Tarsau top-scores in tough game

Among the games at the YMCA last night was Gisborne Girls' High School v Rovers. Harata Hailey (GGHS) shot 19 points and it looks like Jayda Nepe for Rovers (left) doesn't want her to get another. Picture by Paul Rickard

YMP v Lytton juniorsFull force — that’s what YMP’s Amoe Tarsau hit the Lytton High School juniors with in women’s basketball at the YMCA last night. Tarsau led all scorers with 19 points in YMP’s 35-23 win. Her quick hands in defence were key in effecting steals and she was almost irresistible in the open court.

In the game’s most fascinating individual contest, Wanita Tuwairua-Brown (9pts) waged war with Lytton captain Manaia Hutana in the middle. The commitment and spirit of Hutana (6pts), Jayda Waititi-Leach (8pts), Jody Walters and their supporting cast earned the respect of Tarsau.

“We knew we were in for a tough game because of how well they’d played against the (Lytton) seniors last week,” Tarsau said. “They have some promising young players — Reremoana Bartlett-Tamatea, Alicia Kepa, Huntin Hooper — and it was good to see Tia Akurangi return to the floor for them, too.”

At the end of the first period, the scores were tied 7-7, at halftime YMP led 19-13 and at three-quartertime the veterans held a 26-15 advantage. The second quarter opened with Miri Katipa sending a great assist to Tarsau on the run for 9-7, Tuwairua-Brown later picked up a low bounce-pass and then stepped between defenders to score for 26-15 but Hutana and teammate Georgia Teneti combined to make the play of the game as time wound down. With both teams chasing the ball, Hutana somehow slipped a pass to Teneti for the curling finish.

“We worked hard, same as last week,” Lytton captain Hutana said. “Jayda (Waititi-Leach) showed a lot of skill in shooting and passing and we’re a close team of mainly Y9 and 10 players. We’re improving together.”

Ngati Porou v Lytton seniorsNgati Porou are still the team to beat. The champions put paid to the Lytton seniors 60-29, Ngati Porou captain Bronya McMenamin hammering home 20 points. Kellann Kemp, in her first season for Ngati Porou, scored 16 points and teammate Shay Waikawa, also a league referee and coach of the Rovers, produced 11.

But Lytton’s best on the night — Honey Mokomoko — was the equal of anyone on the floor. Mokomoko (11pts) hit baseline jumpshots, a three-point shot and a crazy “runner” . . . yet there was no getting away from Ngati Porou’s sheer class. They held the upper hand 13-2, 30-12 and 41-23 throughout and some of the basketball they played was stunning.

Paare Ahuriri-Leach gave two peerless passes. The first was to McMenamin, who swept from the left for a backdoor lay-up in the first period. McMenamin gave much the same pass for Kemp to score in the second quarter. Waikawa made the fourth quarter her own with a great assist to Ahuriri-Leach and two extraordinary finishes, the second of which was the fourth put-back attempt on a miss.

“This league is running well and the competition is even stronger than last year, with a spread of good players,” McMenamin said. “It was a hard game and Honey is much stronger. Her ball-handling and outside shot have come on.”

And while Mokomoko is a real talent, her teammate Miri Manuel also turned in a fantastic performance for 11 points, scoring Lytton’s first field goal and hitting more three-pointers — three — than anyone else in either team.

GGHS v RoversGisborne Girls’ High School beat the Rovers 43-12, their captain Harata Hailey putting up a 19-point game with great support from Kaipo Olsen-Baker (8pts). Girls’ High went through 10-2, 23-4 and 29-10 on top but while their opponents started slowly, the Rovers came to life with a 20-foot shot from Monique Tapp in the third period.

“Our half-court offence was good but we can always improve on defence,” Hailey said. “Kaipo (Olsen-Baker) was solid at both ends of the floor. Rovers showed greater shooting range than I’d seen from them until now. That three-pointer was pretty good.”

High standards all roundBoth the men’s and women’s club basketball teams have been well turned-out and the standard of refereeing has been high.

Gisborne Basketball Association marshals Leon Tarsau and Adrian Sparks — who had a tough act to follow in Amoe Tarsau, Miri Katipa and company — can go into the break knowing that the league has been excellent value to date.