The Northern Group Tauranga Whai return to the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre looking to build on an impressive opening-round win when they host a Southern Hoiho side searching for their first victory of the 2026 G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season.
Whai opened their title defence with a brilliant win over BNZ Northern Kāhu, powered by a leading performance from Emme Shearer. The Tall Fern poured in buckets from deep while finding teammates with the pass and dominating defensivel while Carla Pitman stuffed the stat sheet off the bench as Whai produced the best defensive performance of the opening round.
Elsewhere, Hoiho were competitive in Christchurch but eventually fell to the ProcureX Mainland Pouākai. Lil Dart, Paige Bradley and Rebecca Pizzey all had major impacts, and Hoiho forced plenty of turnovers, but they were unable to overcome the combined efforts from Pouākai duo McKenna Dale and Mikayla Vaughn.
The Whai look to stay unbeaten on their home court while the Hoiho are looking for their first win of 2026 to tip off their first double header of the season.
When: Friday 2 October
Where: Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Tauranga
Rapid League: 6:30pm
Tauihi: 7:30pm
Watch Live: Sky Sport 3 and ThreeNow free-to-air in New Zealand, ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube everywhere else internationally
Commentary: Nathan Limm and Jaycin Tini
Box Score Here
Buy Tickets Here
Whai will retain the same starting five from their opening game, with Emme Shearer, Laina Snyder, Ashlee Strawbridge, Nicolette Gilday and Patricia Brossmann all available.
Eva Langton, Carla Pitman, Carly Ohia, Sophie Rogers and Emilee Tahata are available from the bench and for the Rapid League group, with Maya Taingahue also active while Shamar and Charis Broughton are on the wider roster. Keija Miringaorangi, Riley McClenaghan and Isabella Gillard remain unavailable due to national team duties.
Hoiho have also retained their starting group of Paige Bradley, Bec Pizzey, Julie Wojta, Marie Bertholdt and Lil Dart.
Their Rapid group includes Zoe Richards, Tia Pavihi, Alexa Duff, Millie Simpson, Abby Harris and Aria Brown. Samara Gallaher is questionable with a calf injury, while Kiana Brown is unavailable due to U18 national team commitments.
Defending champion Whai swept last season’s series over the semi-finalist Hoiho 3-0, but the three contests were closer than the final series record would suggest.
The first meeting came in Tauranga, where the home side pulled awayin the second quarter and held the visitors at arms length for a 15-point victory. Hannah Hank led the home side with 23 points, while Laina Snyder controlled the glass with 13 rebounds and Emme Shearer had 22 at 70% from the floor.. For the Hoiho, Import Taylah Simmons did the scoring, with 23 points, while Paige Bradley chipped in with 12.
The second game was a different story.
Hoiho pushed the eventual champions to the final possession in Dunedin, but Emme Shearer produced 26 points, including the clinching bucket at the buzzer, to help Whai escape with an 83-81 road victory. Lil Dart gave 18 points off the bench, as well as the game tying triple just prior to Shearers game winner, as Bradley flirted with a double-double (11pts, 8rbs).
It was one of the closest finishes of the season series and showed Hoiho were capable of matching Whai when they could generate enough offence around their core.
The final meeting returned to Tauranga, where Whai completed the sweep with a 93-84 victory.
Hannah Hank was again a force on the interior, finishing with 23 points and 17 rebounds as Shearer was close behind with 21 points of her own. Dart (16p pts) Jesse Edwards (18pts, 8rbs) and Taylah Simmons (15pts) also contributed, but the Whai collective held them off to sweep the season series.
The key personnel have changed significantly for both teams in 2026, but Shearer and Snyder remain central figures for Whai, while Dart, Bradley and Pizzey continue to lead the Hoiho attack.
Whai’s opening game was defined by runs, but every time the visiting Kāhu threatened to close the gap, Tauranga responded.
Shearer set the tone with her perimeter shooting and then took over late. She finished with 25 points, six assists, two steals and two blocks, shooting 69 percent from the floor and 5-from-8 from beyond the arc.
