photo credit: Katrina Parish
After the completion of Round 9 of the Sky Broadband Rapid League BNZ Northern Kāhu have all but secured the 2024 title after beating Southern Hoiho in Dunedin on Sunday.
The victory means that Kāhu remain one win ahead of Tauranga Whai with both teams having one game to play. However even if Kāhu lose its remaining game (against Queens) and Whai beat Hoiho its superior points difference (+90 compared with Whai’s +40) would, but for a calamitous result, protect its position at the top of the ladder. Mike Lacey takes you through everything you need to know in the Round 9 Rapid Wrap
Haswell Timber Mainland Pouākai v Southern Hoiho
In the opening game of the round a pair of free-throws from both Tessa Morrison and Abby Cubillo in the final seconds of the contest at Cowles Stadium, Christchurch secured Haswell Timber Mainland Pouākai a 37-33 come from behind victory against the luckless Southern Hoiho.
Pouākai were paced by a double of 11 points and 7 rebounds from Sharne Robati while both Tyler Mitchell (12 points) and Abby Harris (8 points) posted season high’s for Hoiho.
The opening quarter was tied 7 points apiece before 6 points from Harris and a triple from Mitchell propelled Hoiho to a 19-11 half-time advantage.
Five points apiece from both Robati and Ash Strawbridge inspired the Pouākai comeback although a brace of threes late in the third ensured Hoiho remained in the ascendancy (23-25) at three-quarter time.
A Strawbridge triple at the outset of the final stanza put Pouākai ahead and five quick points from Tara Manumaleuga increased the advantage. Harris and Caitlin O’Connell hit back to give Hoiho a chance before those freebies in the last fifteen seconds made it three straight wins for Pouākai in the southern derby.
Haswell Timber Mainland Pouākai 37 – Sharne Robati 11pts & 7rebs, Ash Strawbridge 8pts, Tessa Morrison 5pts, Tara Manumaleuga 5pts
Southern Hoiho 33 – Tyler Mitchell 12pts, Abby Harris 8pts, Elise Gilbert 4pts & 6rebs on debut
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai v ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
The first Rapid League played in Palmerston North finished with visitors The Northern Group Tauranga Whai beating ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens 43-31 to keep its slim championship hopes alive.
If Jade Kirisome, 15 points (3/4 3PG), was the architect of the win the former St Mary’s Gaels guard received sterling support from Kaylee Smiler (11 points), Emma Rogers (9 points and 7 rebounds) and Eva Langton who delighted her travelling fan club from Taranaki by posting 6 points and a career high 4 blocks.
In the opening exchanges Langton, against her former team, made an And 1 play and Kirisome 5 points as Whai established an 11-4 first quarter lead.
A 7-0 Queens run, with Grace Hunter prominent, tied proceedings before triples from Emma Rogers and Langton restored the Whai advantage – 22 to 15 at half-time.
The Hippolites, Lauryn and Keriana, dented the deficit but 7 points in the third from Kaylee Smiler carried the Whai to a 32-21 three-quarter time lead - an advantage that was comfortably protected in the fourth.
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens 31 – Lauryn Hippolite 8pts, Keriana Hippolite 7pts, Alana Paewai 6pts, Grace Hunter 5pts & 5rebs
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai 43 – Jade Kirisome 15pts, Kaylee Smiler 11pts, Emma Rogers 9pts & 7rebs, Eva Langton 6pts & 4blks
Southern Hoiho v BNZ Northern Kāhu
BNZ Northern Kāhu have one hand on the 2024 Rapid League trophy after defeating Southern Hoiho 29-21 in Dunedin on Sunday.
With Kāhu scoring 6 points in the opening 60 seconds a runaway victory looked on the cards and with the front court duo of Bairstow and Anderson combining for 10 points to send Kāhu to the half-time break with a 16-6 advantage that still looked the case.
The prospect was further enhanced after threes from Krystal Leger-Walker and Bairstow.
However, led by the ever improving Abby Harris (9 points) and the experienced Caitlin O’Connell (7 points), Hoiho enjoyed the better of the middle stages of the second half and closed to within six points (27-21) before Anderson had the last say to put the seal on a ninth Kāhu win .
Southern Hoiho 21 – Abby Harris 9pts, Caitlin O’Connell 7pts, Elise Gilbert 5pts & 4rebs
BNZ Northern Kāhu 29 – Steph Bairstow 9pts, Azure Anderson 9pts, Krystal Leger-Walker 3pts, 4rebs & 4 assists
Rapid Express
Whai’s Jade Kirisome was the leading individual scorer in Round 9 bagging 15 points in the win against the Queens. It’s the second time the combo guard has scored 15 points (two points shy of the single game record for Tauranga Whai) in the last three games.
Rapid Fire
The 74 aggregate points scored in Tauranga Whai’s 43-31 defeat of Queens were the most points scored in a Rapid fixture this season. Those 43 points were also the most scored in a single game by Whai in the Rapid League.
Rapid Leading Scorers
110 Steph Bairstow (Kāhu)
76 Jacinta Beckley (Queens)
68 Eva Langton (Whai)
67 Azure Anderson (Kāhu)
67 Sharne Robati (Pouākai)
64 Ash Strawbridge (Pouākai)
56 Tyler Mitchell (Hoiho)
54 Kaylee Smiler (Whai)
51 Emma Rogers (Whai)
51 Tara Manumaleuga (Pouākai)
51 Abby Harris (Hoiho)
48 Alana Paewai (Queens)
Rapid Leading Rebounders
44 Steph Bairstow (Kāhu)
38 Emma Rogers (Whai)
38 Kaylee Smiler (Whai)
34 Jacinta Beckley (Queens)
33 Eva Langton (Whai)
32 Millie Simpson (Hoiho)
30 Vitolia Tuilave (Pouākai)
30 Sharne Robati (Pouākai)
29 Azure Anderson (Kāhu)
26 Aliyah Dunn (Hoiho)
25 Ash Strawbridge (Pouākai)
25 Elise Gilbert (Hoiho)
Rapid Regulars
With just one round remaining only 13 players have played every game for their respective clubs:
Azure Anderson (Kāhu), Eva Langton, Kaylee Smiler & Emma Rogers (Whai), Lauryn Hippolite & Grace Hunter (Queens), Lauren Tewhata, Tara Manumaleuga, Vitolia Tuilave & Tessa Morrison (Pouākai), Mille Simpson, Tyler Mitchell & Abby Harris (Hoiho)
Sky Broadband Rapid League Standings coming into Round 10
9-2 Northern Kāhu
8-3 Tauranga Whai
5-6 Mainland Pouākai
3-7 Tokomanawa Queens
2-9 Southern Hoiho
