Yes, there were tears. They cried and she cried. “And I’m not a crier.”

It was the last night of Tauranga Intermediate School’s two-week boys’ basketball romp through Los Angeles and Las Vegas when coach Makayla ‘Maka’ Daysh broke the news.

She was leaving her boys, albeit temporarily, the boys she had moulded into AIMS Games champions, the best of 92 intermediate schools in the country.

“It was one of my more difficult moments.

"But they had to hear it from me.”

No ‘Miss’ or ‘Mrs’ – just plain Maka to the boys. But you sense they respect, even adore her.

Now she’s gone.

Off to Australia to take up a semi-professional contract with the Ipswich Force outfit – a team 30 minutes out of Brisbane that plays in the WNBL 1 league – a feeder competition for the main women’s national basketball league.

A double-edged sword 

“It’s sad – really, really sad,” says 12-year-old shooting guard Mason Ayshford.

“But I am happy for her getting that opportunity.”

A double-edged sword, according to principal Cameron Mitchell.

“Maka’s an inspiration to our students, a valued member of staff.

"But she’s pursuing a passion and we will support her in any way we can.”

Maka has gone, but she’s not gone.

There’s unfinished business at TIS.

“We want to go back-to-back at AIMS [Games].”

So she’ll be tinkering with TIS basketball from afar.

“Administration and stuff.”

Then late-July-early-August she’ll be back in control of the TIS AIMS Games campaign.

But then what?

Because playing in the Ozzie league will mean exposure for Maka and there just might be a WNBL or Euro league contract floating round.

That’s one lesson the boys learned during their January trip to the USA.

‘Maka’ and her reigning AIMS Games champs – she’ll be home to steer their title defence later this year. Photo: Brydie Thompson.

Pointing out pathways

“We were pointing out the pathways,” says Maka.

“Where basketball can lead, what it has to offer.” 

And sometimes sportsmen have to make sacrifices – like leaving home to pursue their dreams.

They got the message.

 “Absolutely,” says the team’s 12-year-old, 180cm point guard Kenzo Soqeta.

“I want to get a college basketball scholarship and play in the US.”

They all do.

“Seeing that lifestyle and what they can achieve has set them off,” says Maka.

“They’re fizzing.”

The TIS boys certainly played above themselves in perhaps the strongest basketballing culture in the world.

“Our boys are 11 and 12 and were competing against 14-year-olds.

"They finished third of 10 teams. A great outing.”

TIS is hotbed of basketball – probably 11 boys’ and five or six girls’ teams this winter.

“We’re just reflecting a nationwide trend that basketball is an incredibly fast-growing sport,” says Cameron.

TIS has more basketball teams than any other sport at the 1300-plus pupil school.

Probably because basketball is played mid-week and indoors – so it’s not weather-dependent –and they’re inspired by what they see on TV, whether it’s Steph Currie and the NBL, or the Breakers.

Everything is achievable 

And their coach for that matter.

They literally and figuratively look up to their 188cm coach with the size 13 men’s feet and a clamp-like handshake. An imposing figure of a woman.

But Maka laughs because she’s the one who stands out in family photos.

“They say I’m obviously not one of them.”

And she’s called ‘The Brick Wall’ or ‘Mack Truck’ in basketball.

Probably because of a reputation for “throwing people around and bumping bodies”.

It’s a reputation tempered by a spontaneous infectious smile and tom-boyish good looks and charm.  

This year’s semi-pro is coming off a disastrous last year.

“A torn meniscus and surgery, septicemia – I was at death’s door – and then concussion from being knocked out during a game.”

That raised eyebrows.

Someone took out the ‘Mack Truck’?  No-one believed it.

“I just need the game time.

"I knew I had to do it this year.”

She has the will and her boys have faith.

“We will try our best without her,” says shooting guard Struan Wood.

“But it will be hard.”

“I love the game and I love those kids,” says Maka.

“I just need to show them they can have this journey as well. Everything is achievable.”