photo credit: Photowellington / Masanori Udagawa
The Week That Was
Round 8 began with the league leading Kāhu hanging precariously onto the top spot on the ladder as they headed as far south as the competition allows to take on a Hoiho team that had been a tough out on it's home court all season long. But it didn't take long for the Kāhu to show their defensive abilities as they shot off to a 25-13 1st quarter advantage that would keep the home team at arms length for the remainder of the match. But the Hoiho kept pushing and they received excellent output from Natalie Chou (21pts) and Chelsea D'Angelo (23pts) who combined to shoot 13-23 from the field. But the bad news was that the rest of the team combined to net just 8-36 for a paltry 22% from the floor. That lack of punch was all the defending champs needed to take control of the game 9 players hit the scoresheet led by an efficent 32pt outing on 70% shooting by IImar'I Thomas who dominated the paint and hit 2-3 from deep. But even wtth the game in hand the Kāhu didn't delve too deeply into the bench mob despite having a second game less than 48 hours later as they took on the week's double header.
Of course the Kāhu would be confident in their ability to find their 2nd successful double header weekend when travelling to the Whai for their second of the weekend following the dominating fashion of their first win against them this season, but the home team had a different idea. The Whai were their usual selves bombing away from deep, but they were able to couple the offensive attack with stellar defense, particularly from behind the arc where they held the Kāhu to just 4 triples on 18% shooting. IImar'I Thomas (27pts, 9rbs) once again led the way for the visitors but she was one of just two players on the squad to shoot over 50% from the field. The Whai too only had two players shoot over the 50% mark, but with McKenna Dale's 29point explosion pairing with Morgan Yaeger's best game of the season (18pts, 8rbs, 4ast) that would prove enough to protect home court and launch themselves back into Final 4 contention when combined with a team effort on the glass (45-35 rebound advantage) and 23 trips to the Chemist Warehouse stripe. The win giving the Whai confidence that their injury plagued season is turning around at the same time the Kāhu look to be teetering precariously on the top spot of the ladder.
The Kāhu loss would also open the door for the 2nd placed Queens to grab top spot if they could find a way to avenge their previous loss to the Pouākai. But the Pouākai too were propelled by a chance to grab top spot on the ladder and they came out firing on the Queens home court to grab a 8 point lead after the opening quarter as they steadied the ship and looked to take control of the game. The Queens would bounce back with a strong 2nd term as Lou Brown (20pts, 10rbs, 5ast), Jihyun Park (23pts) and Jordan Horston (19pts, 7rbs, 8ast) all found form. But as good as the Queens trio was they had nothing on McKenzie Forbes. The star wind for the Pouākai had been in form in recent rounds and that form found and even higher level as she struck from deep time and time again to stifle runs by the home team, eventually hitting 9-14 from deep en-route to a league record 39 point performance. When combined with the yeomen like work of Haliegh Reinoehl (18pts, 8rbs), Cassandra Brown (10pts, 9rbs), Ezra McGoldrick (9pts, 4rbs) and Sharne Robati (5pts, 8rbs) the visitors would have enough to snuff out any hope of a come from behind victory for the Queens. The road win securing a 6th win of the season for the Mainlanders that would push them to equal wins with the top of the table Kāhu and give them the chance to secure a home semi-final with wins over the final rounds of the season.
Worth Mentioning
Haliegh Reinoehl - Her effort in the frontcourt has been key to the Pouākai chances all season long, but her work rate running the floor and banging down low with opposition bigs has been even more vital in the stretch run. Scoring in double figures in every game but 1 this season has meant her team can depend on her consistent production offensively but it is her grit on defense that matters most to the teams title chances.
Morgan Yaeger - When signed it was evident that the Whai were going to depend on her pg skills but a wrist injury just minutes into her season dampened hopes for a team that was quickly piling up a list of walking wounded. They decided to wait on her health rather then chase replacements and that confidence was rewarded with a 18pt, 8rb 4ast outing. Her ballhandling and elusiveness with the ball will enable high scoring wings Ashley Joens and Mikayla Cowling to concentrate on finishing and the prowess she showed from the line (9-10 ft's v Kāhu) could be a determining factor late in games.
