Tamatea, who is also GBA chairman, isn’t kidding when he says his focus and philosophy around the club league is “to build depth for the future of Boys’ High basketball”; but the return of former Rising Suns supremo Frank Russell’s Old Surfers team for the first time since 1999 is a sage nod to club basketball’s hard-nosed past.
Stirling Sports Old Surfers are without the likes of enforcer Scott Low and the ultra-committed John Griffiths, but the 67-year-old Russell will run with fellow veteran Mark Thomas, Luke Bradley, Perenui Callaghan and Mercy Bristow against Lytton High School at GBHS at 5.45pm. Ex-Boys’ High director of basketball and NZ second division-winning coach Russell, when asked why come back now, said simply: “It has been 20 years since we played, so there’s not much time left.”
The Surfers-Lytton clash at Boys’ High will be followed by the 6.45pm meeting between the Shane McClutchie-coached Campion College and the GBHS Wolfpack. The Wolfpack includes promising youngsters such as Oscar Ruston and Rikki Noble, and have as their player-coach legendary Rising Suns strongman Ray Noble.
Campion’s whippet guard Orlando Pedraza, supported on the floor by McClutchie’s assistant coach Paora Dewes and tall forward Nelson Brown, will lead a team that features (among others) the nearly-uncatchable Tana Ward. His quickness in the open court is matched only by former Lytton flyer Jared Le Geyt, who in 1999 shot the ball with better form than any other high school player here before or since.
At 5.45pm, the YMCA will see a clash between A Grade titans Old School and City Lights. Scott Muncaster’s City Lights began last year’s competition with an 82-29 romp v East Coast but Game 1 this season will be an ice bath by comparison. Rising Suns great Reggie Namana, classy Will Hocquard, ex-Lytton captain the indomitable Genesis Bartlett-Tamatea, athletic big man Jason Tuapawa, aggressive inside presence Rongomai Smith and towering inside presence Tom Tindale make Old School close to the complete team.
City Lights centre Ryan Walters and fellow forwards Aubrey Yates and Pila Lolohea are all strong rebounders but there can be no question of trying to outmuscle Namana and company. Muncaster, Walters, Carl Riini and Billy Maxwell can all shoot the ball. Riini and Zade Donner can finish the fast-break. But CL must play up-tempo basketball if they are to extend Old School’s big men.
The Filthy Dozen take on GBHS Black at 6.45pm — and Black will be competitive. Daley Riri has improved tremendously in the past 12-18 months while young forward Adam Nepe impressed greatly last year with his strength and solidity. The Boys’ High Black crew will have to contend with Siaki Tui on the boards — also Wi and Willie Brown. Willie Brown has lovely shooting touch; Wi Brown is 6’3-odd with incredible leaping ability and quickness. His skill in scoring off “put-backs” is well-known. If allowed to run, he will score 20 points per game . . . easily.
SE Systems skipper Adrian Sparks feels like “a kid in a candy shop” ahead of SES’ 7.45pm date with GBHS Red at the YMCA. Sparks has the strong and skilful Keenan Ruru-Poharama at guard, potentially 6’8” Jasper Wills in the middle, with old heads Anton Riri and Adam Tapsell also in the mix. GBHS Senior A captain in 2018, Max Scott, then led a unit which finished only one spot away from qualifying for the national championships. Key elements of that outfit — Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown, Holden Wilson, 6’6” Sam Veitch — are all back for GBHS Red.
“We have a lot to prepare for,” said Scott. “Which means tough games and tougher trainings. I believe this could be the best GBHS basketball season ever.”
The draw for tonight is:
YMCA —
5.45pm City Lights v Old School
6.45pm Filthy Dozen v Gisborne Boys’ High School Black
7.45pm SE Systems v GBHS Red
John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre, Gisborne Boys’ High School —
5.45pm Old Surfers v Lytton High School
6.45pm Campion College v GBHS Wolfpack
Bye: GBHS Blue.
