The two-round system over 22 weeks was followed by semifinals and Grand Final Day.
The women competed in a six-team league.
In women's competition tonight, the B Grade final between SE Systems and Manu Toa will start at 6.30pm at the YMCA.
The A Grade final, at 7.30pm, will be a replay of the 2018 and 2019 thrillers. Ngati Porou play Lytton High School, who have featured in the final for the past three years, having won it in 2017. Ngati Porou were champions in 2018 and '19.
The evening opens with the game between A Grade teams Gisborne Girls' High School and Stretchmarks at 5.45pm.
At the John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre, Gisborne Boys' High School, a game between A Graders Manu Tu and Dem Air Ballers at 5.40pm will be followed by one between B Grade teams Horouta and Riverina at 6.20pm.
In men's games at the sports centre tomorrow, Dialektric will play GBHS B in an A Grade/second-tier B Grade affair at 5.30pm.
That will be followed by two top-tier clashes, between the Bumbles and the Backcourt Violators at 6.10pm, and Gizzy Gilas and Lytton High School at 6.50pm.
The 2019 A Grade champs City Lights and the Filthy Dozen play at 7.30pm.
At the YMCA, A Grade team GBHS Senior A play the B Grade Campion College team at 5.30pm.
Game 2 will be the B Grade second-tier final between GBHS Juniors and Old Surfers at 6.35pm.
Game 3 will be the B Grade top-tier final between Big Baller Brand and Massive Marauders.
The 2020 club basketball season will close with the men's A Grade Grand Final, SE Systems versus Green Up, at 8.25pm.
The logistics of running nine games with the prospect of overtime in the finals, plus non-finals being played in two 18-minute halves (as opposed to four 10-minute quarters), will fall to club league marshals Dwayne Tamatea, Catherine Kepa and Amoe Tarsau.
GBA chairman Tamatea leads a sleeves-rolled-up committee by example: he'll referee all four men's games at the Sports Centre tomorrow night.
Former GBA president Adrian Sparks — as patron of men's A Grade superpower SE Systems and organiser of SES in the women's B Grade — is perfectly placed to comment on the effort made by the many local volunteers and supporters of New Zealand's fastest-growing sport.
“We've been able to carry on playing basketball, refereeing, marshaling — doing what we love — because of the hard work the committee has done at the venues and behind the scenes,” he said.
“We were able to ensure the safety of our basketball community.
“More has been required of us this season than normal, but we did it for the love of the game.
“To see young and old, big and small, slow and fast, giving it their all has made any amount of time and effort we spent worthwhile.”
SE Systems versus Green Up at the YMCA is a showdown.
The men's A Grade showpiece pits a team of experienced, highly skilled veterans — SES, under Reggie Namana — against a young crew, Green Up, with athletic ability, flair and a match-winner in Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown at the helm.
SE Systems beat Green Up 39-37 in the teams' first meeting, on August 11. In a close, low-scoring game, Tuwairua-Brown scored 20 points and teammate Psalm Taylor, 11 points in that epic on opening night, but Namana decided the contest. His soft-touch shot nine seconds into “golden point” snuffed out Green Up before they had time to take stock.
Rongomai Smith (15pts) was solid for SES that evening.
Smith, Harley Phillips, Thomas Tindale and Namana are a force up front — Anton Riri, William Hocquard and Marques Tukukino have played “smart”.
Systems' unselfish play has extended to young Tyler Phillips and club patron Adrian Sparks playing quality minutes.
SES beat a plucky Gisborne Boys' High School 45-37 in the first semifinal while Green Up torched defending champions City Lights 70-49.
Tuwairua-Brown led the charge against CL with 23 points, Taylor put up 17 and Zade Donner, 12. Donner is noted for his ability to finish the fast-break, and Taylor has great hands.
Tuwairua-Brown has a different skill-set to that of Bullrush wizard Kitione Maile, but he is just as dangerous as that champion guard and — like Maile — a genuine scorer.
The Green Up captain said: “We have to push the pace and make our open jump shots.”
Taylor, Adam Nepe, Khian Westrupp and Paora Dewes have the size to compete for rebounds at both ends of the floor, which they must do.
Last year 400 people watched the grand final. This year's crowd is unlikely to be as big, but those present should know early on whether Green Up intend to fight for the boards or “play casual”.
Being content to jog back on defence after a missed shot won't beat SE Systems.
They ought not rely on Tuwairua-Brown to again put up 22 points, as he did for GBHS Red in their 83-81 loss to Lights in last year's main event, but they can win if they compete in every phase.
Tindale, Smith and Phillips are enormously strong near the hoop — but if Green Up deny the post and second shots, they can upset the unbeaten veterans.
The cost in bruises is the price of victory.
