Uawa have missed forward Harley Phillips since he broke his arm on July 28, but former Canterbury Ram Quentin Solomon, former Waikato Titan Rikki Crawford and Rising Suns great Reg Namana remain tough competitors and top-drawer passers of the ball.
Despite the 37-point loss to GBHS Black on Monday — Boys’ High leading 13-6, 34-14, 52-26 throughout — the skills of the Uawa veterans were as much in evidence as those of the opposition scorers (captain Max Scott 27 points, Sam Veitch 17, Holden Wilson 10).
Crawford (13pts) and Solomon (10pts) featured in some superb plays for Uawa, the latter finding the former with an outlet assist in the first period and Crawford again swooping from the right-wing to score shortly before halftime.
Boys’ High won the game on exceptional three-point shooting: Scott made six, Veitch hit four and Wilson, two. Rare has been the game in which GBHS hit 12 “treys” for victory against a team of the calibre of Uawa.
“That’s the best we’ve shot the ball as a team,” Scott said.
“I put that down to energy, patience and rhythm.”
Red had a much harder ride against The Young and the Useless — their one-point win resting on a field goal by 17-year-old Year 12 student Zorik Peneha.
Isaiah Lemaua (11pts), Peneha (9pts), Jake Noble (9pts) and Kiwa Johnstone (8pts) gave Boys’ High scoring balance against much bigger opposition.
In his second season of club basketball in Gisborne, Stefan Pishief, of The Young and the Useless, led all scorers in the game with 18pts. His jump-hook is well-nigh an impossible shot to block.
Hard-working Quentin Harvey (16pts) and Rikki Noble (8pts) also featured in arguably the best match-effort of the YAU to date, but the loss of Pishief in the fifth period was keenly felt; the big man’s improvement in a year has been remarkable. He scored off a memorable assist from forward Carew Fearnley in the first quarter and made two three-point plays.
The older team were ahead 12-4, 22-20 before Boys’ High took a 37-32 lead into the fourth period on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Jake Noble.
“We did some things well; some areas we can improve in,” GBHS Red captain Adam Nepe said.
“We have to do a better job of keeping the big men away from the basket — we’ll look at that — but we did space the floor well.”
Both Boys’ High teams owed their success on Monday — to an extent — to good half-court offence. The same is true of SE Systems, who beat Dragons 53-45.
Systems were 10-6, 23-20, 40-32 in front throughout, the experience and athleticism of big man Rongomai Smith giving them the offensive edge. His 22-point haul included a three-point play in the third period.
Systems captain Adrian Sparks was influential with 14 points, while both the soft shooting touch of veteran Adam Tapsell and Jackson Leach’s ability to finish difficult plays around the basket served Systems well.
Te Angi Te Hau led Dragons’ scorers with 17 points. His teammate Keenan Ruru-Poharama (16pts) and inside presence Ahi Te Hau-Otene (6pts) also worked hard. Old head Bronson Hedge found Te Hau-Otene open twice with excellent assists, one from halfway on an out-of-bounds play.
Vengeance was theirs.
Defending champions City Lights avenged their loss in Week 2. The Filthy Dozen won that game 47-38 but on Monday City Lights turned the tables, winning 55-51.
City Lights controlled the first half, leading the first two quarters 23-5 and 34-17, before the Dozen raged back into the game. By three-quartertime, the champs’ lead had been cut to two points — 43-41.
City Lights captain Scott Muncaster dropped five three-pointers in his 22-point tally. He received great support from teammates Carl Riini (11pts) and Jason Tuapawa (7pts). Those two spring-heeled leapers, along with centre Ryan Walters, clear their own backboard quickly, while Muncaster and his crew are just as well-known for their running game as their long-range shooting ability.
Dom Wilson of the Dozen rattled up 20 points, including four three-pointers and a three-point play to draw his team to within a basket of City Lights at 53-51.
Wi Brown (17pts) and Jimmy Wilson (10pts) knuckled down to the grind. It was a physical contest but the skill-levels of both teams were high.
The vision and passing of the guards showed they knew how to handle pressure.
City Lights have had injury niggles in the past month, but they demonstrated in Week 7 that they know how to win.
The Flyers will treasure that.
The High Flyers beat Campion College 72-53 on the back of a 29-point haul by dynamo Zade Donner. His irrepressible energy and willingness to run were simply overwhelming. What he did for the Flyers in Game 1 at the YMCA, he’d done in the past for Game 2 victors City Lights. Donner’s teammate Paora Dewes (24pts) was just as impressive, hitting two three-pointers.
Campion captain Orlando Pedraza had another brilliant game, scoring 26 points and making a three-point play in both the third period and the fourth quarter.
College strongman Tahran Ward scored six of his 10 points in the second period and although it took the High Flyers a half to wear Campion down — 21-13, 32-31 — they ran amok 59-40 following the break. The third quarter was the winning of the game for the Flyers.
East Coast had to be content with a 54-all draw on Sunday at the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre, but rejoined the winners’ circle 71-55 against Lytton High School on Monday at the YMCA.
They held sway 18-12, 32-30, 50-42. Captain Drae Calles (17pts) dominated the game from the tip. He scored the Coast’s first nine points, and made a three-point play in the first period.
Coast point guard Carlos Pedraza outran everybody for 28 points. He is one of the smallest players in the league, and is without peer in terms of foot speed.
Lytton captain Genesis Bartlett-Tamatea was again fantastic for his team. His 27-point haul included a three-point play in the fourth period.
Guard Jack Whaitiri (12pts) and Louie Rangihuna (9pts) also played strongly.
