Not for the faint-hearted

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

Zone 2 isn’t for the faint-hearted.

Campion College Cougars found that out yesterday morning when they hit basketball’s version of a brick wall in the shape of nationally ranked Rotorua Boys’ High School in Pool D.

Rotorua beat the Cougars 144-29 at the Energy Events Centre.

Campion captain Orlando Pedraza (14 points) hit three three-point shots and was the College’s top scorer.

In Game 2, Campion lost 93-36 to Katikati College. Pedraza (7pts) and Aaron Sarcia (8pts) shot the ball well but Allen Arnaldo (16pts) was outstanding. He hit two three-point shots and a rare four-point play — a three-point shot plus the made foul-shot.

Campion played their best basketball so far in Game 3. Though Opotiki College beat them 94-69 this morning, Pedraza scored 43 points with forward Nelson Brown (16pts) also in superb touch.

Gisborne Boys’ High School made a superb start to their Pool C campaign with big wins against Bethlehem College (104-64) and Western Heights High School (100-45). In Game 1, Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown (29pts) was dominant, while Holden Wilson (17pts), Ofa Tauatevalu (16pts), Max Scott (13pts) and Sam Veitch (11pts) gave GBHS five scorers in double-figures.

Against Western Heights, Gisborne had major contributions from Scott (20pts), Wilson (20pts), Veitch (18pts) and Tuwairua-Brown (14pts).