Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Tauranga • Sky Broadband Rapid League 6:00pm • Tauihi 7:00pm
Tickets Here
Where to watch: Sky Sport 3 (NZ), ESPN3 (USA), FIBA YouTube (global)
TAUIHI starters
WHAI: PG Jessica McDowell-White, W Mikayla Cowling, W Emme Shearer, PF Laina Snyder, C Hannah Hank
KĀHU: G Tahlia Tupaea, G Lauren Mansfield, G Aliyah Matharu, F Abi Curtin, F/C Haleigh Reinoehl
Last time out
The Whai took the court in Cowles stadium, hoping to take down the Pouākai on their home court for the 2nd week in a row, and their early form made it look like the job might be an easy one as they powered to a 33-23 quarter time lead behind the powerful play of the Hank/Snyder front line. But Abi Fogg would bring the noise to the block as she powered through an 8 point burst to bring the home side back. Morgan Yaeger and Marena Whittle kept the scoreboard ticking for the Pouākai, but a late Snyder triple had the Whai up 3 heading into the final term. Jess McDowell-White kept finding the range from deep as Snyder kept control of the paint, the Whai holding the home side at bay to claim a 102-93 victory to leap back to the top spot on the ladder.
The Kāhu travelled to the deep South, hopeful that they could grab their first victory of the season against the Hoiho especially after jumping to a 10-point quarter time lead as Abi Curtin made her presence felt on the glass and the scoreboard. Aliyah Matharu's injected herself into the game as the Northerner's lead pushed out to 19 points! But the Hoiho would respond, as Bec Pizzey and Taylah Simmons began to find space to draw the deficit down to 8 points at the half. Paige Bradley and Pizzey kept up the charge after the half to continue marching down the lead, down 3 heading into the final term. While the Kāhu started to fizzle, the Hoiho seemed to increase their strength and energy as the game went on, building a 7 point lead that would prove to be out of reach, as the Hoiho took the 95-86 win to keep themselves in the top four while keeping the Kāhu winless.
What to look for
Tempo vs size: Whai want to run off stops through Cowling and Shearer. Kāhu need Curtin and Reinoehl to fight on the glass to to keep the possession game in their favour.
Point-guard chess: McDowell-White’s pace and space play against the poised playmaking of Mansfield will shape the shot profile for both teams. Can the Whai control the pace in transition and weave magic in the half court? Or will the Kāhu manipulate the defense in the halfcourt with deep trey's and penetrating passes off the on-ball action?
Threes vs freebies: If Whai find early rhythm from deep the scoreboard can sprint. If Kāhu can bait the defense into cheap fouls and find a home at the stripe the game slows to their liking.
RAPID LEAGUE probable line-ups
WHAI: Sophia Locandro, Sophie Rogers, Jade Kirisome, Graecyn Parahi, Shamar Broughton
KĀHU: Azure Anderson, Emma-Kaye Schroeder, Vitolia Tuilave, Mary Morton-Jones, Keeley Tini
Rapid League, what to look for
Kāhu hunt a first win, 0–5 on the season but boosted by Emma Schroeder’s record 21 points last round, will this be the game they get over the hump?
Rogers and Kirisome volume: Whai guards generate threes. Can the Kāhu run them off the line without giving up slips?
Cowles Stadium, Christchurch • Rapid League 6:30pm • Tauihi 7:30pm
Tickets Here
Where to watch: Sky Sport 2 (NZ), ESPN3 (USA), FIBA YouTube (global)
TAUIHI probable starters
POUĀKAI: PG Taylor Mikesell, SG Morgan Yaeger, F Marena Whittle, F McKenna Dale, C Abigail Fogg
QUEENS: PG Kristy Wallace, W Stella Beck, F Jihyun Park, C Penina Davidson, F Lou Brown
Last time out
The Pouākai came out swinging at Cowles, absorbing an early Whai burst and turning the game on its head with a ruthless spell inside from Abi Fogg. After Tauranga’s Hank and Snyder powered their way to a 33–23 lead, Fogg ignited the comeback with eight straight on the block, and Morgan Yaeger and Marena Whittle kept the scoreboard moving as the hosts trimmed the margin to a single possession. A late Laina Snyder three nudged the Whai ahead by three entering the fourth, and despite Taylor Mikesell and Jess McDowell-White answering from deep, Snyder’s control of the paint down the stretch proved the difference. The Pouākai battled to the horn but fell 102–93 in a high-octane clash.
