And here comes R4 of the 2024 G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi season! All teams now have a win after an action-packed week 3, and all teams have suffered a loss. Iimar'I Thomas, Jordan Horston, Mikhaela Cann, Natalie Chou and Lara McSpadden all made their presence felt last week as the competitive balance of the competition shone through.
In an exciting quirk of the schedule, we have two immediate return bouts in R4 with the Kāhu at home to the Pouākai, and the Whai hosting the Queens. Here's what to look for in R4.
Friday October 25 – BNZ Northern Kāhu vs ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai
Eventfinda Stadium – 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
KĀHU: (PG) Chloe Forster, (SG) Chevannah Paalvast, (SF) Tahlia Tupaea, (PF) Iimar'I Thomas, (C) Penina Davidson.
POUĀKAI: (PG) Mikhaela Cann, (SG) McKenzie Forbes, (SF) Sharne Robati, (PF) Haleigh Reinoehl, (C) Esra McGoldrick.
What To Look For: Will it be redemption for the Kāhu or will the Pouākai double down on last week's memorable win against the star-studded northerners? In a quirk of the schedule, these same two teams square-off less than a week after their thrilling clash in R3, a game that saw the Kāhu suffer a loss for the first time since August 2023 and the Pouākai beat their fancied northern opponents for the first ever time in the Tauihi. Look for the battle between Iimar'I Thomas/Penina Davidson and Esra McGoldrick/Haleigh Reinoehl again, along with the added mobility Sharne Robati brings to the Pouākai with Cassandra Brown missing again with a back injury. Even without Brown the Pouākai were much stronger on the boards last week, so expect rebounding to be a massive focus for the Kāhu. Perhaps the biggest watch will be the PG battle where Chloe Forster (with some help from Krystal Leger-Walker) will be determined to keep Mikhaela Cann under control after the Pouākai court-leader dominated last week. The Pouākai do receive a boost with the addition of Australian Abby Cubillo.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
KĀHU: Azure Anderson, Krystal Leger-Walker, Elianna Tuaiti, Lilly Rotunno (FIBA Asia), Steph Bairstow (FIBA Asia), Kodee Williams-Sefo.
HASWELL TIMBER POUĀKAI: Tessa Morrison, Tara Manumaleuga, Abby Cubillo (FIBA Asia), Ashlee Strawbridge, Lauren Tewhata, Vitolia Tuilave, Maddy Timms.
What To Look For: The Kāhu continue to shuffle their young talent - while Tannika Leger-Walker and Bailey Flavell sit out this week, look for 17-year-old Kiwi forward Kodee Williams-Sefo on debut. Megan Mullings (International) will come off the bench again, but as she doesn't qualify to play Rapid League it means the Kāhu will go with six players. Rapid leading scorer Steph Bairstow returning after a week off is a huge inclusion for the Kāhu and it's hard to see who will take that match-up. Also look for Australian Abby Cubillo making her debut for the Pouākai, a big in as they try and build some momentum with Ashlee Strawbridge continuing to rise.
Saturday October 26 - The Northern Group Tauranga Whai vs ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
Taupo Events Centre – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Tickets: HERE
Television: Live on Sky Sport 7 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Probable TAUIHI Starters
QUEENS: (PG) Florencia Chagas, (SG) Stella Beck, (SF) Jordan Horston, (PF) Lou Brown, (C) Tamari Key.
WHAI: (PG) Pahlyss Hokianga, (SG) Ashley Joens, (SF) Jade Kirisome, (PF) Laina Snyder, (C) Lara McSpadden.
What To Look For: A return bout for two teams who put on an entertaining thriller last week when the Queens got home 92-90. What we took out of that game should be what to look for again this time around - namely Jordan Horston (Queens) and Ashley Joens (Whai). Surprisingly, Joens put in a quiet game down in Dunedin against the Hoiho two days after a great night out in Porirua, so expect to see the star shooter fired up for this one. Laina Snyder found some form against the Hoiho, so she'll have eyes on her here, but the biggest watch should be Jihyun Park. The Korean international is silky smooth and comes up with big plays when needed. The Queens star is starting to heat up and the Whai will need to get the Park match-up spot on.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
QUEENS: Grace Hunter, Alana Paewai, Jacinta Beckley, Awatea Leach, Lauryn Hippolite, Tiarna Clarke.
WHAI: McKenna Dale, Eva Langton, Anika Hyland, Sophie Rogers, Emma Rogers, Kaylee Smiler, Laura Kuka.
What To Look For: The pressure is building on the 0-3 Queens who, despite the very visible talent, have just failed to click. Offensively, for a team with the likes of Hunter, Paewai, Beckley, Leach, Hippolite and Clarke, they struggle to score with fluidity, and this is something they need to figure out quickly. Look for Beckley to come back in from the illness that kept her out last week, and that will help, but all eyes are on Grace Hunter, Tiarna Clarke and Lauryn Hippolite, three Tall Ferns who are more than capable of cranking things up a few notches. Back the other way, for the Whai, it's all about the three-ball. If the home team lands the long ball, game over.
Sunday October 27 – ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai vs Southern Hoiho
Cowles Stadium – Rapid 2:00pm / Tauihi 3:00pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 7 from 2:00pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
POUĀKAI: (PG) Mikhaela Cann, (SG) McKenzie Forbes, (SF) Sharne Robati, (PF) Haleigh Reinoehl, (C) Esra McGoldrick.
HOIHO: (PG) Paige Bradley, (SG) Ahlise Hurst, (SF) Natalie Chou, (PF) Zoe Richards, (C) Samantha Bowman.
What To Look For: The Hoiho head to Christchurch with confidence after a win in R3 against the Whai. Across the squad, the Hoiho finally clicked, and they looked nicely balanced, especially when they got out and ran the lanes hard. Look for more of Sammy Bowman inside the paint (she's a tough unit) and look for Natalie Chou to get the shutdown job on McKenzie Forbes - this is a key clash. The match-up between Mikhaela Cann and Paige Bradley will be fun, while Kiwi forwards Zoe Richards and Esra McGoldrick will be looking for bragging rights. And finally, let's not forget back in R2 the Hoiho blew a 19-point lead in a loss to the Pouākai - if the margin reaches that much this time around (for either team) it will be lights out, game done and dusted.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
HASWELL TIMBER POUĀKAI: Tessa Morrison, Tara Manumaleuga, Abby Cubillo (FIBA Asia), Ashlee Strawbridge, Lauren Tewhata, Vitolia Tuilave, Maddy Timms.
HOIHO: Millie Simpson, Tyler Mitchell, Samara Gallaher, Chelsea D'Angelo (FIBA Asia), Elise Gilbert, Aliyah Dunn, Abby Harris.
What To Look For: Lots to like about both of these teams, in particular the rise of Ashlee Strawbridge, who is looking more settled with every game. But the big watch here will be the battle between Australians Chelsea D'Angelo and Abby Cubillo, the latter a new addition for the Pouākai and now we get our first chance to see her on court this round.
