Some may get another bite of the cherry

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne Boys' High School and Trident have a good thing going.

Although the David Glendenning-coached GBHS team lost all three of their games at the Trident Invitational Basketball Tournament in Whakatane on Thursday, some of those Gisborne players may soon get another bite of the cherry.

Gisborne, under their captain Henare Tofilau, lost 48-28 to Trident High School, 29-28 to Te Wharekura o Mauao and 47-38 to Te Kura Kokiri yesterday in the senior section of the tournament, having won it last year. The junior tournament will also be held at the same venue — Whakatane War Memorial Stadium — next Thursday.

In Game 1 on Thursday, Sebastian Wilson (9pts), Daley Riri (6pts) and Cody Tarei (4pts) fought hard as Gisborne trailed 11-4 at quartertime to draw level 13-all at the break before Trident once more raced out to a 31-18 lead, heading into the fourth period.

In Game 2, Te Wharekura o Mauao held the advantage throughout, 11-4, 20-14 and 28-27. Tarei (8pts) and Ethan Pearson (5pts) of GBHS were to the fore.

William Collier (10pts), Wilson (6pts) and Riri (5pts) led Gisborne Boys' High scorers in Game 3, Collier being the first and only one of their players to score in double-figures — though they trailed Te Kura Kokiri 15-9, 22-11 and 36-23.

Trident High School teacher-in-charge of basketball Mike Te Kurapa has a high regard for GBHS and Trident's shared basketball history. It was former GBHS A star and original Rising Sun Errol Wilson, when living in Whakatane, who first brought a Trident team to play Gisborne here 10 years ago.

The following year, both senior and junior boys' teams from both schools met and by 2015, the fixture had become a tournament.

“Thanks to Gisborne Boys' High and Rotorua for their commitment to a continued link and for an exciting last five years,” Te Kurapa said.

“Thank-you for your continued support.”