photo credit: Katrina Parish
The Week That Was
The rematch of champions was the first game of the round and one that offered promises of clash of styles between the top offense (Queens) and top defense (Kāhu) but it was visitors who would put up a stifling defensive performance. That didn't seem to be where the game was heading after the Northerners fired in the first quarter as Tahlia Tupaea and Penina Davidson came out aggressively in a back and forth affair where the Queens responded to go up by 3, 19-16. But then Tupaea would score 9 of the next 11 as the Queens offense dried up to end the first down 27-19. 9 straight by the Queens to open the second pulled them back in the game as they went into the half up 1 despite 22 halftime points for Tahlia Tupaea. The game would change in the third as the Queens collective locked down the Kāhu offense for 8 minutes and four seconds of scoreless basketball to grab a 15 point lead they would never relinquish. Tokomanawa rebounding key to stringing together consecutive stops with Jordan Horston leading the way with 13 defensive rebounds to go with 28 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. The big 3 of Tupaea(27pts), Davidson (16pts, 11rbs) and IImar'I Thomas (13pts, 8rbs) carrying the load offensively in the loss for a Kāhu team that may need a bit of reset despite remaining on top of the ladder.
Next the Pouākai were set to host their bogey team as Ashley Joens and the Whai came to town looking to build some momentum by beating the Mainlanders for the 3rd time this year and second week in a row. But the home team had different ideas as they were able to clamp down a Whai offense that had previously had their number by holding them to 36% from the field, a 6% drop from their previous best effort against their opponent. That inefficiency fueld by Esra McGoldrick (13pts, 9rbs) who swatted a league equaling record 7 shots out of the sky and a tighter perimeter D that held the leagues most prolific 3-point shooting team (10.22 per game) to 7 makes on 38 attempts for 18% shooting. The Pouākai now claiming a victory off every team in the league with a collective offensive effort where 7 players hit double figures (McKenzie Forbes scored 9), no player took more than 12 shots and of those just 2 shot less than 50% for a team now tied in total wins (5 with the Queens and Kāhu) on top of the table.
The dreaded away/home double had come calling for the Queens but they would have been motivated and confident looking at a chance to claim outright possession of first place with a home victory against a Hoiho team that they had just beaten shorthanded a round ago. But the Hoiho had ideas of their own as they entered the game desperate to pull out a win against a team they had performed solidly against despite the two losses they had tallied. But it still took a superlative performance from Paige Bradley (who tallied 28pts, 5rbs, 10ast, 5stls) and a resurgent one from Ahlise Hurst, who found her storke to score 18 while hitting 4-8 from deep. Hoiho would go up 6 points early in the 4th before 7 straight Florencia Chagas points would re-establish the home team in the lead. Zoe Richards, Samantha Bowman and Nat Chou relatively unsung heroes with their contributions to a gritty defensive effort that joined clutch shooting from the stripe would allow Bowman to grab two points off a putback take a road lead in the final minute of the game that the Hoiho would hold till the final buzzer.
Worth Mentioning
Jordan Horston (24.67) and Ashley Joens (24.22) Battle for the Scoring Title - With just 3 rounds remaining these two look set to face off for the scoring title with just .45 points per game separating them. Last year's champ IImar'I Thomas has a chance but at 21.50ppg has over 4 points per game to make up in a short amount of time. Joens and Horston will square off against each other on the 30th of November in a matchup that may decide who takes home the scoring title for T3.
Horston's Individual Brilliance - You can't sing the praises enough of Horston who in addition to topping the scoring charts is 2nd in rebounding (10.33), 3rd in assists (5.33), 1st in blocks (1.83) while being first in minutes per game (37.27 minutes played per game). The hype on Horston coming out was immense but looking at the impact perhaps she wasn't hyped enough!!
McGoldrick's Season - 7 blocks on the Whai highlighted the performance of Esra McGoldrick, but it's not a 1 game impact. She's hit averages of 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals which is a lift in every single category on previous career highs while also lifting her overall efficiency to shoot 48% (44% career) with a 1.1 assist to turnover ratio (.7 career). As she has found her form so too has a Pouākai squad that is finding confidence as it looks to claim a home date in the Final Four.
Round 8
Southern Hoiho v BNZ Northern Kāhu, Edgar Centre, Thursday 7:30pm
The Hoiho look to topple another table topper as they welcome a suddenly unsteady Kāhu squad down South and will be confident despite going down by 9 in their only meeting way back in R1. With the 3rd (IImar'I Thomas 21.5ppg) and 4th (Tahlia Tupaea 20.13ppg) leading scorers in the league a big test for the home team will be trying to slow donw the scoring prowess of the Kāhu which won't come easy for the Hoiho who currently allow 83.11ppg. This is a match up of the top two teams in the steal game They may be able to make some inroads in the possession game on the glass, but it will take a lifted effort to make up for their current -4.13 average rebound margin. My big question that needs answering if if Zoe Richards and Samantha Bowman can limit the effectiveness of Thomas and Penina Davidson on the interior, if so a home upset is on the cards.
Matchup to Watch: Natalie Chou v Tahlia Tupaea - Chou won't be the only player tasked with slowing down Tupaea but she may be the most suited to it. If the Hoiho can find a combination of Chou and other players to slow down the main perimeter threat for the Kāhu they will have set a foundation for a victory.
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai v BNZ Northern Kāhu, Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre Saturday, 7:30pm
With a 3-6 record the Whai now sit on their lonesome in last and will need a strong finish to lift into the Final Four. They have yet to find a flowing playstyle that allows for a talented starting 5 to all eat at the dinner table at the same time, often taking more of a turn based philosophy. Mikayla Cowling has been the defacto point guard since her return but with Morgan Yaeger returning last round they have a deeper bench than they've had all season long. But no matter who the pg is the Whai will 'Fire it Up' from deep as no team comes close to their volume when shooting the 3 (310 3pfg compared to the next highest are the Pouākai at 231) but the efficiency will likely take a hit against a Kāhu team that only give up 27% from 3 which is the best defense of the line in the league. The Kāhu will have a tough trip as the recipient of the rounds double header but they can't allow fatigue to be a factor over the round if they want to lock down postseason home court advantage.
Matchup to Watch - Ashley Joens v Chloe Forster - Joens is a high volume scorer who never takes her foot off the petrol on the offensive end but Forster has the engine to match her energy defensively and the determination and strength to keep Joens from having her way.
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens v Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai, TSB Arena Sunday 3pm
The Queens were on the cusp of taking possession of the top spot on the ladder before a southern visitor came and pulled out a win. The Pouākai will be confident of grabbing a similar result especially considering the 6 point victory they pulled out the last time these teams met. That win came on the back of strong defensive 4th quarter that fueled a 33-14 scoreline to seal the win. Jordan Horston was just 1 assist shy of a triple double in that match and she is sure to be a handful yet again but she is far from the only concern of the Pouākai but the squad has show a resiliency and depth of talent in recent weeks that will be up to the challenge. Mikhaela Cann will be leading transition opportunities and McKenzie Forbes from behind the arc will keep the scoreboard ticking and Cassandra Brown has proven herself to be an offensive engine in the halfcourt. The winner of this game will have the inside track on a top 2 spot and, depending on what happens on the Kāhu double header, possibly pole position for the top spot.
Matchup to Watch - Haliegh Reinoehl v Lou Brown - This game will end up being about the possession game down the stretch and this matchup is all about controlling the glass and creating (or limiting) second chance opportunities. Brown's 12.25 rebounds leads the league and Reinoehl sits in the top ten with 7.89 per game.
All games live on Sky Sport
Rapid League tips off 1 hour before Tauihi tip off
