And just like that we have arrived at R2 of the season and already so many storylines are unfolding in the G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi and Sky Broadband Rapid League competitions.
WNBA star Jordan Horston is about to arrive and will play on Sunday against the Kāhu, the Whai have multiple injury concerns and will shuffle their starting line-up around with young Kiwi star Pahlyss Hokianga set for a big role, while the Hoiho and Pouākai will be desperate not to end the weekend as the only winless team in Tauihi.
Meanwhile, sharp-shooting 3X3 Tall Fern Tiarna Clarke is back after the Queens made an announcement on Friday morning that the League's record holder for made three-pointers in a game (11) will join the 2022 champions as injury cover for Ash Taia (knee).
Here's what to look for in R2.
Friday October 11 – The Northern Group Tauranga Whai vs BNZ Northern Kāhu
QEYC – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Tickets: HERE
Television: Live on Sky Sport 2 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Probable TAUIHI Starters
WHAI: (PG) Pahlyss Hokianga, (SG) Ashley Joens, (SF) Jade Kirisome, (PF) Laina Snyder, (C) Lara McSpadden.
KĀHU: (PG) Chloe Forster, (SG) Krystal Leger-Walker, (SF) Tahlia Tupaea, (PF) Iimar'I Thomas, (C) Penina Davidson.
What To Look For: Two winners from R1 are set for a high-octane showdown to start R2 and all eyes will be Ashley Joens and Tahlia Tupaea. While it remains to be seen if the attacking guards will line-up on each other defensively, the key to each team's chances will likely hinge on what they can produce offensively. Also look for the clash between Lara McSpadden and Penina Davidson, while a knee injury to Megan Mullings remains a concern for the Kāhu and could see them shuffling the deck chairs a bit if she can't get on court. The big news here is the elevation of Pahlyss Hokianga into the starting PG role for the Whai with Aussie Morgan Yaeger sidelined with a broken wrist. Hokianga's match-up with Australian Chloe Forster will be fun to watch. Meanwhile, McKenna Dale will continue to come off the bench for the Whai and she continues her return from a finger injury.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
WHAI: McKenna Dale, Eva Langton, Anika Hyland, Sophie Rogers, Emma Rogers, Kaylee Smiler, Laura Kuka.
KĀHU: Azure Anderson, Chevannah Paalvast, Elianna Tuaiti, Lilly Rotunno (FIBA Asia), Steph Bairstow (FIBA Asia), Bailey Flavell.
What To Look For: The Whai looked really sharp in R1, and excitingly it is again their rising youngsters taking centre stage in Rapid. No doubt the experience of McKenna Dale is a steadying hand for the Whai, but look for Sophie and Emma Rogers to build on the confidence they gained last week on the big stage. For all the experience and depth the Kāhu has in Rapid League, last week's loss to the Hoiho was disappointing and a bounce-back performance against the Whai can be expected. The Kāhu will only have six players though with Mary Goulding (out for personal reasons) and Megan Mullings (not permitted to play) out of action. Look for this game to be played at pace from the opening tip. The match-up of Sophie Rogers and Bailey Flavell will be worth a look.
Saturday October 12 – Southern Hoiho vs vs ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai
Edgar Centre – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 2 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
HOIHO: (PG) Paige Bradley, (SG) Ahlise Hurst, (SF) Natalie Chou, (PF) Zoe Richards, (C) Samantha Bowman.
POUĀKAI: (PG) Mikhaela Cann, (SG) McKenzie Forbes, (SF) Haleigh Reinoehl, (PF) Esra McGoldrick, (C) Cassandra Brown.
What To Look For: Expect to see a lot of early season desperation as both the Hoiho and Pouākai try and avoid being the only team without a win after the opening fortnight of the season. Both teams struggled to execute in R1 and will have worked hard at training on improving in a number of areas. Ahlise Hurst (Hoiho) will be desperate to find the bottom of the net early after some wayward shooting last week, while the front court partnership between Zoe Richards and Samantha Bowman needs to click for the Hoiho to win. For the Pouākai, they need a much better start in this one. The Pouākai roster depth looks a little shaky, but their starting unit is more than capable of causing headaches - a good place to start is here against the Hoiho. Look for Mikhaela Cann to be more assertive as a scorer, and for McKenzie Forbes to attack the basket a bit more.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
HOIHO: Millie Simpson, Tyler Mitchell, Samara Gallaher, Chelsea D'Angelo (FIBA Asia), Elise Gilbert, Aliyah Dunn, Abby Harris.
HASWELL TIMBER POUĀKAI: Tessa Morrison, Tara Manumaleuga, Sharne Robati, Ashlee Strawbridge, Lauren Tewhata, Vitolia Tuilave, Maddy Timms.
What To Look For: The Hoiho sit 2-0 after very good wins over the Queens and Kāhu, and they will like their chances here. Look for Australian Chelsea D'Angelo to dominate for the home team, as she did last week, and keep an eye of the Hoiho's relentless pressure defense, which was a key asset in R1. This Pouākai team will only get better the more time they spend together, but they will need to improve sharply on what we saw last week if they hope to upset the Hoiho. Look for Sharne Robati to be the key player for the Cantabrians.
Sunday October 13 – ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens vs BNZ Northern Kāhu
Te Rauparaha Arena – Rapid 2:00pm / Tauihi 3:00pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 3 from 2:00pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
QUEENS: (PG) Florencia Chagas, (SG) Stella Beck, (SF) Jihyun Park, (PF) Jordan Horston, (C) Lou Brown.
KĀHU: (PG) Chloe Forster, (SG) Krystal Leger-Walker (SF) Tahlia Tupaea, (PF) Iimar'i Thomas, (C) Penina Davidson.
What To Look For: With Jordan Horston in town and playing her first game, the Queens have a decision to make on whether to start Lou Brown or Tamari Key (shows how deep this team is at full strength), while Florencia Chagas is also a big inclusion and will go head-to-head with Chloe Forster. Look for Horston or Brown to get the job of stopping Iimar'I Thomas, while the battle between Jihyun Park and Tahlia Tupaea will be crucial. The clash between these two teams always delivers sparks and that's what we're looking forward to the most (again).
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
QUEENS: Grace Hunter, Alana Paewai, Jacinta Beckley, Awatea Leach, Lauryn Hippolite, Tiarna Clarke.
KĀHU: Azure Anderson, Chevannah Paalvast, Elianna Tuaiti, Lilly Rotunno (FIBA Asia), Steph Bairstow (FIBA Asia), Bailey Flavell.
What To Look For: Both teams might go with six players with Megan Mullings (knee) coming off the bench in Tauihi (if she plays) but not permitted to play Rapid League, and the same for Tamari Key if the Queens choose to start Lou Brown in Tauihi. The flip to that is the Queens may start Key in Tauihi and bring Brown or Park off the bench, which means either of the FIBA Asia players could suit-up in Rapid League. The Queens have also added sharp-shooting guard Tiarna Clarke, who comes in to replace Ash Taia (knee). How ever the selections fall, look for exciting guards Grace Hunter and Lilly Rotunno to shine under spotlights in this one.
