Teams just one win away from finals

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

Eight great basketball teams are now only one win away from the biggest game in town.

And the six finalists and two grand finalists will be known before the weekend: work commitments have necessitated the men's Premier Grade 1v2 final between Green Up and Gisborne Boys' High School shifting to 8pm at the YMCA on Friday night.

The club league made a triumphant return last Monday and tonight's fare should be just as good.

In the secondary schools' division at the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre from 5pm, the Gisborne Boys' High School Junior B crew have underdog status in their clash with Ritana Toa of Lytton High.

Toa's Raenin Pihema put up an astounding 24 points in their one-point loss (58-57) to the Campion College Juniors last week and may be hell-bent on revenge.

Said Juniors, placed fourth, take on competition leaders GBHS Junior A in the first semifinal at 6.15pm today. Dom Wilson was the only GBHS player to score in double-figures (15) last Monday. The Campion Cougars won that game, another thriller, 44-42. The Cougars spread the wealth evenly, no one scoring in double-figures. They will meet the GBHS Senior B at 7.30pm in the 2v3 semifinal.

At the YMCA from 5.30pm today in women's basketball, the Masters clash with Gisborne Girls' High School and following them at 6.45pm, three-time defending champions Ngati Porou face Manu Toa in the 1v4 semifinal.

Manu Toa player-coach Melissa Mackey-Huriwai said her team's 14-year-old girls had stepped up with confidence against adults, but they expected a tough game tonight.

Both teams had great skills. It would come down to who had the stronger defence and who sank their shots.

At 8pm in the 2v3 semifinal, Turanga front up to Ritana Toa.

At the sports centre at Boys' High, SE Systems play Turanga Health at 8.45pm.

This week's draw is —

TONIGHT, women's competition, YMCA —

5.30pm: Masters v Gisborne Girls' High School.

6.45pm, Semifinal 1 (1v4): Ngati Porou v Manu Toa.

8pm, Semifinal 2 (2v3): Turanga v Ritana Toa (Lytton High School).

John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre, Gisborne Boys' High School —

8.45pm: SE Systems v Turanga Health.

Secondary schools' division, John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre —

5pm: Ritana v GBHS Junior B.

6.15pm, Semifinal 1 (1v4): GBHS Junior A v Campion College Juniors.

7.30pm, Semifinal 2 (2v3): Campion Cougars v GBHS Senior B.

TOMORROW, men's premier grade, YMCA —

5.30pm, Semifinal 2 (2v3): City Lights v SE Systems.

6.45pm: Raiders v Massive Marauders.

Semifinal 1 (1v4) deferred until Friday, at the YMCA —

8pm: Green Up v GBHS Senior A.

Men's open B Grade, John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre —

5.30pm: Gizzy Gilas v Hawaiki Hou.

6.15pm, Semifinal 1 (1v4): Bibs v Old Surfers.

7.30pm, Semifinal 2 (2v3): Hustlers v The Shed.