photo credit: Photowellington /Masanori Udagawa
One game down - a thriller - and two games to go. Here's where we sit with R3 underway.
YESTERDAY
What a game! The ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens grabbed a thrilling 92-90 win over The Northern Group Tauranga Whai in front of a record crowd of 1,709. This game had it all, from start to finish. The WNBA class of Jordan Horston and Ashely Joens, the rebounding power of Lou Brown and Lara McSpadden, the relentlessness of Florencia Chagas and Pahlyss Hokianga, and the silky skills of Jihyun Park.
The atmosphere was electric, and the noise was raucous, and not a person left the stadium disappointed. The opening game of R3 was packed with entertainment. It will be remembered as one of the best we have seen in Tauihi.
Despite leading by 20 points early in the third quarter, the Queens had to withstand a huge comeback by the Whai, with the visitors from Tauranga having a chance to win in the final seconds but only to be denied by some resolute Queens defence. As Stella Beck and her team celebrated, they quickly headed for the fans to sign autographs and take photos - smiles all round.
We learnt the Queens can score, their 60 first-half points showed the class of their star-studded line-up, while we also learnt the Whai are resilient and tough. These look like two teams destined to be right in the think of the action come finals time.
While the Queens now enjoy a free weekend to relax in the capital, the Whai will head further south to Dunedin for a date with the Southern Hoiho.
TODAY
All eyes turn to Christchurch today with the ProBuild ITM Pouākai at home for the first time this season and waiting for them will be a sold-out crowd, the perfect environment for a tough clash with the unbeaten BNZ Northern Kāhu.
The Kāhu land in town fresh off wins against the Hoiho, Whai and Queens - a terrific start to their title defence with their big three of Tahlia Tupaea, Iimar'I Thomas and Penina Davidson all in form. They will present as a handful yet again.
Despite the Kāhu starting as favourites, the Pouākai come in with some confidence after coming from 17-points down last week to beat the Hoiho. Six players scored in double-digits for the Pouākai with both Cassandra Brown and McKenzie Forbes finding touch. Coach Paul Flynn went with a very shallow rotation, and he may look to do the same against here.
Esra McGoldrick looms as a key player at both ends of the floor with her elevated inside-outside scoring and a defensive job on Thomas likely waiting for her. If McGoldrick fires, then the Pouākai could be a sneaky chance to get tongues wagging and cause an upset.
Breaking News: in a huge blow for the Pouākai, Cassandra Brown (back) is a late scratch and will miss this game.
Who: Pouākai vs Kāhu
Where: Cowles Stadium, Christchurch.
When: Rapid League 4pm / Tauihi 5pm
Tickets: CLICK HERE
TOMORROW
Lots of talking points await tomorrow as we head to Dunedin for a showdown between the Hoiho and Whai.
Will Laina Snyder break out of her early-season funk and re-introduce herself to her former Hoiho fans with a big game in her new Whai colours? Snyder knows the court, knows the rings, and will be keen to impress.
Can the Hoiho snap a 3-game losing streak and celebrate their first win of the season? The gap to the top four can grow quickly if the wins aren't coming, and while the panic button hasn't been pressed yet, it won't be long before it has been uncovered if a win doesn't eventuate here.
Will the Whai bounce back after a gut-wrenching 90-92 loss to the Queens, or will they make the long trek back to Tauranga with a 0-2 weekend? The Whai worked so hard to get themselves back into the game against the Queens, only to fall agonisingly short, which no doubt took a physical and mental toll - can the Hoiho capitalise on this?
Look for Zoe Richards and Laina Snyder to lock horns, while NBL1 teammates at Rockhampton - Samantha Bowman and Lara McSpadden - will know a lot about each other's game. Ahlise Hurst will be hoping to find some scoring form for the Hoiho and could be an x-factor, but equally she has teammate Chelsea D'Angelo in good touch and spending more and more time alongside Paige Bradley. The Hoiho guard rotation is quickly becoming a dilemma for coach Todd Marshall, and it will continue if Hurst can't find her stroke.
The key question for this game centers on Ashely Joens and who exactly is going to stop her from scoring? If the Hoiho can't slow Joens and at least contain her, it could be a long afternoon at the office for the home team.
Who: Hoiho vs Whai
Where: Edgar Centre, Dunedin
When: Rapid League 2pm / Tauihi 3pm
Tickets: CLICK HERE
