Playoffs done, finals set

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

This is the week that the best of the rest — the non-finalists — bow out of the local basketball leagues with a boom.

And being salt of the earth GBA clubs, those that fronted up brought the 300 in attendance to their feet and hoot with relish at the YMCA.

On Monday night, the Non-ballers beat the 23K-Ballerz by default in Game 1, the playoff for 7th-8th. In Living Colour under Dyani Johnson then survived a late run by Uawa 2.0 42-38 to win the battle for 5th-6th before a Dreamers crew with Taimarie Matahiki (19) and Ishtar Mackey-Huriwai (12) as the tip of the sword beat Gisborne Girls’ High School 53-36 for 3rd-4th.

Riley Lewis, one of GGHS best and most consistent players, scored 19 points against the Dreamers. Girls’ High captain Kohine Aupouri praised her young team for their commitment and fantastic achievement in qualifying at Rotorua for an age-group national tournament.

GGHS will not attend that tourney, but Aupouri spoke to her team’s keenness to go should they qualify in 2024.

On Tuesday night, new GBA premier posse the Waengapu Stallions’ head honcho David Sweeney said: “Our boys have loved everything about this season. We’re going to train harder, get better, and be back next year. And the year after that. And the year after that.”

Henry Kepa breathed fire for the Stallions, a force of nature when taking the ball to the basket.

His teammate Charlie Kepa (10) shot the ball as well as Coastiieez’ skilful guard Daniel Low (17) — Low led all scorers in Game 1, the men’s open grade playoff for 7th-8th — and the Sky Blues’ captain Zyon Collins: the raw energy and instinct to leap, to block shots and body up hard, was a spine-tingling feature of the Coastiieez second clash with the Stallions.

Not for these teams is the stepping on egg shells, oooh my goodness don’t risk touching shooters approach to defence. They play the game to soar.

Ngaru Grayson has some hammer.

Grayson put up an all-club, all-league playoff individual high of 24 points in Gisborne Boys’ High School’s 71-54 win v the Massive Marauders for 5th-6th. The game was, for Grayson and Cody Tarei (11), their last game in Boys’ High Senior A colours.

They have been loyal and committed to the sport on behalf of a programme which continues to bring through such players of promise, such as Qkylau Leach, Clinton Tarei, Jack-John Maurirere, TK Wirepa-Hei and others.

For the Marauders, old hands Adam Harford (13) and Luke Bradley (12) were in good nick on the night — as was Daley Riri (10), a contender for the title of Speedy Gonzales of the league. He has the ability to leave good defensive players standing still.

But the real news of Game 2 lay in Carew Fearnley putting up 10 points for the Marauders. His reach touch around the rim and ability to elevate, was a factor in the game. A grandson of Māori All Black and legendary Poverty Bay rugby winger Marist’s Pat Ransley, Fearnley — who was measured at 6’9” in 2022 while in the Northcote Colts — is the tallest player in the history of local club ball.