A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Courts will shake, backboards will shatter — figuratively speaking — in Tauranga tomorrow.
The seventh annual Mel Young Easter Classic Tournament is to run 397 games on 15 floors — with 12 Gisborne Basketball Association teams among the 134 taking part in 18 grades — from 10.30am tomorrow.
GBA chairwoman Kylie Turuwhenua-Tapsell is elated with the energy and work ethic of the association’s age-group arm ahead of what Basketball Pacific regards as its premier event.
“We were on the back foot with Cyclone Gabrielle delaying our trials, but teams formed quickly,” she said.
“We showed our commitment to give youth something to look forward to.
“I’m so proud of the fact that our basketball community rallied to get them away. I’d like to thank the Kiwi Gaming Trust for their funding.”
The Easter Classic based at Trustpower Arena in Mount Maunganui is hugely important to the GBA’s development programme. In 2019, nine teams made the trip. Three of them won gold medals. In 2021, seven teams travelled and won 11 of the 13 games they played on Day 1.
Matt Tong’s sons Ollie (u15 B), Luca (u13 B) and Felix (u11 B) will all play, with their father as coach of the u13 Bs.
Tong senior said: “We’ve got a good mix of new and returning players in our u13 B crew and they’re keen to get stuck in. It’s been a tough preparation with the weather disruptions but the team have made good progress.”
Tong’s team first take the court against Waikato Blue on Court 2 at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre at 3pm tomorrow.
Great things sprouted from the Classic. Five years ago; it was the first age-group representative tournament that Cody Tarei attended. Of the second — and last — Gisborne Boys’ High School team to make the national championship finals, he is the only member still at school.
Tarei, now 6ft 7in, and his very capable under-17 teammate Ziya Swann need to play quality minutes for their coach, GBA legend Adrian Sparks.
The u17s begin their B Grade campaign against Tauranga Black at 10.30am on Court 7 at the arena, and play Tauranga White on the same floor at 4.30pm.
Thomas Tindale has charge of the u13 girls’ A team. Tindale knows that while his outfit has trained together only four times, they will play hard.
“I want to see a moving offence, and for our girls just to make sure that they communicate on defence,” he said.
The u13s will lead off against Waikato at Aquinas College from 12 midday and back up against Rotorua, again at Aquinas, at 7.30pm.
Referee development is an important part of the Classic. Brendan Walsh will go as a GBA official. He hopes that Adrian Sparks, son Felix and Micah Tapsell will get to show their refereeing skills in between coaching and playing duties.
“There’s a great vibe across the four days at this event,” Walsh said.
“The chance to meet officials from other regions and have focused coaching is something I look forward to. And I get to watch Gisborne kids play.”
Under 11 girls: Nahla Aston-Coleman, Aniya Aston-Maka, Evah-May Beets, Te Wai Kauri Hohipa-Smith, Mia Lewis, Charleigh Karauria, Charlee-Elizabeth Mackey, Merekahu Matahiki, Piata Te Aumarire, Alizay’Riley Tipene-Noho, Malia Waihi. Coach: Daniel Beets. U11 boys B: Lakynn Barber, Kairo Chaffey-Kora, Waiariki Ehau, Micheal Kemp, Jakhai Maxwell-Broughton, Mason Poi, Jahman Te Kahu, Felix Tong, Cyrus Tuala, Te Koutuku Wilson. Coach: Dom Wilson. U11 boys A: Liam Brown, Kade Leighton, Bronx Morice-Munro, Darryl Nepe, Khorshyous Nepe, Mokena Pishief, Uira Reihana, Leityn Rutene, Tuterangi Williams, Atawhai Wirepa-Hei. Coach: Willie Brown. U13 girls B: Pyper August, Cahsyn-Naevia Brown, Pharah Brown, Waimania Callaghan-Wilson, Taiao-I-Motuhake Matahiki, Te Makoha Porter, Kayarah Sadlier, Peyton Smith, Arihia Tuhaka-Haapu, Pyper Wainohu. Coach: Jimmy Wilson. U13 girls A: Matariki Gan-Lazarus, Bailey Garrett-Kora, Quenella Hautapu, Te Huinga Karauria, Tutemakoha Kemp, Tawa Marsh, Bentley Morice-Munro, Kiara Namana, Indie Nikora, Lischa-Rae Smith. Coach: Thomas Tindale. U13 boys B:Quincey Chaffey, Kauri Davies, Tawera Ehau, Cael Neho, Leo Suematsu, Te Hata Waho Te Pairi, Luca Tong, Ricco Walker, Neyo Wanoa, Reef West-Hill. Coach: Matt Tong. U13 boys A: Aiziah Craft-Chemis, Noah Fox, Te Kotukunui-A-Rangi Henderson-Wanoa, Oasis Maru, Sean Mulligan, Mahaki Nikora, Mehaka Pohatu-Chaffey, Kingston Samuels, Exodus Te Kahu, Taniora Waitai. Coach: Lawrence Mulligan. U15 girls: Kohine Aupouri, Calla Boyd, Saige Brown, Ariana Kepa, Riley Lewis, Kayla Namana, Nevaeh Smith, Kelarne Te Rangi. Coach: Reg Namana. U15 boys B: Shae Abbot-Raggett, Wharetimana Biddle-Nepia, Ryland Bright, Rihai Harris, Isieli Kamoto, Kauri Kennedy, Eruera Morrell-Baker, Auric Pocock, Oliver Tong, Kiki Wilson. Coach: Sean Pocock. U15 boys A: Kereama Huriwai, Anakin Ormsby-Cairns, Kelly-Morehu Paenga-Rangihuna, Nate Papuni, Braedyn Smith, Santino Smith, Gio Smith-Green, Xavier Pivac Solomon, Micah Tapsell, Clinton Tarei. Coach: Adam Tapsell. U17 girls: Bobbi Atawhai-Crawford, Shean Edwards, Ohomauri Hailey, Ishtar Mackey-Huriwai, Te Atahuia Matahiki, Tiamarie Matahiki, Zenda Moeke, Shelly Rangihuna. Coach: Luke Bradley. U17 boys: Whaimuri Gear, Te Haeora Kerekere-Puke, Qkylau Leach, Jack-John Maurirere, Allies Rangihuna, Keanu Reedy, Felix Sparks, Ziya Swann, Cody Tarei, Te Kani a Takirau Wirepa-Hei.