‘Team effort’ key to win

Baskeball hoop on a sunny day.

GISBORNE Girls’ High School leapfrogged IMS High School Old Girls into third place in the Pak’nSave premier grade after a full-tilt encounter between the two teams at the YMCA last night. The students’ 44-42 win, which tightened up an already close race for the top four, was hailed by coach Elaine Lamont as a “team effort” with fitness the key in a game where the lead changed hands constantly.

Whangara Old Girls’ consolidated second on the table with a 55-50 win over Claydens Waikohu. YMP (1) leads the competition on 28 points, with Whangara on 22. However, only three points separate the next four teams. GGHS are on 17, HSOG and Horouta Gold 16 and Waikohu 15.

GGHS came out firingGGHS came out firing against HSOG, with slick passing from Paruhi Peters opening up space for the attack. HSOG responded with intricate movement and rapid passing to get back on level terms, then took a two-goal lead.

Missed chances, though, allowed GGHS back into the game. Their midcourt used aerial passing to good effect and Ashleigh Brown’s accurate shooting helped GGHS to a 12-11 lead at the end of the quarter. The second quarter was goal-for-goal, non-stop-action.

HSOG levelled the score three times in the first five minutes before GGHS hit four in a row to go 19-16 up. A high-tempo press from the HSOG midcourt and accurate shooting from Maxine Moeke pegged back the deficit and HSOG then edged ahead for a 23-21 lead at halftime.

30-all with five minutes to goThe third quarter followed the same pattern. Solid defence, led by Lucretia Taitapanui, allowed the skilful Peters to set up the attack and GGHS quickly retook the lead. HSOG’s hard-working midcourt continued to set up chances for their shooters. They levelled it 30-all with five minutes to go and once again eked out a two-goal advantage only for GGHS to come back. Three HSOG goals in the last three minutes, though, saw them finish the quarter up 35-32.

The relentless pace told in the final quarter. Both teams turned over possession through unforced errors but GGHS’s long-distance passing into the circle proved the difference and they outscored their opponents 12-7 to clinch a two-goal victory.

Lamont was delighted with the win and put a lot of it down to their stamina.

“It was a pretty close game but they held their fitness well in a full team effort. They all played really well.”

HSOG coach Kelly Warren said her side needed to cut down on the errors and improve shooting accuracy.

“It was a very close game but they had quite accurate shooting and were physical in defence, which meant we had a bit of a hard time getting our movement going in the circle.”