Basketball: Hosts hold edge in tense final

Rotorua's Alex Norton, 14, takes the ball to the hoop against Waikato in the final of the boys under-15 competition. Photo/Stephen Parker

Rotorua teams have left their mark at the inaugural National Maori Basketball Tournament, including a clean sweep in the under-15 competition.

Hundreds of people flooded into the Energy Events Centre on Saturday to watch the final day of the tournament.

One of the best finals of the weekend was the under-15 boys clash, between Rotorua and Waikato.

The match was neck and neck all the way to the end.

Waikato had a chance to tie the match at the death, with two free throws, but the occasion proved too big for the visitors.

The Rotorua Maori under-15 team held on to win the match 36-34 and record their first title at the tournament.

Coach Reg Norton said he was proud of the boys, although they could have made it a bit easier on themselves.

"They had a time during the game they should never of had, but that put a bit of drama into it," he said.

"It is the first time we have held the tournament here and it is awesome, hopefully it will attract a few more kids [into the sport]."

Top performers during the game included Rotorua's Hayze Perham, 14, and Alex Norton, 14.

Rotorua made it a clean sweep at the under-15 level, winning the girls competition as well. Rotorua Mawhero defeated Rotorua Kowhai 48-37 in the final.

"We had a rough road to the final, we lost to [Rotorua Kowhai] in pool play," winning coach Andrew McKay said.

He said he was really proud of his girls, who had only come together a few days before the tournament.

McKay said some of the girls had graduated from the Kaitao Middle School basketball team, which won gold at the AIMS Games in 2012.

Rotorua also won a title in the 11-and-under girls competition.

A number of other local teams made the final of their division, including the open women's team, Rotorua Wahine.

Rotorua has the rights to host the tournament for three years.

This year saw 45 teams competing across all divisions.

Rotorua Basketball Association development co-ordinator Sue Pene said it was a big deal for the city to host the event. She said she hoped the tournament would grow each year.