Wairarapa surprise packet at tourney

The Wairarapa invitation side were the surprise packets of the Highwayman Motel men's basketball tournament played at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton on Friday and Saturday.
They caused the upset of the tourney when they beat national league side Palmerston North Jets 90-87 in a gripping first round match which saw lead them grab a seven point lead in the first quarter and remain in front until Jets drew level with about two minutes on the clock. From there it was anybody's game and thanks to a late three-point pointer by former Tall Black Kent Mori and a basket by another of their "imports" in Blake Truslove the invitation side, which included four local players, took the spoils. The other first round match between two NBL sides Taranaki Mountain Airs and. Hawke's Bay Hawks also produced a surprise result with the Mountain Airs winning 97-77. The Hawks are the defending NBL champions but came to Masterton without several of their key players and that showed in their performance. Those results left the Hawks playing the Jets for third and fourth on Saturday night and the Hawks prevailed there 90-78.
The grand final saw the Mountain Airs put to the test by the invitation side but their greater fitness saw them home 115-101. Mountain Airs star Aaron Nowell was judged to be the most valuable player at the tourney after impressing with his powerful rebounding and strong outside game. Organiser Gareth Teahan was delighted at the success of the tournament and said it would be even bigger and brighter next year with plans being for a fourth NBL side and one Australian second division side to participate as well.