with 18 points. Alicia Kepa (14pts) and captain Jayda Waititi-Leach (12pts) backed her up. But the truth is that Swannell’s offensive game was on another planet.

She opened the scoring and followed that up with a three-point shot. Although slight, Swannell was supremely skilful and — for perhaps the first time at club ball level — very aggressive. She took the ball to the basket and finished some difficult plays.

Kepa took heed, and hit a 20-foot shot to beat the buzzer three seconds before three-quartertime, then did the same thing with 1.4 seconds left in the game.

Paikea’s Amoe Tarsau (12pts) made a three-point play in the fourth period and the older team ran as hard as their three subs would allow.

The mature teams in club basketball often take two or three weeks to “get their legs”.

That said, Mereono Rangihaeata and others in the Paikea squad fought for rebounds and loose ball.

Next Tuesday, they could be closer to the mark and then they will be dangerous.