Trident tourney a confidence boost for GBHS senior prem team

They’re off to a good start.

The Keenan Ruru-Poharama-coached Gisborne Boys’ High School Senior Premier basketball team came fourth of eight crews at the Trident High School Invitational Tournament at the Whakatane War Memorial Stadium this week.

Under new captain Seth Miller, Boys’ High beat John Paul College of Rotorua 117-38 in Game 1, Pool B: William Collier led their scorers with 27 points, force of nature Ngaru Grayson put up 26, big man Cody Tarei 19, Te Kani Wirepa-Hei 12 and Qkylau Leach 10. Gisborne Boys’ led JPC 19-5, 51-17 and 85-29 in a dominant performance: only the gutsy John Simpson (11) scored in double-figures for John  Paul.

In Game 2, GBHS beat Rotorua BHS Red 65-49. Tarei led the scorers with 19 points and Grayson backed up his strong showing in the tournament opener with 11. Boys’ High again controlled events from start, with quarter scores of 19-17, 41-21 and 54-42.

In Game 3, Mount Maunganui College beat Boys’ High 80-59. Skipper Miller (14) topped the GBHS scorers’ list, while Grayson (11) scored in double figures for the third game in a row.

It was a close contest until the fourth period.

The Mount led 19-14 and 46-32 at the end of the first two quarters. Ruru-Poharama’s outfit fought back — at three-quartertime, MMC were hanging in tough at 59-52.

The last game — Gisborne Boys’ High School’s fourth in one day — was epic.

Akina Hastings BHS pipped GBHS 65-63 in the playoff for third and fourth.

Gisborne kept a seven-point gap at the end of the first two quarters (19-12 and 37-30) but Hastings took a one-point lead (48-47) into the fourth period.

Tarei (15pts) scored Gisborne’s first 11 points, including two three-point shots,

Grayson was good for 12 and Jack-John Maurirere shot the ball with great form to the value of 11 points.

A three-point play by talented guard Henry Massingham (15pts) decided Game 4.

Miller said: “We played pretty well as a team.”

We were a new squad at our first tournament of the year, and we gained a lot of confidence.

“The tourney at Trident is great for that.”

Gisborne Boys’ High School’s next taste of tournament play will come at the Super 8, to be held in Napier from July 31 to August 2.