Round Six tips off in Dunedin on Friday night with competition leaders Southern Hoiho hosting BNZ Northern Kāhu at the Edgar Centre.
Hoiho enter as the hottest team in Tauihi. After dropping their season opener, the Southeners have rattled off five consecutive victories to move to 5-1 and sit alone at the top of the standings.
Their latest win came against defending champions Tauranga Whai, with Hoiho controlling the contest from the opening quarter on the way to victory.
Marie Bertholdt produced a season-high scoring performance, Lil Dart added a double-double, Julie Wojta stuffed the stat sheet. while Paige Bradley again directed traffic with her facilitation.
Kāhu arrive in Dunedin after an unexpected break, with their Round Five game against Tokomanawa Queens postponed.
Their last appearance came back in Round Four, when they produced one of the most dramatic wins of the season to edge Whai by a single point.
That victory gave the Northerners a much need win after a 1-3 start and continued a clear offensive improvement, with strong Kāhu scoring the last two times they hit the court.
Hoiho won the first meeting between the sides in Auckland, but Kāhu have evolved considerably since then.
Can Hoiho extend their winning streak to six, or will a refreshed Kāhu side return from their mini break to continue its climb?
When: Friday 30 October
Where: Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Rapid League: 6:30pm
Tauihi: 7:30pm
Watch Live: Sky Sport 3 and ThreeNow in New Zealand, ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube everywhere else internationally
Commentary: Glen Larmar and Casey Frank
Box Score Here
Buy Tickets Here
Hoiho expect Julie Wojta, Marie Bertholdt, Bec Pizzey, Lil Dart and captain Paige Bradley as their starting five, but Bertholdt is questionable with an Achilles injury, with the other four starters are available.
Alexa Duff, Kiana Brown, Tia Pavihi, Samara Gallaher, Millie Simpson, Abby Harris and Zoe Richards make up the Rapid League group and are all available.
Kāhu expect Talya Brugler, Ella Fotu, Megan Mullings, captain Tayla Dalton and Erin Bollmann as their starting five, with all available.
Kayla Manuirirangi, Emily Monaghan, Shanique Lucas, Azure Anderson, Olivia Williams, Sienna Maurice and Imani Rasmussen make up the Rapid League group.
Hoiho claimed the first meeting 78-66 at Eventfinda Stadium after gradually taking control of a competitive contest.
Southern led 17-11 after the opening quarter before Kāhu responded with defensive pressure and reduced the margin to two midway through the second.
Hoiho answered before halftime, with Bec Pizzey providing important scoring as the visitors rebuilt their advantage to 35-27.
Southern then created separation in the third quarter.
Dart continued to attack the rim, Bradley controlled the offence and Hoiho pushed the lead to 56-41 entering the fourth.
Kāhu continued to compete but were unable to close the gap.
Dart led Southern with 19 points, while Bradley produced 15 points and 13 assists. Pizzey added 15 points.
Bollmann was again the leading influence for Kāhu with 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while Manuirirangi scored 10.
Leading Players
Kāhu: Erin Bollmann (14P, 6R, 7A), Kayla Manuirirangi (10P, 1R, 1A)
Hoiho: Lil Dart (19P, 3R, 4A), Paige Bradley (15P, 4R, 13A), Bec Pizzey (15P, 3R, 2A)
Hoiho made it five consecutive victories with an impressive 14-point win over Whai in Dunedin.
They established control immediately, leading 28-20 after the opening quarter before stretching the margin to 48-37 by halftime.
Bertholdt delivered her best offensive performance of the season, finishing with 25 points while knocking down four three-pointers.
Dart continued her excellent campaign with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Wojta added a stat stuffing 13 points, nine rebounds and five steals.
Bradley scored only seven but once again orchestrated the offence, handing out 12 assists as Hoiho finished with 25 as a team.
Whai were unable to consistently break down Southern’s defence, shooting 38 percent from the field as Hoiho completed another convincing home victory.
Leading Players
Hoiho: Marie Bertholdt (25P, 4R, 1A), Lil Dart (23P, 10R, 4A), Julie Wojta (13P, 9R, 5S)
Whai: Nicolette Gilday (15P, 3A), Emme Shearer (11P, 2R), Laina Snyder (10P, 16R, 2A)
Due to court issues impacting player safety, the most recent Kāhu game came in Round Four, when they produced a dramatic comeback victory over Whai.
The defending champions carried a 12-point advantage into halftime before Kāhu exploded after the break.
Shanique Lucas provided a major spark from the bench and Kāhu poured in 33 third-quarter points while holding Whai to 18.
The contest remained tight throughout the fourth before Whai moved one point ahead in the final seconds.
Bollmann attacked the basket, drew the foul and converted both free throws to give Northern the lead.
Whai were unable to successfully inbound on the final possession and Kāhu held on for their second victory of the season.
