Southern Hoiho v The Northern Group Tauranga Whai
Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Rapid League 6.30pm, Tauihi 7.30pm Live On Sky Sport 3
Watch Outside NZ: ESPN 3 (USA), FIBA YouTube (global)
Hoiho
PG Paige Bradley
SG Taylah Simmons
SF Claire Jacobs
PF Rebecca Pizzey
C Jessie Edwards
Whai
PG Jessica McDowell White
SG Emme Shearer
SF Mikayla Cowling
PF Laina Snyder
C Hannah Hank
Hoiho exploded in front of a Halloween crowd, running away from Mainland Pouākai 102 to 66. Claire Jacobs and Jessie Edwards shared top billing with 19 points each, Lillian Dart added 17 off the bench and the home side shot close to fifty percent from the floor. The Pouākai never found rhythm and were punished in transition and on the glass. as the Hoiho move up to third place on the ladder
The Whai could not slow the Tokomanawa surge in Tauranga, going down 80 to 70 despite another double double from Hannah Hank and nine points from Emme Shearer that pushed her past 100 for the season. Queens guard Kristy Wallace lit up QEYC with a season best 30 points to hand the home team their second loss on the season, while reordering the ladder as the Queens take top spot and push the Whai to second on the ladder.
Battle of the front courts
Hank (1st in scoring, 4th in rebounding) and Snyder (4th in scoring, 1st in rebounding) arrive in Dunedin as one of the most productive interior pairings in the league, with Snyder sitting on 499 career Tauihi points and leading the competition in rebounds at more than ten a game while Hank has been at the top of MVP voting. The Hoiho contingent counter with Edwards rim protection and post presence, Pizzey’s combo of floor spacing and interior efficiency and the gritty two way play of Simmons and Richards chipping in.
Point guard chess match
Bradley has just reached 200 Tauihi career assists and is the engine of the Hoiho attack, as she skillfully orchestrates the pieces in transition and in the half court. McDowell White continues a run of efficient scoring nights for Whai. Whoever controls tempo, especially out of high ball screens, will tilt the game.
Tauihi Bottom Line
The Whai dominated this matchup the first time around but that was a freshly brought together Hoiho squad that has found form since that second round matchup. Will the Hoiho collective get the job done on their home floor or will the Whai hold court in the deep south to take the inside track for a top two spot and home court in the finals?
Southern Hoiho
PG Alana Paewai
SG Samara Gallaher
SF Eva Langton
PF Lillian Dart
C Zoe Richards
Tauranga Whai
PG Graecyn Parahi
SG Jade Kirisome
SF Sophie Rogers
PF Sophia Locandro
C Laura Kuka
Boards and second chance points
Pouākai punished Hoiho on the offensive glass last round, this time the Hoiho need Richards and Dart to clean up the glass against a Whai group that loves to leak out for early threes.
Locandro and Kirisome in attack mode
Locandro has been dominant at times on the block and Kirisome just became the third player to reach 150 Rapid career points. If both find rhythm from from their preferred launch points, it will stretch Hoiho’s defensive shell and open up opportunities on the glass and off the bounce
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens v Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai
Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua
Rapid League 2.00pm, Tauihi 3.00pm Live on Sky Sport 2
Watch Outside NZ: ESPN 3 (USA), FIBA YouTube (global)
Queens
PG Kristy Wallace
SG Stella Beck
SF Jihyun Park
PF Penina Davidson
C Louise Brown
Pouākai
PG Taylor Mikesell
SG Morgan Yaeger
SF Marena Whittle
PF McKenna Dale
C Esra McGoldrick
The Queens survived a spirited Whai challenge in Tauranga, closing late for an 80 to 70 win behind Wallace’s 30 point masterpiece and Davidson’s inside presence as she became the first player to 300 Tauihi career rebounds. Beck chipped in a ten point, eleven rebound double double, her first of the season for Queens, but it was the collective effort on defense that held the Whai to 36% shooting while imposing their will down low to the tune of 26 free throws (16 more than the Whai). This proved too much for the home side as the Queens held them at arms length for most of the game.
The Pouākai bounced back from the heavy loss in Dunedin by handling the Kāhu 85 to 66 at Cowles. The Kāhu came out determined to grab their first win of the season, but Esra McGoldrick and Marena Whittle dominated the paint while McKenna Dale passed 100 career assists and then pushed through the 550 career point barrier across the weekend. The win cementing the talent of the Pouākai but leaving a few question marks around consistency across the final third of the season.
Point guards deciding pace
Wallace is coming off that huge 30 point night and continues to lead the league in assists at more than seven a game, while Yaeger continues to toy with defenses off the bounce as she creates for herself and her teammates. Pace will be key and these two will be trying to determine it. Will it be Wallace finding occasional opportunity in transition while preferring the half court grind or will it be Yaeger pressing on the gas pedal to find speed in the full court?
Milestone watch in the front court
Davidson already owns the career rebound mark and now anchors the glass against a Pouākai frontline that features McGoldrick (closing in on 500 points and 300 rebounds), and Dale, newly minted member of the 100 assist and 550 point clubs.
