School sports: Crunch time in Super 8

Hastings Boys' High School basketball coach Curtis Wooten hopes a vocal home crowd will spur his troops to victory in today's Super 8 tournament final at the Hastings Sports Centre.

Former HBS Bank Hawks coach Wooten coached his side to two wins yesterday which secured a berth in today's 12.30pm final against Tauranga Boys. Yesterday HBHS pipped Tauranga Boys 65-63 to give them the psychological advantage for today's final.

In their second game yesterday Hastings Boys beat Palmerston North Boys 59-51. Centre Shayden King-Edwards and the versatile duo of Jacob Nahora and Mateus Marsh were prominent in both of Hastings' games yesterday.

The Murray Barker-coached Napier Boys side which yesterday lost to Tauranga Boys will battle with Palmy in today's playoff for third.

SOCCER:

Napier Boys' High School and Hastings Boys' High School will meet in today's battle for third place in the NBHS-hosted soccer segment of the Super 8 tourney.

Yesterday NBHS walloped Rotorua Boys 9-0 in their first game before losing their semifinal 3-1 to New Plymouth Boys on penalties after the score was 0-all at the end of regulation time. Hastings Boys drew 0-all with Palmerston North Boys' High School in their first game and then lost 3-2 to Hamilton Boys' High School in their semifinal.

NBHS coach Rob Gunn said his troops have beaten Hastings Boys twice this season and will be keen to remain on the right side of the ledger today. He pointed out his centre back Bayley Chadderton, a Napier City Rovers Central League player, was the best player on the field in both of yesterday's games.

HOCKEY:

Hastings Boys' High School will take on Napier Boys in the battle for fifth in the Park Island-hosted hockey segment of the tournament.

Palmerston North Boys will meet Hamilton Boys in the final.