Friday December 5 – ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai vs ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
Cowles Stadium – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 3 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA YouTube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
POUĀKAI: (PG) Mikhaela Cann, (SG) McKenzie Forbes, (SF) Haliegh Reinoehl, (PF) Esra McGoldrick, (C) Cassandra Brown.
QUEENS: (PG) Florencia Chagas, (SG) Stella Beck, (SF) Jordan Horston (if Healthy), (PF) Lou Brown, (C) Tamari Key.
What To Look For: The Pouākai have the inside track to a homecourt semi and with a win can push themselves into the convo for top overall seed and an entire postseason spent at home, but the Queens should be playing with desperation as only two wins from two games over the weekend will even give them a chance for some homecourt postseason action. The last times these teams met it was the McKenzie Forbes show as her deadly shooting from deep led to a league record 39 point outburst that started a 3 game slide for the Queens. With an injury cloud still hanging over Jordan Horston the Queens may need to slow down Forbes without the help of their best defender to slow her down. To get the win without her services the Queens will need to find favour on the glass (where they gave up a 5 rebound advantage last matchup) and keep the Pouākai from dominating at the Chemist Warehouse stripe where the Mainlanders had a big advantage last time out (Pouākai 23-26 ft's, Queens 13-14fts). On the interior Lou Brown has to keep the workrate of Haliegh Reinoehl in check but also find ways to deal with the presence of Esra McGoldrick and Sharne Robati who have been in fine form
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
HALSWELL TIMBER POUĀKAI: Tessa Morrison, Tara Manumaleuga, Abby Cubillo (FIBA Asia), Sharne Robati, Lauren Tewhata, Vitolia Tuilave, Ashlee Strawbridge.
QUEENS: , Grace Hunter, Alana Paewai, Jacinta Beckley, Lauryn Hippolite, Tiarna Clarke, Keriana Hippolite.
What To Look For: Both teams currently sit at 3 wins and will be keen for a win to keep themselves off a possible bottom of the ladder tie with the hopeful Hoiho. Look for the Hippolites (Lauryn and Keriana) to carry the offensive load for the Queens as Sharne Robati and Abby Cubillo counter for the Pouākai.
Saturday December 7 - Southern Hoiho vs The Northern Group Tauranga Whai
Edgar Centre – Rapid 4:00pm / Tauihi 5:oopm
Tickets: HERE
Television: Live on Sky Sport 3 from 4:00pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Probable TAUIHI Starters
HOIHO: (PG) Paige Bradley, (SG) Ahlise Hurst, (SF) Natalie Chou, (PF) Samantha Bowman, (C) Aliyah Dunn.
WHAI: (PG) Morgan Yaeger, (SG) Ashley Joens, (PF)Mikayla Cowling,, (SF) McKenna Dale, (PF) , (C) Lara McSpadden.
What To Look For: The Whai have an outside chance at moving up to the 3rd seed and need a win to make that happen. A starting lineup change last round saw Morgan Yaeger inserted and her 14 point 9 assist outing indicated having a true pg in the lineup can be helpful to the offensive attack for the Whai. The lineup change move Laina Snyder into the 5th woman spot and found her producing well, with 12 points and 5 rebounds in just 15 minutes last time out. For the Hoiho there is nothing left to play for but a pride, but expect that to mean something in the South. Paige Bradley has found diminishing returns of late but that has opend the door for Chlesea D'Angelo to find more of the ball in hand to ignite her scoring prowess. But the real story will be the 3 ball, if the Hoiho can't stem the flow of Whai 3's and lift their own output at the same time it will likely be a loss on the homecourt for the last game of the year.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
HOIHO: Millie Simpson, Tyler Mitchell, Caitlin O'Connell, Chelsea D'Angelo (FIBA Asia), Elise Gilbert, Aliyah Dunn, Abby Harris.
WHAI: Jade Kirisome, Eva Langton, Pahlyss Hokianga, Sophie Rogers, Emma Rogers, Kaylee Smiler, Laura Kuka.
What To Look For: Even with a win the Whai are unlikely to take a tie-breaker with top of the table Kāhu due to a massive points percentage difference but only a win will give them a chance for the Rapid League crown so expect some fire from the visitors. For the bottom of the table Hoiho a 3rd win could see them tied on wins for 3rd, which is much better than netting a loss and being lonesome on the bottom of the table.
Sunday December 8 – BNZ Northern Kāhu vs ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
McKay Stadium, Whangārei – Rapid 2:00pm / Tauihi 3:00pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 4 from 2:00pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
KĀHU: (PG) Lilly Rotunno, (SG) Tahlia Tupaea, (SF) Chevannah Paalvast, (PF) Iimar'I Thomas, (C) Penina Davidson.
QUEENS: (PG) Florencia Chagas, (SG) Stella Beck, (SF) Jordan Horston (if healthy), (PF) Lou Brown, (C) Tamari Key.
What To Look For: If the Queens can muster a win in the first game of the round then they will have plenty to play for in the final game of the regular season, with only two wins from two games giving them a chance for a home semi final. But for the top of table Kāhu their massive points percentage (117) will give them top spot in any tie, so they may have the opportunity to rest players, try new combinations or keep a few key plays reserved for the possible post season clashes so the first game of the weekend will have a heavy flow on effect to this matchup. The last time these teams played Tahlia Tupaea was on fire with 22 points at halftime, before a concerted Queens defensive effort knuckled down in the second half to hold her to 5 and a total of 27 as they took control of the game with a masterclass on defense in the 3rd period before holing court in the 4th. But crucially this is a game where both teams will need to find form from earlier in the season to gain some confidence after some turbulent play of late so expect plenty of passion.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
KĀHU: Azure Anderson, Krystal Leger-Walker, Chloe Forster (FIBA Asia), Steph Bairstow (FIBA Asia), Eliana Tuaiti, Tannika Leger-Walker, Bailey Flavell
QUEENS: , Grace Hunter, Alana Paewai, Jacinta Beckley, Lauryn Hippolite, Tiarna Clarke, Keriana Hippolite.
What To Look For: The Kāhu are likely rapid league champs due to their dominance over the season and might want to feed Steph Bairstow as she chases a likely Rapid League MVP. On paper this looks like quite the mis-match as a Queens side that has only used Kiwi players this season comes up against the most talented Rapid squad in the league, but a win here could push the Queens up to sole possession of 3rd and it is always better to finish the season on a high.