Value the ball
Queens are at their best when Wallace is pushing in transition and Park is trailing into pick and pop space. Pouākai like to flow into multiple actions and use Whittle and McGoldrick to collapse the defence. Whoever wins the possession game through rebounding and turnovers will impose their style.
Tauihi Bottom Line
These teams have split the season series so far, both in convincing fashion on their home court. Will the home fans be the key for the Queens to seal the season series or will the Pouākai fly high to prove they belong in the top two by taking down the ladder leaders?
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
PG Keriana Hippolite
SG Pahlyss Hokianga
SF Paige Burrows
PF Briarley Rogers
C Josie Trousdell
Yellow I Glass Mainland Pouākai
PG Olivia O Neill
SG Hana Lacey Rameka
SF Marena Whittle
PF Ava Jones
C Charlotte Whittaker
Top of the table clash
Queens sit at 6 wins and 1 loss, Pouākai at 5 and 3. This game could put the Queens just about out of reach of the field if they pull the win, but a win for the Mainlanders will break the chase wide open
Rogers Rogers
Briarley continues to climb the scoring charts and leads the league in three point percentage while Emma Rogers remains sidelined for the foreseeable future. Can Briarly keep rising up the MVP ranks as Emma stays stagnant with the missed time due to injury?
Trousdell on the glass versus Whittaker and Ainley
Trousdell has grabbed eight boards in each of the last two games and owns the Queens rebound record. Pouākai counter with Whittaker and fifteen year old Emilia Ainley, who posted six points, six rebounds and four blocks in only her second outing. That rebounding battle could decide the day.
BNZ Northern Kāhu v Southern Hoiho
Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland
Rapid League 2.00pm, Tauihi 3.00pm Live on Sky Sport 2
Watch Outside New Zealand: ESPN 3 (USA), FIBA YouTube (global)
BNZ Northern Kāhu
PG Tahlia Tupaea
SG Krystal Leger-Walker
SF Abigail Curtin
PF Haliegh Reinoehl
C Lauren Mansfield
Southern Hoiho
PG Paige Bradley
SG Taylah Simmons
SF Claire Jacobs
PF Rebecca Pizzey
C Jessie Edwards
The Kāhu struggles continued in Christchurch where they fell 85 to 66 to Pouākai despite another strong outing from Reinoehl who moved past both the 100 point mark this season and the 300 career point milestone. Azure Anderson made the most of extended minutes with a Tauihi best ten points, but the club’s overall losing streak is now seven games this season and nine across the last two campaigns.
The Hoiho arrive to round seven a high after blitzing Pouākai by 36 at home. Edwards and Jacobs combined for 38 points, Dart and Simmons both hit double figures and the team shot the ball with confidence across four quarters, but this will be their second game of the round, and they may be battle worn after a home tilt against the Whai less than 48 hours before this tip off.
Can Kāhu finally crack the victory column?
Kāhu have been close in a number of games and know this is a key chance to snap the skid as they return to their home court after an extended session on the road. Tupaea is edging toward 600 career points and her leadership alongside Mansfield’s playmaking and Reinoehl’s interior work will be crucial if the Kāhu are to finally find that elusive first "W".
Hoiho balance and confidence
Bradley recently joined the 200 assist club, Richards just passed 250 career rebounds and Hoiho have multiple scoring threats in Simmons, Pizzey, Dart and Jacobs. If they carry the defensive energy they showed against Pouākai, it will test the Kāhu decision making while putting pressure on the glass on both ends.
Matchup on the wings
Curtin has been one of Kāhu’s brightest spots and gives them size on the perimeter. How she fares against the physical drives of Simmons and the shot making of Jacobs will be a key swing factor.
Tauihi bottom line
If things go their way the Hoiho have a chance to move into the top spot of the ladder with a win, but they will need to dig deep to take a road win in their second contest in less than 48 hours. The Kāhu have been inching closer to the first win of the season and this may be their best chance of the season against a fatigues Hoiho unit.
BNZ Northern Kāhu
PG Azure Anderson
SG Emma Schroeder
SF Mary Morton-Jones
PF Vitolia Tuilave
C Keeley Tini
Southern Hoiho
PG Alana Paewai
SG Samara Gallaher
SF Eva Langton
PF Lil Dart
C Zoe Richards
Kāhu building on the first win
At the seventh attempt Kāhu finally broke through with a 32 to 27 win over Pouākai. Schroeder has cemented herself as a lead scoring option and Anderson continues to climb the all time scoring list. How they back up at home will say a lot about the second half of their campaign.
Hoiho seasoned core versus Kāhu youth
Langton became the first player to reach 30 Rapid appearances and brings real experience alongside Gallaher and Richards. On the other side, Kāhu are integrating young talent like Areta Kahura into a group that already leans heavily on Schroeder and Morton Jones. Will it be the grizzled vets or the fountain of youth that pulls out this one?
Free throws and late game composure
Recent Kāhu results have turned on foul line execution and late possessions. The Hoiho will look to keep Dart and Gallaher aggressive downhill to force whistles, while Anderson and Schroeder must balance attacking with clock management.
