Paikea in comeback

ALL ACTION: Amoe Wharehinga (left) in action for the GBA under-15s last year. She scored 20 points for Paikea Nation this week. Picture by Paul Rickard

BASKETBALL

The late game is either a non-event or goes down to the wire.

Game 4 of Week 7 in the Gisborne Basketball Association women’s club competition was the latter.

Paikea Nation — who trailed Campion College by 10 points throughout the first half — fought back to win 49-43.

Campion went 16-6 up early on and led 30-20 at the split, but by three-quartertime, the margin had been reduced to four points, 38-34.

Campion captain Petra Sparks was the leading scorer overall of Week 7 with 25 points, and made a three-point play with two minutes left on the clock.

Her teammates Anna Spring (8pts) and Jayda Banks (6pts) were great value in the open court, while Lauren Bennett completed the play of the game for 24-16, holding on to a sharp assist by Sparks to make a 10-foot jump shot on the left baseline.

Paikea played with urgency, and their interior defence was a major factor throughout. Barred from driving to the hoop, Sparks went to and hit “the leaner” — a one-handed shot from depth — because Paikea would not allow dribble-penetration.

Paikea’s Amoe Wharehinga was superb for 20 points, the fearless Jordyn Tihore (9pts) — one of the league’s most improved young players — and Amoe Tarsau (8pts) also hustling at both ends of the court.

Ngati Porou did what they needed to do to beat a five-player Gisborne Girls’ High School crew 62-45.

Tiara Weir (29pts) was again dominant for NP a week after scoring 20 points against Lytton High School. Ata Mangu (12pts) and Bronya McMenamin (8pts) injected themselves when needed. Ngati Porou were 18-15, 28-19, 49-38 ahead throughout.

Peyton Riri (27pts) and Girls’ High carried the fight to Ngati Porou, Michaela Upston blocking five shots in total. Weir took the ball at Upston for 11-7 but the forward blocked Mangu’s shot in the second period and Weir’s put-back attempt in the third quarter.

“That game was fast-paced and fun to play in,” Ngati Porou captain McMenamin said.

“Ata took the ball to the rim aggressively, Tiara was strong in the low-post, Lauryn Matenga-Houia rebounded well and came up with some valuable steals.”

Lytton High School are the standing champions — and they’re playing like it.

They push the ball at pace whenever possible, run a good half-court set and can make the outside shot.

Jayda Waititi-Leach’s team beat the Rebels 46-33, she herself scoring 11 points, with Kiara Swannell scoring nine points and Honey Mokomoko and Maia Rickard scoring six points apiece.

Although she scored only five points, Manaia Hutana sank a second-period three-pointer that was yet another sign of growing confidence.

The Rebels led 9-5 at quartertime, Lytton then sneaked ahead 17-15 by the break and had their heads above water, 26-24, heading into the fourth period.

Te Uarangi Olsen (11pts) and Kaipo Olsen-Baker (10pts) played as well as anyone in Game 1 but Lytton made a remarkable play in the third period, with Swannell flinging the ball upcourt to Waititi-Leach from the right sideline at halfway. Waititi-Leach then tightroped the baseline, and saved the ball inbounds for Mokomoko to score. It was the sort of thing that only happens for teams who run the floor.

Revolution Fitness New Zealand were slick and quick in their 47-6 win against Uawa. They led 19-0, 26-2 and 40-2. Liana Akroyd was their leading scorer with 24 points.