“And we are big this year. Our new player Marques Tukukino was good value as well.”
Tukukino was, and will be more so in the weeks to come. He was one of a clutch of great young basketballers — who included Hosea Gear, future Waikato Titan Rikki Crawford and the gifted Jared Le Geyt — to play age-group hoops for the Gisborne Basketball Association. Of that group, only Harley Phillips of SES is also still playing.
Game 2 in Week 2 was close from the tip, City Lights leading 13-12, 34-30 and 43-41 throughout. The Scott Muncaster-led CL could not shake off big Systems crew off, although their big man Ryan Walters (8pts) hit two three-pointers in the firsr half and early on made two excellent stops against SES powerhouse Rongomai Smith (16pts). Smith and Thomas Tindale (15pts) supplied the muscle for Systems, as CL captain Scott Muncaster (19pts) and Joseph Te Maari (10pts) did their best to match the SES inside game with jumpshots.
The man scored 30 points — there wasn't much GBHS A could do to stop it.
Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown hit six three-pointers, teammates Psalm Taylor (13pts) and Paora Dewes (11pts) giving Green Up three scorers in double-figures.
Ethan Pearson, his fellow left-hander Daley Riri (10pts) and Sebastian Wilson (7pts) were the best on the night for GBHS A, Wilson in particular playing strongly. He made a difficult lay-up in the first quarter, a put-back from an offensive rebound towards the end of the first half and later gave assists to forwards Carew Fearnley and Cody Tarei. Green Up led 18-9, 42-25, 61-47.
Tuwairua-Brown, whose offensive game last season was a huge factor in Gisborne Boys' High's first trip back to the national secondary schools championships in 28 years, said: “Those boys just need a little bit more experience. They can handle the ball and shoot the long jumper, and I thought Tamati Horua rebounded well.”
