“I hope we have more than five players,” said Maxwell, who is having a superb season at point guard.
Siaki Tui — who matched the bulk of Ray Noble, Adrian Sparks and Sean Pocock magnificently last week — would no doubt appreciate at least one sub.
Tui and Hailey should head up Pure Sound’s defensive rebound-count, with Hailey and sprightly teammate Wi Brown as their main scoring threats.
Adam Niwa, Chad Rose and Ainsley Paea are confirmed to play for the Pound.
They will be aware that City Lights’ Muncaster produced 22 points himself last time out and forward Ryan Walters has hit four three-point shots twice since opening night.
The X factor in the game could well be City Lights talent Dom Wilson, who plays well enough in cruise mode but is dynamite when the mood takes him.
The 25-year-old son of foundation Rising Sun player Errol Wilson has a good deal of his father’s court-vision and passing ability — game-changing, match-winning ability — and he’s not taking Pure Sound lightly.
“I’m looking forward to matching up with my Uncle Jimmy, if he plays. It’s going to be a challenge.”
“Trust each other; trust the structure.” That’s the call from Lytton High School player-coach Jackson Leach ahead of his team’s clash with East Coast.
“We always start off with a team focus but we have to maintain that, not move away from it by trying to go one on one after the opposition scores a basket,” he said.
Lytton missed their athletic skipper Levi Hohipa-Henry in the 63-26 loss to Gisborne Boys’ High School last week.
He leads more by actions than words, and has done ever since first deputising for Ethan Lankshear in August last year, following Lytton’s second win against YMP White.
Lytton must minimise turnovers and make their open shots to beat the Coast. In Louie Rangihuna, they have a natural scorer but defensive hustle and fitness are likewise crucial against Drae Calles, and Brandon and Ezra Paul.
Not only do the Coast attack the basket and apply fearsome defensive pressure — chiefly through Calles — their recent form indicates both composure and toughness.
Last Monday, they held off Uawa 50-39 and a fortnight before went down fighting, 39-36, in an epic battle with defending champions Pirates.
“Lytton are a fit young team, so we’ll look to control the pace,” East Coast captain Brandon Paul said.
“As for us, I think we’re playing better with every game but we have no stars — at least, not yet.”
Uawa versus Pirates could be an interesting game with, again, a great deal falling on the shoulders of Pirates captain Gary Harding.
He has been a part of the Gisborne basketball scene for almost 20 years, having played at national second-division level under two Suns coaches in Frank Russell and Ivan Lomax.
Pirates are learning to play without the presence of Thomas Tindale and Rongomai Smith in the middle.
Pirates will have only one of their two guest stars (Richie Jenkins and Luke Bradley) from last week.
The 6ft 3in Bradley — a teacher and sports agent in Japan — will ease the burden borne almost to exhaustion by skipper Harding and TK Moeke. Bradley is a deft passer of the ball who finds his mark in the open court.
“Uawa run a fast-paced game,” Harding said.
“They have the potential to compete inside, with Reggie Namana and Harley Phillips in their team.”
Uawa keenly felt Namana’s absence against the Coast. But despite being without his height and experience, they found ways to score. Both captain Trey Crawford and Jordan Patrick scored in double figures.
They had energy from a confident, capable guard in Wiremu Gray and raw athletic prowess in Hoakima Harris-Marino, who runs the floor at breakneck speed.
Campion College will have their hands full in the last game of the night. Their tall athletes — Tahran Ward, Fletcher Gedye, Hunter Jones and Konnor Gibson — go head to head with SE Systems’ Noble, Sparks, Pocock and the irrepressible Liam Greening, who wades through defenders.
Greening is one of the best young players to have graced the YMCA in the past five years. He is a human piston on the floor and his work ethic is remarkable — moreover, he has always played the game with a smile.
Certainly the edge in experience goes to Systems, and it may take all the quickness and cunning that Raphael Heria, Edmund Arlos and Orlando Pedraza have for Campion to cause the upset of the club basketball year.
Gisborne Boys’ High School have the bye tonight, as they are at the Super Eight tournament in Palmerston North.
They lost their first game in Pool A this morning, 84-48, against 2015 champions Hastings Boys’ High School. Hastings led at the quarters 23-12, 32-24 and 61-37. Gisborne’s top-scorers were Freemin Te Whare (15pts) and Joe Te Maari (13 pts).
At 1.45pm today, Gisborne were to play Napier Boys’ High.
Tomorrow, Gisborne play their last pool game, against Hamilton Boys’ High at 8.30am, before cross-over games start that afternoon.
The Gisborne club basketball draw for men’s games tonight at the Gisborne Herald YMCA5.30pm: Lytton High School v East Coast.
6.30pm: Uawa v Pirates.
7.30pm: Pure Sound v City Lights.
8.30pm: Campion College v SE Systems.
Bye: Gisborne Boys’ High School.
The draw for women’s games tomorrow night at the Gisborne Herald YMCA5.30pm: Lytton High School A v Rovers.
6.30pm: Gisborne Girls’ High School v Campion College.
7.30pm: YMP v Ngati Porou.
Bye: Lytton High School B.
