It was one of two clashes to end round-robin play. The other was a nail-biter as Old Girls Whāngārā beat Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A 54-53 to place fifth overall in their first season at Premier level.
Little to nothing separated the sides as they signed off their respective campaigns in heart-stopping style.
OG Whāngārā led 16-13 after the first quarter, but by halftime it was 27-all and at the three-quarter break the sides were locked 40-40.
Both teams moved the ball at speed through the court, firing long passes into space for their teammates to run on to.
All players did their part, using a variety of skills on attack and defence.
The teams had turns holding a small lead, only for the other to pull it back.
Whāngārā led by three goals halfway through the final quarter but with five minutes to go, the students levelled it at 49-all.
Into the last minute of play, it was 53 apiece with Whāngārā in possession.
Cool heads shone through. They moved the ball around and used up precious seconds, then delivered it into their shooting circle and the winning goal was made as the final whistle was about to be blown.
Spectators enjoyed a great game and it is hard to single out players because everyone did their bit.
YMP have had the wood on Whāngārā Old Girls all season and this continued as they reinforced their top seeding for the playoffs.
They led 15-10 at the first break, 28-19 at halftime and 44-31 heading into the fourth period.
It was another complete team performance.
Their attack end was speedy and made good use of the lob pass into shooter Paku-Jane Skudder, who slotted most of her attempts.
But they didn’t have it easy for the whole game. At times, Whāngārā were able to stop YMP’s flow and produced good passages of attacking play.
When Whāngārā stuck to quick passes, not allowing YMP’s strong defence the time to set up, they got the ball into their shooters more easily.
There just were not enough of those times.
YMP finished top of the points table on 48 from Waikohu (41), Horouta (32), Whāngārā Old Girls 25, OG Whāngārā 14, GGHS 10 and Character Roofing YMP (2) 4.
Whāngārā will need to up their game to have any chance of stopping YMP tomorrow night. YMP have been strong all season and have their sights firmly set on the title and the Jan Duncan Memorial Trophy that goes with it.
But playoffs can be fickle. Whāngārā have improved during the season and shown what they are capable of at times. They need to produce that for the hour if they are to cause an upset.
The second semi, between Waikohu and Horouta, starts at 7.30pm.
Waikohu have enjoyed good wins over Horouta this season by working as a unit through all thirds of the court.
This was the case when they met last week, with Waikohu pressuring the Horouta ball carrier and creating a lot of turnovers.
Horouta will no doubt have worked on this and, like Whāngārā, will be looking for an entire team performance against their more-favoured opponents.
The semifinal winners will meet in the grand final at the YMCA on Saturday. The losers will share third equal.
Finals in the other Senior grades will also be held on Saturday.
Senior grade semifinals and other results
Premier Reserve: Aorangi Contracting HSOG 35 First Light Electrical GGHS Snr B 27, Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit 34 Claydens Waikohu P2 23, TR Builds Horouta Taimana 25 Steve Craill Builder Ngātapa 16.
Final: Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit v TR Builds Horouta Taimana.
Steve Craill Builder Ngātapa and Claydens Waikohu P2 third equal, Aorangi Contracting HSOG fifth, First Light Electrical GGHS Snr B sixth.
A Grade: GGHS Jnr A 26 Gisborne Glass Ngātapa 21, Whalis 42 YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato 28, Claydens Waikohu (2) 32 Pioneer 24.
Final: Whalis v Claydens Waikohu (2).
Pioneer and YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato third equal, GGHS Jnr A fifth, Gisborne Glass Ngātapa sixth.
First Grade: OBM Blue 33 Claydens Waikohu Social A 28, Claydens Waikohu Social B 28 Tyre General Ngātapa 19, Smash Palace Sportsfit 16 Whangara Paikea 15.
Final: Smash Palace Sportsfit v Claydens Waikohu Social B.
Whāngārā Paikea and Tyre General Ngātapa third equal, OBM Blue fifth, Claydens Waikohu Social A sixth.
1st Reserve: Ūawa Ngarangikahiwa 22 TR Builds Horouta Hiriwa 17, Allwood Enterprises HSOG 24 Pirates Manawa 15.
Final: Ūawa Ngarangikahiwa v Allwood Enterprises HSOG.
TR Builds Horouta Hiriwa and Pirates Manawa third equal.
2nd Grade: YMP Manawanui 30 OBM OG 18, Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 44 GGHS Tuākana 9.
Final: YMP Manawanui v Tatapouri Sportsfit Social.
OBM OG and GGHS Tuākana third equal.
