photo credit: Blake Armstrong
The Week That Was
Round 4 started with what looked to be a tightly contested rematch between the Northern Kāhu and the Mainland Pouakai, but would turn into on way traffic as Tahlia Tupaea's engine was ignited early on her way to 29pts (5-9 3pfg) which fueled a 26 point Kāhu victory (76-50). IImar'I Thomas (24pts, 8rbs) and Penina Davidson (12pts, 12rbs) powered the interior attack but it was the viselike defense of the home team that was most impressive. Following a tight 1st quarter that picked up where the physical contest between the two teams the week before left off, the Kāhu defense took the air out of the Pouākai's wings limiting them to 30% shooting and 20% from deep. Haliegh Reinoehl (19pts, 14rbs) battled hard in the post but was unable able to pick up all the slack as just Sharne Robati (10pts) joined her in double figure scoring.
The Tauranga Whai were the next hosts of the round as they shifted home court to Taupo, but their first appearance in the region would be spoiled by a Tokomanawa Queens squad that would lead by as many as 20 before winning by 12 (85-73) in a game they always seemed to always be in control of. Ashley Joens found form again following an off week in R3, but her 27 points were scored through heavy defensive attention that was able to keep the rest of the Whai threats relatively quiet. The Queens fed off the an efficent 40 minute 28 point performance from Jihyun Park and the energetic Jordan Horston whose 20pts, 17rb, 5ast, 4blk statline is indicative of the dynamic impact she has all over the court. The Queens looking a more cohesive unit every time they step on the court, the win attributing much to the efforts of Lou Brown (15pts, 10rbs), Florencia Chagas (14pts, and the hustle laded performance of Stella Beck (5pts, 4rbs, 4ast, 1stl). As the Queen build in strength the Whai are very much back at a foundational point for the season, looking to the talent infusion Mikayla Cowling will bring with the hope that it can reverse a losing streak dating back to their round 1 win.
The Pouākai hoped the road home double header would be kinder to them then it had been to the rest of the league up to this point of the season, but that wouldn't prove to be the case, as they watched a home court 15 point lead evaporate before soldifying into an eventual 9 point Southern Hoiho victory. The Hoiho able to ride a 13 point scoring run behind a complete team performance where 5 players found double figures to get a bit of payback on a Mainlanders team that had chased them down on their home court to score a victory 2 weeks earlier. A second half defensive eiffort holding the Pouākai to 9 points in the final quarter to turn a 1 point 3rd quarter deficit into the decisive victory. The win propelling the Hohio out of the bottom rung on the ladder to leave the Whai on their lonesome.
Worth a Mention
Tahlia Tupaea - I've been singing her praises all season (all 3 seasons?) but would like to point out that she is hitting 4.2 3pointers per game (1st in the league) while shooting 21-34 @ 62% from deep!! Her game looks at its MVP peak and her offense powers the Kāhu attack.
Samantha Bowman playing big - The Hoiho don't have the most size in the league, but Bowman is doing an excellent impression of a player much bigger than her listed height. The post game leads to solid scoring (14.8pts good for 9th in the league), the rebounding excellent at 10rb per game (4th), 2.6 steals per game (2nd), 4.2 Offensive boards per game (1st). And this is a level she will need to maintain to keep the Hoiho on a winning track
Whai - The offense is very good despite the 1-4 record as their league best 82.4ppg attests but they do in with the 2nd worst FG% in the comp (40%). How you ask? by draining 3's as the driving prowess of Ashley Joens collapses defenses before the ball gets to the perimeter to bomb away at a league best 38%. They have made (and shot) more triples than anyone else by a fair margin (55-171 3pfg 13 more makes 28 more shots than their closet rivals.
Round 5
BNZ Northern Kāhu v The Northern Group Tauranga Whai, Eventfinda Stadium, Thursday 7:30pm
The Kāhu got back in gear in R4 with a complete game once again and their 2nd best offense (80.8 ppg) is propelled to greater heights by their league best defense (72.6ppg). Their stars continue to shine, but the depth afforded by Stephanie Bairstow, Krystal Leger-Walker and the rest of the bench mob can be as big of a strength Against the Whai look for them to rotate defenders on Ashley Joens, this will put pressure on the leading scoring team in the comp (82.4ppg) to find other areas to deliver offense. Rumour has it Mikayla Cowling is close to returning, and if the MC is back this will be a very different Whai team moving forward.
Matchup to Watch - Tahlia Tupaea v Ashley Joens - 3v2 in league scoring average from two players who can score from similar zones but with vastly different skill sets to get it done. The power game of Tupaea matches up on the speedy drives of Joens
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai v Southern Hoiho, Taupo Events Centre, Saturday 5:00pm
The dreaded road-home double this round belongs to the Whai and they have to do it in back to back games (with a day off in between). Luckily the drive back and forth from Auckland won't be too taxing, but the play of the Kāhu may be. Either way the Whai may just be looking forward to hosting the only team they've been able to beat this season, but this time at their new home away from home in Taupo. But the last time these teams met it wasn't all fun for the Whai as the Hoiho implemented a tough D to hold Joens to a season low 8 pts. Natalie Chou was a driving force to the schemes success and if she can pair another tough defensive performance with an offensive game that looks more comfortable weekly (11.8ppg) the Hoiho could be in good shape. But if the defense isn't on the lockdown level then the offense will need to step up a bit as their 77ppg comes on just 39% shooting from the field. No team takes better care of the ball than the Hoiho (+5 in turnover margin) which should negate the Whai average of 8.6 steals per game.
Matchup to Watch - Ashley Joens v Natalie Chou- I cannot wait for this re-match!!
Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai v ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens, Cowles Stadium, Sunday 3pm
The Pouākai come into the round needing a bounce back performance but the Queens squad is not a team does not present itself as a soft landing. The Pouākai(75.6ppg) are last in scoring offense and coming up against a Queens side second in scoring defense (76.5ppg) won't make their task to improve in that area any easier. But the Mainlanders do crash the glass and their +6rebound margin is good for first in the comp with the caveat that the Queens are second in the category (+4.25) and improving in that area since the arrival of Horston. Neither team takes great care of the ball as they are last (Queens) and next to last (Pouākai) in turnovers per game but the Queens look to be the better squad at forcing TO's. But it feels like this will come down to the Pouākai ability to defend an athletic squad that has multiple players looking to beat you at the point of attack. If the second side rotations aren't there it could be a long night for the home fans.
Matchup to Watch - McKenzie Forbes v Jordan Horston - Horston has arguably the best athletic profile in the league but Forbes has the tools to make it tough to penetrate the paint. If Forbes can take the challenge 1 on 1 it will lessen the need for rotation and stymie the Queens in the halfcourt. If not...
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