Round 9
Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai v ANZCO Southern Hoiho, Cowles Stadium, Thursday 7:30pm
The Pouākai gets first crack at reaching 7 wins with the opening game of the season but it won't be an easy task with a sure to be desperate Hoiho squad coming back to Cowles is search of a second road consecutive road victory against their Cantabrian hosts this season. When these teams last met in Cowles Stadium in October, the Hoiho were able to grab victory with tenacious defense that forced 20 turnovers that led to 26 points. That defense erased a 14 point 3rd quarter deficit and counterbalanced average offense (37% shooting and 6-23 from deep) that was propped up by a big advantage at the line (Hoiho 20-24 free throws, Pouākai 9-9). But this seems to be a different home team that has found form and confidence following McKenzie Forbes record breaking performance and a victory in Wellington.
Matchup to Watch - Haliegh Reinoehl v Samantha Bowman - You'd be hard pressed to find many players in the comp who work harder than these two. Both create offense by running the lane with determination and both play bigger then their heights in the paint for teams that depend on their production inside to find victory. This will be a fun one to watch.
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens v The Northern Group Tauranga Whai, Fly Palmy Arena, Saturday 7:30pm
Disappointed after letting a chance to grab sole possession of first slip through their fingers in their last home game, the Queens will take the home show on the road to see if the home crowd in Palmerston North can push them to victory. To do so they'll need to find a way to keep 2nd half leads to ensure they remain in the top two. In their two games this year the Whai have never held a lead larger than 4 and wouldn't have been on top for more than 5 minutes of game time although they did chase the Queens all the way down to 2 points way back on October 18th. And this will be an improved Whai squad from their last trip to visit the Queens when no Yaeger or Cowling pushed Pahlyss Hokianga into a starting spot (in which she played very well it should be said). The two best scoring offenses featuring two of the top three scorers in the league in Horston (23.86ppg) and Joens (22.80). The Queens will need to do a better job defending the wing than they have of late especially with McKenna Dale in top form and Cowling still looking to impact the game in the way she is capable.
Matchup to Watch - Lou Brown v Lara McSpadden - Since I've already mention the top of the table scoring clash let me give some more love to the battles on the block. While Tamari Key will get some run against McSpadden as well, it's more likely this is the matchup that finishes the game, Rebounds will be key, especially on the offensive end and these two have as much to say in that department as anyone else who touches the hardwood.
Southern Hoiho v BNZ Northern Kāhu, Edgar Centre, Sunday 3pm
The Hoiho are currently the team on the outside looking into the Final Four , and with the Kāhu coming to town that window won't get any easier to open. The last clash in Dunedin between these two saw the Hoiho jump out to an early lead and trail by 2 after a Natalie Chou triple could cut the lead to two at 7-9. Then the Kāhu went on a 14 point run fueled by IImar'I Thomas and her interior scoring. To get a victory and stay in the Final's hunt those runs can't be allowed to occur. Last time around Just Natalie Chou of the starters and Chelsea D'Angelo off the bench found double figures, the two combing for 44 of the squads 70 points in the game. A greater depth of scoring must be found to keep pace this time around, especially against a Kāhu team looking for a little bit of get right juice against the only team they've beaten in their last 4 games.
Matchup to Watch - Chloe Forster/ Lilly Rotunno v Paige Bradley - Last time around these two (and a few others but I can't write every name down!) dug into Paige Bradley and made life very difficult for the 23 All Star 5 member. Bradley pushed hard but only managed 9 points on 2-11 shooting while being held to 3 assists against 6 of her teams 16 turnovers. If that matchup goes in a similar fashion this time around that could mean curtains on the Hoiho playoff hopes.
All games live on Sky Sport
Rapid League tips off 1 hour before Tauihi tip off