The Queens dug deep at Te Rauparaha Arena and closed out a 94–90 classic over the Kāhu. After the visitors owned the glass early, Penina Davidson and Lou Brown steadied the paint and Jihyun Park’s poise kept the offense flowing. The fourth period turned into a shootout. Abigail Curtin briefly pushed Kāhu back in front before Davidson answered with a timely three, but with nine seconds left Kristy Wallace rose and buried the dagger from deep to the home crowds delight. The shot sealed a gritty win, returned the Queens to the top of the table, and handed Kāhu a fourth straight defeat.
What to look for
Gravity everywhere on the 3-point arc: Mikesell and Whittle stretch help on one side, Wallace and Park bend coverage on the other. First team to win closeouts usually wins the quarter.
Boards battle: Fogg, McGoldrick and Whittaker vs Davidson and Brown for control of the glass and pivotal second-chance point opportunities. Can the Pouākai stand up to the power of the Queens frontline? Or will the speed of the Pouākai wear out a Queens team that has had to deal with the hectic weather during their travels?
Free throw mettle: The Pouākai are tops in the league in FT % (80%) while the Queens are bringing up the rear at 70%. If it's a tight one with the visitors be able to lift their form? Or will the home team ice the game from the chemist warehouse stripe
RAPID LEAGUE probable line-ups
POUĀKAI: Emma Rogers, Olivia O’Neill, Ava Jones, Kavanah Lene, Charlotte Whittaker
QUEENS: Keriana-Maria Hippolite, Paige Burrows, Josephine Trousdell, Briarley Rogers, Nahala Toeleiu
Rapid League, what to look for
Leading scorer watch: Emma Rogers tops the league scoring and has hit double figures in all five games. Can the Queens slow down this prodigious talent?
Queens discipline: Trousdell controls the glass as Rogers collects buckets If Queens keep Pouākai off the offensive boards the pace tilts their way, and so will the score.
Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua • Rapid League 2:00pm • Tauihi 3:00pm
Tickets Here
Where to watch: Sky Sport 5 (NZ), ESPN3 (USA), FIBA YouTube (global), Sky Sport NZ TikTok live on Sundays
TAUIHI probable starters
QUEENS: PG Kristy Wallace, W Stella Beck, F Jihyun Park, C Penina Davidson, F Lou Brown
HOIHO: PG Paige Bradley, SG Claire Jacobs, SF Taylah Simmons, PF Bec Pizzey, C Jessie Edwards
Last time out
The Queens will be coming off the first game of the weekend double header in Christchurch, but currently both teams last enjoyed a victory against the Kāhu a round ago, recaps
What to look for
Paint protection vs post touches: Davidson and Brown love the high-low. Edwards and Pizzey must wall up without fouls to keep Hoiho’s starters on the floor.
Wing scoring race: Simmons and Jacobs bring downhill force and shooting, Beck and Park counter with switchability and mid-range touch, but this could come down to plain old toughness. Which duo can excel if the game gets pulled down into the mud?
Turnovers tell the tale: Bradley’s control vs Wallace’s pressure. The squad who's ball handlers have the cleanest turnover line are likely to win the possession game, and with the efficiency of these offenses having the ball may mean having the lead.
RAPID LEAGUE
Probable line-ups
QUEENS: Keriana-Maria Hippolite, Paige Burrows, Josephine Trousdell, Briarley Rogers, Nahala Toeleiu
HOIHO: Alana Paewai, Samara Gallaher, Lil Dart, Eva Langton, Zoe Richards or Tia Pavihi
What to look for
Free throws vs threes: Queens have been tidy at the stripe as of late but the Hoiho’s Dart and Gallaher can flip momentum with quick triples.
Youth spotlight: Watch Hippolite and Burrows push pace for Queens as Paewai’s on-ball defense tries to tip the scales back in favour of the Hoiho.
Photo Credit: Masanori Udagawa
