Quarterfinals tough, competitive

BASKETBALL

There’s nothing soft about this.

The week 8 quarterfinals in women’s club basketball were furiously tough, competitive contests. Fans at the YMCA saw competition leaders Lytton High School beat Paikea Nation 43-34 and sixth-placed YMCA Riverina hustled outstandingly hard in their 38-31 win (3 v 6) against Campion College. Fifth-placed Gisborne Girls’ High School defaulted to Ngati Porou in Game 3.

Lytton captain Jayda Waititi-Leach (16 points) was superb for the 2018 champions in the opening game on Monday night. Waititi-Leach’s teammate Piper Donaldson (7pts) played solidly all-round, LHS countering the vast experience of Paikea Nation with speed and courage: a shining example of which was the willingness of LHS forward Reremoana Bartlett-Tamatea to compete with Dyani Johnson for rebounds at the older team’s end.

Ex-US college player Johnson (11pts) and the Nation’s leading point-scorer Jett Pohatu (14pts) gave their team the edge in size. Pohatu’s improved handling skills and court-sense give Paikea a second offensive option in the pivot, who held the upper hand 16-8 and 22-16 before Lytton sneaked ahead 29-28 at three-quartertime.

Paikea are a strong team in the guards, so Lytton’s nine-point win owed as much to their control in the back-court as their patience on offence.

They’re irrepressible.

The bubbly good cheer and athleticism of YMCA Riverina got them home 38-31 v a Campion team who made a number of great plays. Brooke Bennett (18pts) — who has wowed the crowd in the last three months with her energetic, positive play — again led Campion’s scorers.

Katie Edwards (8pts) was in everything for YMCA Riverina, who trailed 9-8 and 20-15 before taking a 25-20 lead on their way to victory. The Riverina team, on Monday night, successfully paired their zest for the game with ball-security and accuracy.