photo credit: Blake Armstrong
The Week That Was
The Tokomanawa Queens tipped off the round with a much improved offense, sprinting to a 16 point lead against the Tauranga Whai after dropping 60 points in the first half. This version of the Queens even more impressive as the team came into the round averaging just 72 points per game. Jordan Horston showed her full skill set (33pts, 9rbs, 4ast, 2stls, 2blks) and Jihyun Park playing uber-efficiently (6-8 field goals, 3-4 3pointers, 4-4 free throws) on her way to 19pts as the home team stretched itself to a 20 point lead. But the Whai have some scoring power of their own and pressed themselves into a near epic comeback as Lara McSpadden (22pts, 17rbs) and Ashley Joens (32pts, 5rbs 4ast) kept the chase tight. But the comeback would fall just short as the Queens had built just enough of a lead to log the win despite some fluttery moments late.
As the round worked its way South over the weekend we would find what on paper would looked a bit of a mismatch as the Northern Kāhu would visit the Mainland Pouākai while riding a win streak back to last season and feeling good about their chances with Cassandra Brown a late scratch taking a bit of size out of the lineup. Without that size the Kāhu would have liked their chances to work the interior and boy did II'marI Thomas dominate down low to the tune of tying a league record with her 37point haul off 22 shots!! But the Pouākai seemed to give up some of that activity by design as they allowed only one other double digit scorer (Tahlia Tupaea 18pts on just 8 shots) while getting all 5 of their starters above 10 points. The all-around team effort was spearheaded by Haliegh Reinoehl's effort on defense and a brilliant turn offensively from Mikhaela Cann (26pts, 5rbs, 5ast) where she diced her way through defenders in transition and the halfcourt. The Pouākai would build a 19 point lead and go on to win 88-79 as the game always felt in their control. Confidence building in a Pouākai squad after taking their 2nd straight victory but they will need to remain vigilant with a return matchup on the cards to tip off R4.
The final game of the round took us further south where the Southern Hoiho were looking to find some form on their home court after an 0-3 (0-1 at home) to the season with a formidable Whai squad coming to town looking to fire. But that fire was extinguished in the opening quarter as the Southerners shot out to a 23-11 lead after the opening term where 3 straight triples (2 by Paige Bradley, 1 by Chelsea D'Angelo) stretched the lead to 23-8. The Whai kept shooting as the game went along but they were unable to fire as league leading scorer Ashley Joens was unable to impact the game as a brilliant defensive effort from Natalie Chou (among others) held the star guard to 8points on 2-10 shooting from the field. Laina Snyder (20pts) and Mckenna Dale (23pts, 8rbs) picking up the slack the best they could for a Whai team in an unfamiliar space. Ahlise Hurst (20pts) and Paige Bradley (17pts, 4rbs 5ast) led from from the perimeter for the Hoiho as Samantha Bowman once again produced an all around game (20pts, 8rbs, 5ast, 3stls, 2blks) fueled by her outstanding work rate. Round 4 now upon us and we see all teams meeting opponents they have previously matched up against, forcing coaches and players to reach a little deeper into their bag of tricks.
Worth a Mention
II'marI Thomas - Any time a player marks her name in the record books and the powerful performance by Thomas certainly did that as she scored 37 points on an efficient 14-22 fg's and 100% at the stripe. Her unique blend of power, soft hands and quick feet is once again proving a handful for anyone she lines up against.
Jihyun Park - Did i say efficient? I don't think I can use that word without mentioning Park who after a 6-8 shooting night is now 2nd in the league from 2 (68.2%) and 5th in overall fg% (@54.5%) while scoring 16.7ppg. The 3 point shot isn't quite where she would like to see it (3-11 @27%) but her ability to play efficient offense makes her a perfect fit with her Queens teammates.
Mikhaela Cann - What a performance for Cann (26pts, 5rbs, 5ast) as she absolutely exploded in the first half as the Pouākai stormed to a big lead behind her aggressive play as she got to the stripe multiple times in the opening quarter before scoring 10 straight for her side in the 2nd term. Her aggresivness with ball in hand opened up things for herself and her teamates as they shot up the ladder with a big win. Yeah, that's worth a mention.
