Ngati Porou captain Bronya McMenamin's outfit has enjoyed the challenge posed by club ball's up-and-comers.
“That was a quick game and this is a good league,” she said.
“SE Systems took some rebounds off us and their play in transition was excellent as well.
“I hope they stay together.”
Ngati Porou's 52-point margin of victory owed much to McMenamin's strength and tenacity in rebounding at both ends of the court.
Maia Rickard (11pts) was magnificent — she ran the floor to finish strongly right-side against Systems stand-out Jasmine Sparks and moments later led the fast-break for Jayda Waititi-Leach, cutting in from the left, for 46-16.
Sparks scored six points, her elder sister Petra scored eight and Eileen Arnaldo hit two 12-foot jumpshots from the right. But the real news for SES is that they never stopped running to recover on defence, and had player movement and ball movement on offence. They played with real heart and commitment throughout.
Turanga showed not just commitment but courage in their 46-24 win against The Masters.
Masters centre Dyani Johnson — a skilful player who knows how to use her height and power to advantage — warned Turanga at the outset that jostling her for the ball would not be tolerated (in club ball's golden era, what might have followed was known as “The People's Elbow” — although last night the warning alone proved sufficient).
With two minutes left in the first period of Game 3, hilarity ensued. Turanga's Tamara Hedge bumped off enthusiastic Masters defensive player Courtney Stubbins on the right baseline, then hit an eight-foot shot for 10-5.
Masters, too, had magic moments on offence, as when hard-working forward Richelle Tarsau scored low-left to close the score to 31-7 after the older team had swung the ball snappily in the half-court.
Turanga — and they were right to do so — played the game at pace.
The Masters, having been unable to score in the second period, showed determination after the break to add 19 points.
The Paige Tamatea-led Girls' High were thoroughly tested in their 43-39 victory over Manu Toa. Tamatea, the only senior student in coach Thomas Tindale's team, has shown real improvement.
Tindale is a happy man.
“Our help-defence and ball-movement are better than they were, and we're looking to score three-point shots off dribble-drive penetration,” he said.
“We're improving week by week.”
Zenda Moeke began both the first and second quarters with a great steal. With nine points, she trailed only Riley Lewis (15pts) in scoring for GGHS.
Their opponents, Manu Toa, are a talented bunch. Jamieson Tapsell topped their scoring list with 17 points — end-to-end lay-up for 42-33 included — quite aside from her contribution to the night as a referee.
Women's competition,YMCA —
GGHS 43 (Riley Lewis 15, Zenda Moeke 9) Manu Toa 39 (Jamieson Tapsell 17, Natalie Mackey 8, Amokura Te Rauna-Lamont 8) Q1 GGHS 6-4, HT Manu Toa 16-14, Q3 28-18.
Turanga 46 (Kiara Swannell 10, Tamara Te Hau Hedge 9) Masters 24 (Wanita Tuwairua-Brown 9, Richelle Tarsau 4) Q1 Turanga 17-5, HT 23-5, Q3 31-14.
Ngati Porou 77 (Bronya McMenamin 22, Jayda Waititi-Leach 17, Maia Rickard 11) SE Systems 28 (Petra Sparks 8, Jasmine Sparks 6) Q1 Ngati Porou 18-6, HT 36-14, Q3 60-22.
Lytton High School beat Turanga Health by default.
Secondary schools boys' division, John McFarlane Memorial Sports Centre, Gisborne Boys' High School —
Lytton High School 61 (Caleb Poole 28, Raenin Pihema-Pomana 13) Campion College Juniors 41 (Te Haeora Kerekere-Puke 10, Allies Rangihuna 10, James McKay 8) Q1 LHS 11-8, HT 29-14, Q3 37-26.
Campion Cougars 62 (Max Vanderbilt 18, Jovan Potter 9) GBHS Junior B 20 (Iziah Kingi-Miki 4, Tiopira Huriwai-Kirk 4) Q1 Campion Cougars 16-3, HT 29-7, Q3 46-13.
GBHS Senior B 72 (Kapreece Clay 13, Joel Akuhata-Brown 12, Bailey Edmonds 8) GBHS Junior A 46 (Jack John Maurirere 12, Quaydon Chaffey-Kora 8, Clinton Tarei 6) Q1 GBHS Senior B 17-12, HT 36-24, Q3 56-38.
