Ngati Porou show their credentials

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

WITH neither of the “A” or “B” club basketball teams from Lytton High School taking the floor due to the national kapa haka competition in Hawke’s Bay this week, the only show in town — or game at the YMCA last night — pitted 2015 champions Ngati Porou against Campion College.

Ngati Porou won 51-17 with captain Bronya McMenamin leading all scorers with 23 points.

Her teammate Vianney Douglas (15pts) also took the ball to the hoop powerfully.

Tyler Riri (7pts) and Anna Spring (4pts) worked hard at both ends of the court.

McMenamin later remarked on Spring’s non-stop hustle: “Anna and Petra (Campion captain Petra Sparks) were solid for them — it was a fast game.”

Campion kept things close early, down 11-6 at quartertime with Spring finding Tylah Elliott open to the left of the goal to complete an unselfish play.

But Ngati Porou turned the heat up. It was 26-9 at halftime and 42-11 going into the fourth period.

With Gisborne Girls’ High School having a bye and in the absence of both Lytton teams, Rovers and YMP each took two competition points.