STRONG RUN: Dreamers player-coach Melissa Mackey-Huriwai bursts through “traffic” — No.4 Alex Campbell-Ratapu and No.5 Ohomauri Hailey, of Hoops I Did it Again — in draft league round-robin action.File picture by Darryl Crawford
THE YMCA rocked last Friday, with all the teams, officials and fans who made the inaugural Gisborne Basketball Association draft leagues a success able to enjoy one last summer hit-out.
There is a possibility that local age-group representative teams will consider going to other competitions that might be held, but as a result of the country moving into traffic-light setting red yesterday at 11.59pm, the Maori National Tournament down to start today at Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre has been cancelled.
Thirteen GBA age-group teams were to have attended the tournament at the former Sportsdrome.
The inaugural draft leagues have been wildly successful and 124 of the faithful saw player-coach Melissa Mackey-Huriwai’s Dreamers beat Butter Fingers 38-34 to be crowned women’s champions, and the Hana Wilkinson-coached Brick Layers pick up their first win of the five-game season, 41-32, against Hoops I Did it Again in the playoff for third and fourth.
GBA chairwoman Kylie Turuwhenua-Tapsell’s committee ensured that everything went off without a hitch, from Covid-19 compliance to the Facebook livestream coverage.
Former national league referee and GBA life member Clifton Blumfield, in his 59th year with the whistle, said: “Both the standard of play and the officiating have improved since the league began. Brendon Walsh and I had to call only three fouls in the second quarter of the early game, the playoff game. The refs set a standard, the players play to that standard and the basketball improves.”
Wilkinson was delighted for her loyal, courageous Brick Layers, who had a fairytale end to their campaign.
“We trained really well on Wednesday night and they ended the season knowing each other’s play,” the ex-Nelson Spark said.
“I enjoyed coaching them — and learned a lot about coaching — because they were all very coachable.
“We had great leaders in Amoe Tarsau, Courtney Stubbins and Paris Wilson, and everyone was happy that we had a moment up on the podium.”
Hoops I Did it Again were 10-9 up at the end of the first period but Brick Layers took a 22-21 lead into the break and were in control, 35-23, by three-quartertime.
Jayda Waititi-Leach (10 points) and Jamieson Tapsell (7pts) led Brick Layers’ scorers and made some amazing plays.
Hoops I Did it Again’s best were Ariana Kepa, who was outstanding and led all scorers in the game with 11 points, and Maia Rickard (5pts).
Following a quick opening period in which Kepa hit the first of her two three-point shots, the second period featured a superb bounce pass from Rickard to Bobbi-Atawhai Crawford under the rim for the lay-up in traffic at 12-9 to Hoops.
Moments later at the same end of the court, Tyler Riri made an incredible reverse lay-up, left side of the floor, for 14-12.
Stung by this, Brick Layers responded with shots to rev up the crowd — Jamieson Tapsell’s coast-to-coast driving left-hand lay-up and Stubbins bouncing off Kepa on the right baseline to hit a five-foot fall-away jumpshot for 22-19.
Tapsell completed the three-point play of the game for 35-23, swooping in from the right wing to score off a magnificent corkscrew bounce-pass from Waititi-Leach — a compliment that was returned in the fourth period when Tapsell found Waititi-Leach in amongst tall timber in the key to score for 41-32.
Petra Sparks of Hoops was at the helm for her crew’s great 54-52 win against Butter Fingers in Round 3, and has had every reason to be chuffed with their progress as a group since draft night, December 12.
“Our defensive structure improved a lot; our girls all improved as individuals too,” Sparks said. “It was just an awesome competition and experience.”
Melissa Mackey-Huriwai’s Dreamers played high-energy, powerhouse basketball and are worthy champions.
“That was a good final with hustle from start to finish,” shesaid.
“We changed our defensive structures, applied pressure-defence — where we needed to — on certain players and also changed up our attacking plays.
“We’ve enjoyed just playing more ball and, as to whether the draft league could or should come back — why not?”
The Janelle Te Rauna-Lamont-coached Butter Fingers made a strong start to the grand final and led 11-6 at the end of the first period.
Dreamers, though, wrested the initiative back and led 21-17 at halftime. They went into the fourth quarter 32-27 ahead.
Te Amokura Te Rauna-Lamont turned in another unbelievably gutsy performance for Butter Fingers. Where premier grade men’s players have been known to demand or even cry out for a favourable call, she simply goes harder than ever.
Mackey-Huriwai made a very tough shot when sandwiched between two defenders to keep her team in touch, down by one at 7-6, in the first period and in the second quarter, efficiency — which is the essence of style — were matched with teamwork. Ishtar Mackey-Huriwai found mum Melissa on the move and Melissa found Taimarie Matahiki open for a 16-15 lead.
Butter Fingers centre Dyani Johnson at the knuckle left-side picked up her captain, Kiara Swannell, on a cut to the basket for the three-point play on a foul by Te Atahuia Matahiki and closed it to 30-24. Butter Fingers were down by six points but certainly not out of the contest.
In this earthy Gisborne basketball environment, players take the odd knock and Ishtar Mackey-Huriwai — who had earlier beaten the third-quarter shot-clock at 58 seconds for 32-24 — repopped her left shoulder, and finished the game on the bench. She had played well.
With one minute five seconds left on the game-clock in the fourth period, and Dreamers leading 36-34, lead official Keenan Ruru-Poharama made the refereeing call of the year.
He blew the whistle on O’Shae Rangihaeata (8pts) in the back-court as she came down the right sideline. It is very rare that a call is made late in a final with so little between the teams at the time, and not one voice was raised in protest.
There was not so much as a murmur, and Rangihaeata had made a fantastic contribution to the game. Her three-point shooting in the second half threatened Dreamers’ hold on power.
Janelle Te Rauna-Lamont can be well-satisfied with her Butter Fingers’ persistence and feisty competitiveness.
“That was a great final but we just couldn’t make shots,” she said.
“I’m proud of our women. It’s not easy learning how to play with each other in five weeks, so I think they did really well. Each of them has great skills. I had itchy feet at courtside myself.”
Kylie Turuwhenua-Tapsell said: “It was a fantastic finals night with brilliant play from the four teams.
“Congratulations to Dreamers, our first women’s draft league winners.
“This league was championed by Vania Ria and couldn’t have run without the support of our committee, referees and — most importantly — Melissa, Janelle, Hana, Petra and Kellann Kemp, who stepped up as coaches for our teams.
“We are grateful for everyone’s time and energy.”