Brugler led Northern with 20 points, Mullings added 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Bollmann finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Leading Players
Kāhu: Talya Brugler (20P, 4R), Megan Mullings (17P, 11R, 4A, 2S), Erin Bollmann (15P, 7R, 3A, 4S, 1B)
Whai: Emme Shearer (25P, 6R, 3A), Laina Snyder (21P, 10R, 5A, 2S), Nicolette Gilday (12P, 3R, 6A)
The Hoiho rise to the top of the table has been built on defence.
They allow just 72.2 points per game, the best mark in Tauihi, and hold opponents to 41 percent shooting from the floor.
They also lead the competition in steals at 12.5 per game and sit second in turnover margin at +4.5. That pressure was one of the major differences in the first meeting.
Kāhu scored 66 points and turned the ball over 23 times. But that offence has improved dramatically since then, scoring 87 against Pouākai and 85 against Whai in their last two appearances.
If Kāhu can protect the basketball and reproduce that efficiency after nearly two weeks without a game, they may just be able to repay the Hoiho for taking a win on their home court earlier this season.
The scheduling adds another layer to the matchup.
Kāhu have not played since 18 October after their Round Five fixture against the Queens was cancelled. Hoiho have played twice since then and won both games.
The Kāhu arrive fresh the Hoiho arrive with rhythm.
Can the Kāhu find game speed quickly after an unwelcome break? Or will the Hoiho continue carrying the momentum of five straight victories a wee bit further on their home court?
Dart is their leading scorer at 19.0 points per game, but the Hoiho have become increasingly difficult to defend because the production comes from everywhere.
Bertholdt is now averaging 14.3 points after her 25-point performance against Whai. Bradley contributes 13.8 points and a league-leading 9.7 assists. Bec Pizzey averages 12.2 points while shooting 64 percent from the field, and Wojta contributes 10.8 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds.
That balance makes it difficult to identify one player for the defence to take away.
If the Kāhu commit too much defensive attention in one direction the door opens for one of the other Hoiho weapons to strike.
Brugler leads Kāhu at 15.4 points per game, while Mullings averages 12.8 points and is shooting 50 percent from the field and both were excellent in the win over Whai last time out. Brugler scored 20 while Mullings produced a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
While the Hoiho have been outstanding defensively rebounding remains one area opponents can attack as the Hoiho sit at -2.3 in rebounding margin, while Kāhu are at -3.4.
Neither side has dominated the glass across the season opening an oppotunity for the team that is willing to seize it.
Bollmann remains the key factor for Kāhu.
She averages 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while leading the team with three steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
Her versatility allows the team to change matchups defensively and gives them another primary creator offensively. She was Kāhu’s best player in the first meeting with 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
To reverse that result Bollmann will likely need to influence every area again.
Hoiho are not one of the highest-percentage three-point shooting teams in Tauihi but they showed against Whai how dangerous they become when those shots fall.
Hoiho made 12 threes in that victory as Bertholdt hit four with Dart adding four more.
Kāhu allow opponents to shoot 35 percent from beyond the arc, while Hoiho hold opponents to 33 percent.
If the Kāhu allow Bradley to consistently create clean perimeter looks through penetration and kick outs to set up shooters this could be a long night for the visitors.
Dart enters averaging 19.0 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists and is coming off a 23-point, 10-rebound performance.
Bollmann contributes 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while providing Kāhu with elite defensive versatility.
The Kāhu need Bollmann to disrupt Dart without removing herself from the offensive responsibilities that make Kāhu function, but with the way Dart has been playing on both ends of the court that will be a tough task indeed.
Brugler leads the Kāhu in scoring as their primary interior scoring threat.
Wojta is coming off consecutive strong performances and is pulling in 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds on average. More importantly she provides top flight defensive activity, averaging more than two steals and a block per game.
Brugler’s ability to establish position and get to the free-throw line has been key to her team's offensive ceiling and that skill will test Southern’s frontcourt discipline.
If Brugler gets to the line with regularity it will put pressure on the scoreboard as well as the depth of the home team, but if the Hoiho can contain her on the block without fouling the Kāhu offence may spend the night searching for answers on offence.
Mullings has been in excellent form across her last two games while finder better and better efficiency entering the game shooting 50% from the floor.
Pizzey has been one of the competition’s most efficient players, converting 64 percent of her field goals when she decides to look for the finish.
Both can punish mismatches around the basket while looking to impose their physicality.
Mullings gives Northern physicality and offensive rebounding, while Pizzey’s ability to finish without requiring heavy usage is a major part of Hoiho’s balance. The player that finds a way to take out their counterparts strength gives their team an edge in the ract to a victory.
Bradley controls the tempo for Hoiho, leading Tauihi at 9.7 assists per game, already producing games of 13 and 12 assists this season.
Dalton will be key to disrupting that rhythm.
