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It could be last man standing.
This has been a superb year in Gisborne club basketball — 12 men’s and eight women’s teams — have made the winter league the biggest in the association’s history.
So gruelling have the previous 10 weeks been that East Coast defaulted to Campion College and competition stalwarts SE Systems were unable to field a side against Uawa in the quarterfinals in the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre at Gisborne Boys’ High School on Monday night.
In Game 3 at the YMCA on Monday, Lytton High School beat Gisborne Boys’ High School Red 72-64.
Lytton’s Jack Whaitiri led all scorers in a phenomenal 28-point performance, with Darius Waititi-Leach (14pts), captain Genesis Bartlett-Tamatea (13pts), Ben Greaves (8pts) and Louie Rangihuna (6pts) also elevating their play.
Rangihuna made the defensive play of the game in the first period. With his team 11-5 up, he guarded Boys’ High’s Zorik Peneha on the left baseline. His spacing and footwork were such that — without giving Peneha room for a shot or a passing angle — Peneha was forced to take and miss an ultra-difficult lay-up attempt on the other side of the rim.
Whaitiri was sensational and Rangihuna took the ball to the hoop aggressively.
Lytton led 16-7, 36-15 and 46-39 throughout.
Gisborne Boys’ High’s Isaiah Lemaua, like Whaitiri, shot the lights out for 25 points. Tamati Horua (14pts) and Caleb Mokomoko (8pts) hustled hard for GBHS, whose gutsy fightback in the third quarter spoke volumes about their tenacity on what was a fantastic night for Lytton.
Bartlett-Tamatea, who has so often borne the scoring burden alone in the past three years, was joined by two other scorers in double-figures. That is excellent news, heading into Monday night’s B Grade semifinal against High Flyers.
“We had ball-movement, put up shots, Jack scored inside — as a team, the boys have improved so much, from winning nothing and being beaten by 30,” said justifiably proud Lytton captain Bartlett-Tamatea.
“It feels perfect.”
Any time he wants to, he can change the game.
Dom Wilson (12pts) is a great talent, and had a lot in reserve despite his Filthy Dozen’s 59-36 quarterfinal win against Dragons. His ability to spark and run the break was something to see.
The Dozen were on top 17-7, 32-15 and 41-25.
Big man Hukanui Brown also played a great game for Filthy Dozen. The second period belonged to him. Brown hit a three-point shot, found Chad Rose open under the goal to score for 22-10 and soon after recovered defensively to thwart Dragons’ two-on-one break.
Dom Wilson’s uncle Jimmy Wilson also gave veteran Rose a magic assist for 32-15.
Rose is a veteran but on Monday — from the moment he took his first offensive rebound two and a half minutes into the game, he was in form.
Te Angi Te Hau hit four three-pointers. He and Keenan Ruru-Poharama (11pts) were Dragons’ best in Week 10.
Ruru-Poharama’s skilful inside play and capacity to make tough shots are noteworthy, while his teammate — lively guard David Rameka — made three disciplined defensive stops against Filthy Dozen.
Enthusiastic players like Rameka are of real value to any club.
In Monday’s A Grade semifinals at the YMCA, men’s defending champions City Lights will meet fourth-placed Uawa at 6.45pm and the league’s No.2 team, GBHS Black, have a 7.45pm date with destiny: the third-placed, experienced Filthy Dozen.
The A Grade playoff for fifth position between GBHS Red and the Coast will start at 5.45pm.
In B Grade action at the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre on Monday, The Young and the Useless will play Campion College at 5.45pm and High Flyers will play Lytton High School at 6.45pm. SE Systems will play off for fifth spot at 7.45pm.
On Tuesday, the women’s semifinals pit defending champions Lytton High School against sixth-seeded Campion College at 5.45pm, with No.2 team Rebels to play Ngati Porou at 6.45pm. Revolution Fitness New Zealand — team No.5 — will play off for that league placing at 7.45pm.
Uawa have finished seventh and Gisborne Girls’ High School came eighth this year.