Round 4
BNZ Northern Kāhu v Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai, Friday 7:30pm, Eventfinda Stadium
The Kāhu will have revenge on their minds after a lackluster performance in R3, but the good news is they get round 2 against the same foe to see if they can't even the score. The defense wasn't great, especially in transition, and the team was a bit shorthanded (with Megan Mullings still hampered by injury while Steph Bairstow and Mary Goulding were unavailable) but the inability to guard effectively as the biggest issue as they allowed the home team to shoot 46% from the floor and 48% (12-25) from deep. The Pouākai were also shorthanded on the day (no Cassandra Brown) but were able to pick up the slack as Sharne Robati (12pts, 8rbs) nearly pulled a double double in her stead and all starters scored at lest 12 points. I would expect the Kāhu to find a way to get Penina Davidson more involved on the block and see if they can't free up Tahlia Tupaea to greater effect after she was limited to just 8 shots.
Matchup to Watch - Tahlia Tupaea v Mikhaela Cann - The pgs for their respective sides will have the most to say in this game with the player that is able to find freedom and orchestrate the offense likely to give their side a leg up in getting the win.
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai v ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens, Saturday 5pm, Taupo Events Centre
The Whai have had the look of a team that can score nearly at will behind the versatile Ashley Joens, the inside-out game of of Lara McSpadden and the firepower of Mckenna Dale. The trio has so far been enough to counter the effect of early season injuries, that have taken out two of their imports, as they've reached 84.8 points per game which has them sitting 2nd in the comp. But that scoring hasn't slowed down opponents who have averaged 85.5 to place the Whai equal last place in the league. Joens is coming off her least effective offensive performance and it is vital that the Whai scheme up better opportunities for her on the catch to counter the extensive attention she will receive for the remainder of the season. A fast start against the Queens will be key to securing a win as the loss last round came despite a furious comeback that fell just short. For the Queens they will look to continue their expanding familiarity with each other as they look to find a bit more balance on the offensive end. Jordan Horston's 33pt game was impressive, but it did come on 30 shots (14-30fgs), nearly double her closest teamate in Florencia Chagas (6-16fgs) and almost triple Lou Brown (4-11fgs). The Queens haven't ventured to deep into the bench this season and they don't really need to with the quality of their starters, but better balance and a bit more efficiency will need to be found for the team to reach it's peak.
Matchup to Watch - Lara McSpadden v Lou Brown - These two players look like the best rebounders in the comp and their possession battle on the glass will tip advantage to their squads as they currently sit 1st (McSpadden) and 2nd (Brown) in total rebounds and rebound average, with Brown 1st (14.7) and McSpadden 2nd (12.3). Both do great work on the D-boards but the player who wins the battle for second chance opportunities will give their squad a leg up.
Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai v Southern Hoiho, Sunday 3pm, Cowles Stadium Christchurch
The Pouākai are the lucky recipients of this rounds double header and will travel back from Auckland for a Southern Island derby. The last time these teams bet Mainland was able to overcome an explosive Hoiho 1st quarter that eventually built a 17 point deficit behind efficient scoring in the paint and just enough trey balls to dominate the final 3 periods en-route to a 13 point win. But since that game the Hoiho have found their first win behind a gritty defensive effort that was more judicious in deciding what they wanted to give up on the defensive end. This looks like a game where a teams strength will end up being the deciding factor, but which teams strength? Will it be the grindy defense of Samantha Bowman, Natalie Chou and Zoe Richards limiting driving lanes or the slice and dice offense of the Pouākai where Esra McGoldrick, Mckenzie Forbes and Mikhaela Cann penetrate defenses while Reinoehl and Robati do the dirty work up front.
Matchup to Watch -Mikhaela Cann v Paige Bradley - The pg's will be of the utmost importance in this matchup, both as floor generals to get the ball to the hot hand while manipulating defenses with the pass, and as scorers with Cann's penetration vying against the hot shooting Bradley.
All games live on Sky Sport
Rapid League Tips off 1 hour before Tauihi