She and the Kāhu can't afford to let Bradley to comfortably enter the half court, manipulate the defence and repeatedly create quality looks for Dart, Bertholdt and the Hoiho collective. If Bradley's facilitating is held back the Hoiho offence will be hard pressed to find other ways to keep the offence rolling along.
| Category | Hoiho | Kāhu |
|---|---|---|
| Points | Lil Dart, 19.0 | Talya Brugler, 15.4 |
| Rebounds | Julie Wojta, 7.3 | Erin Bollmann, 6.8 |
| Assists | Paige Bradley, 9.7 | Erin Bollmann, 5.4 |
| Steals | Paige Bradley, 2.8 | Erin Bollmann, 3.0 |
| Blocks | Julie Wojta, 1.0 | Erin Bollmann, 1.8 |
| FG% | Bec Pizzey, 64% | Kayla Manuirirangi, 53% |
| 3P% | Bec Pizzey, 43% | Kayla Manuirirangi, 50% |
| 3PM | Lil Dart, 2.8 pg | Megan Mullings, 0.8 pg |
| Category | Hoiho | Kāhu |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 5-1 | 2-3 |
| Points | 78.3, 3rd | 74.6, 5th |
| Points Allowed | 72.2, 1st | 81.2, 3rd |
| Scoring Margin | +6.2, 2nd | -6.6, 4th |
| FG% | 42%, 3rd | 40%, 5th |
| Defensive FG% | 41%, 1st | 44%, 4th |
| 3P% | 30%, 4th | 26%, 5th |
| 3P% Defence | 33%, 3rd | 35%, 4th |
| FT% | 78%, 1st | 75%, 3rd |
| Rebounding Margin | -2.3, 3rd | -3.4, 4th |
| Assists | 23.2, 1st | 19.4, 4th |
| Turnover Margin | +4.5, 2nd | +1.4, 3rd |
| Steals | 12.5, 1st | 9.6, 3rd |
| Assist/Turnover | 1.74, 2nd | 1.39, 3rd |
Hoiho have an advantage on the defenisve end statistically.
They lead Tauihi in scoring defence, defensive field-goal percentage, assists and steals while also sitting second in turnover margin.
Kāhu’s offensive averages remain hampered by their opening rounds, thanks in large part to Hoiho defence, but their most recent form tells another story.
Northern have scored 86 points per game their last two games and are looking to continue their winning ways to put some distance between themselves and fifth place.
The question is whether that improved offence can hold up against the best defence in the competition to make that happen.
Kāhu remain the benchmark in Rapid League, entering Round Six unbeaten at 5-0 and leading the competition at both ends of the floor.
They average 38.2 points per game while allowing just 23.4, with their pressure defence and ability to turn stops into easy offence central to that success.
Hoiho sit at 1-5 and score 23.3 points per game, but they have enough individual threats to make this competitive if they can control the tempo.
The first meeting went Kāhu’s way 41-23, but the bigger focus in the rematch will be the players capable of shifting the game.
Sienna Maurice has been one of the Rapid's most efficient scorers, averaging 8.3 points while shooting 65 percent from the field and 63 percent from three.
Shanique Lucas adds 7.0 points and leads Kāhu’s defensive pressure with 2.8 steals per game, while Emily Monaghan contributes 6.8 points and gives Northern another reliable perimeter option.
For Hoiho, Alexa Duff leads the scoring at 6.5 points per game and remains their biggest perimeter threat, while Zoe Richards gives Southern an important presence around the glass and inside.
Milli Simpson also brings defensive activity and playmaking, averaging 1.5 steals and 1.7 assists per game.
Kāhu depth has been one of the biggest differences between the sides.
They also lead Rapid League in assists, steals and turnover margin, meaning Hoiho need to find a way to generate more efficient offence without allowing pressure to dictate the game.
The key for the Hoiho will be keeping the game in the half court and making Kāhu score against a set defence.
If Lucas, Maurice and Monaghan are able to get running, the league leaders become very difficult to contain.
Bradley enters Friday on the verge of a significant piece of Hoiho history.
She needs six points to become the first Hoiho player to reach 600 career Tauihi points and only the fifth player overall to reach the mark.
She already sits as Tauihi’s all-time assists leader and enters Round Six with 594 career points.
Dart also reached a milestone against Whai.
Her season-high 23 points made her the fourth Hoiho player to score 300 points for the club, joining Bradley, Zoe Richards and Ahlisse Hurst.
Hoiho enter Round Six as the team everyone is chasing.
Five consecutive victories have taken Southern to 5-1, and the formula has become clear.
They defend. They share the basketball. They create turnovers.
And they have enough offensive balance that a different player can take control on any night.
Kāhu present a challenge.
They have not played for almost two weeks, but the last version we saw was their best of the season.
Their offence continues to improve and the production from Brugler, Mullings and Bollmann suggest Kāhu are far more dangerous than their 2-3 record might indicate.
Hoiho won the first meeting by 12.
But Kāhu have had time to reset, recover and prepare.
Friday will show whether that break has disrupted their momentum or given them exactly what they needed for another push.
