After tasting playoffs basketball last season, the Southern Hoiho want more.
Perhaps, and hindsight is a wonderful thing, if not for the loss of Ashen Prechtel to a late-season foot injury, the Hoiho might have gone all the way. Their 79-86 semi-final loss to the Queens was brave.
Behind the barnstorming play of Prechtel, the improvement of Zoe Richards, the sublime passing of Paige Bradley, and the long-range shooting of Ahlise Hurst, the Hoiho proved a formidable opponent in 2023.
And bar for Prechtel, the other three players from that quartet are back for Tauihi '24. They are the backbone of a squad that is easy to like.
In fact, the 2024 roster has a very familiar look to it, especially on the local front where Richards is re-joined by guards Cailtin O'Connell, Tyler Mitchell, Samara Gallaher and Millie Simpson, all of whom have now built some valuable experience at this pro level.
The Hoiho are carving out a reputation for fostering local talent. Again, they are easy to like.
The big gets are of course Bradley and Hurst, both have already adjusted to Tauihi and life in New Zealand, so expect to see the two dashing guards hit the ground running.
New international talent for this season includes Samantha Bowman, a 188-centimeter Amercian power forward who recently played with Rockhampton in NBL1 and averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds per game. Bowman is the Prechel replacement and looks a good choice. She comes to NZ with amid strong recommendations from her Aussie coaches.
American Natalie Chou is a guard joining off the back of a season in Perth with averages of 18 points and 6 rebounds. Again, a solid signing that gives the Hoiho a strong guard rotation. Chou looks to be a nice fit.
The FIBA Asia contingent features the returning Hurst, along with incoming Australian guard Chelsea D'Angelo. The Melburnian joins from the Hoiho from Frankston in NBL1, successful WNBL stints with the Melbourne Boomers and Southside Flyers, and recent gigs in Italy.
D'Angelo is a strong two-way player with a crafty presence at the offensive end and an ability to shoot from range as potently as driving the basket. Her averages over the winter months with Frankston were 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals per game.
The Hoiho might appear a little thinner on the bench than other teams, but they have a lot of experience in Gallaher and a proven young shooting talent in Mitchell, so opponents best beware and not underestimate a crew that will gain valuable minutes through Rapid League.
Height certainly won't be a problem either. Bowman will hold the pivotal starting center position with Zoe Richards as a running mate for some of the inside grunt work needed, but don't lose sight of the support that will come with former Queen Aliyah Dunn (188cm) and Elise Carline (186cm).
The Hoiho won't get the same media attention as the likes of the Kāhu and Queens, but you get the feeling that's exactly the way returning head coach Todd Marshall wants it to be - no fanfare, we'll let our performances do the talking for us.
Don't sleep on the Hoiho, this is a team capable of big things. Question is - will Tauihi '24 be their time to shine?
2024 Hoiho Home Games
Saturday Oct 12 – 6:30pm Rapid / 7:30pm Tauihi – Hoiho vs Pouākai – Edgar Centre (Dunedin)
Sunday Oct 20 – 2:00pm Rapid / 3:00pm Tauihi – Hoiho vs Whai – Edgar Centre (Dunedin)
Sunday Nov 10 – 2:00pm Rapid / 3:00pm Tauihi – Hoiho vs Queens – Edgar Centre (Dunedin)
Thursday Nov 21 – 6:30pm Rapid / 7:30pm Tauihi – Hoiho vs Kāhu – Edgar Centre (Dunedin)
Sunday Dec 1 – 2:00pm Rapid / 3:00pm Tauihi – Hoiho vs Kāhu – Edgar Centre (Dunedin)
Saturday Dec 7 – 4:00pm Rapid / 5:00pm Tauihi – Hoiho vs Whai – Edgar Centre (Dunedin)
Hoiho Tickets & Memberships
Tickets: Southern Hoiho 2024 Tauihi Season (iticket.co.nz)
Memberships: Southern Hoiho 2024 Tauihi Season (iticket.co.nz)
2024 Hoiho Roster
1. Alexa Duff (NZ – amateur)
3. Ahlise Hurst (Australia – FIBA Asia import)
4. Chelsea D’Angelo (Australia – FIBA Asia import)
5. Caitlin O’Connell (NZ – professional)
6. Millicent Simpson (NZ – professional)
7. Tyler Mitchell (NZ – professional)
9. Samara Gallaher (NZ – professional)
12. Aliyah Dunn (NZ – professional)
14. Abby Harris (NZ – professional)
15. Samantha Bowman (USA – import)
18. Elise Carline (NZ – amateur)
22. Paige Bradley (USA – import)
23. Natalie Chou (USA – import)
24. Zoe Richards (NZ – professional)
28. Elise Gilbert (NZ – amateur)
Predicted Starting 5
PG: Paige Bradley
SG: Ahlise Hurst
SF: Natalie Chou
PF: Zoe Richards
C: Samantha Bowman
All-Time Stats Leaders
Total Games Played: Samara Gallaher (25)
Total Points: Zoe Richards (288)
Total Rebounds: Ashten Prechtel (150)
Total Assists: Paige Bradley (109)
Total Steals: Zoe Richards (34)
Total Blocks: Ashten Prechtel (27)
Single Game Records
Points: Laina Snyder & Ahlise Hurst (32)
Rebounds: Ashten Prechtel (21)
Assists: Paige Bradley (12)
Steals: Ahlise Hurst (6)