Pitman was equally important off the bench, contributing 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists, including a perfect 8-from-8 at the free-throw line. Snyder added eight rebounds and four assists despite a quieter scoring night, while Brossmann finished with six rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
The most impressive stat may have been at the defensive end. Whai held Kāhu to 32 percent shooting and just 60 points, the best defensive mark of the opening round.
Leading Players
Whai: Emme Shearer 25 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks; Carla Pitman 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists; Nicolette Gilday 12 points
Kāhu: Erin Bollmann 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks; Talya Brugler 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists; Tayla Dalton 9 points, 4 assists
The Hoiho opener looked in danger of getting away from them when they fell behind by 11 early, but their defence brought them back into the contest.
Bradley and Dart were especially disruptive, helping the Southerners force 24 Pouākai turnovers, and the visitors eventually reduced the deficit to a single point.
Pouākai responded through Dale and Vaughn, who combined for 60 points and were ultimately too much to contain as the Pouākai took the win as they played their first game at Parakiore.
Still, there was plenty to like in the Hoiho performance.
Lil Dart finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals, while Paige Bradley recorded 13 points, 13 assists and and astonishing seven steals. Pizzey added 14 points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Marie Bertholdt also made a productive Tauihi debut with 16 points on 6-from-11 shooting.
Leading Players:
Pouākai: Maddy Timms (8p, 7r, 1a, 2s, 1b), Ava Jones (8p, 3r), Sari Mowbray (8p, 1r)
Hoiho: Alex Duff (12p, 2r, 1s, 1b), Kiana Brown (4p, 1r, 1a), Abby Harris (3p, 1r, 1s)
What to Expect
The visiting Hoiho forced 24 turnovers against Pouākai and sit at the top end of several individual defensive categories after the first round of games.
Bradley recorded an impressive seven steals in Round 1, Dart had four, while Pizzey and Bertholdt each added three.
That pressure could become particularly interesting against a Whai team that won by 21 points despite committing 22 turnovers in their season opener.
Tauranga’s offence was extremely efficient when it did get shots up. Whai shot 52 percent from the field and 48 percent from three, both league-leading marks in the opening round.
Hoiho will need to prevent Whai from comfortably getting into their half-court actions but they will need to be wary of their hosts ability to run as well, and their ability to force turnovers will be key in both areas.
The opening-round performance showed why the defending champs are going to be difficult to scheme against.
Shearer was the headline act, but Pitman gave them 17 off the bench, Gilday added 12 and Snyder impacted the game without needing to dominate possesion.
Shearer had the third highest total of the first round of action with 25, while Pitman was close behind with 17 of her own.
But they also showed they have multiple defensive playmakers. Brossmann recorded four steals, Snyder had three, while Shearer, Snyder and Brossmann each blocked two shots.
That versatility will keep the Hoiho busy on both ends of the court.
Dart, Bradley and Pizzey accounted for much of Hoiho’s best work in Christchurch.
Dart contributed all over the stat sheet, Bradley was dominant defensively and close to a triple double with her 7 steals, and Pizzey chipped in all over the stat sheet despite coming up short.
Bradley’s ability to organise the offence is particularly important.
Her 13 assists lead Tauihi, while both Dart and Pizzey sit on six apiece.
Hoiho had plenty of offence in Round 1, but even with the defensive pressure they couldn't slow down the Pouākai enough to keep pace in the end.
Against the league’s most efficient shooting team that challenge does not look to get any easier.
Two of the competition’s most dangerous perimeter scorers arrive after an outstanding opening round
Shearer’s 25 points was one shy of her career best and came on 69 percent shooting, including five made threes, making her a driving force behind Whai’s victory. Dart answered with a stat stuffing 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals in defeat.
Both can score off the catch or create their own shot, but also capable of influencing the game as facilitators.
If either gets comfortable early, the defensive attention they attract may not be enough to slow them down. And if we're lucky we could get a replay of their impressive late game heroics a season ago.
The interior battle is going to be key.
Snyder had eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in Round 1, while Brossmann added six boards, four steals and two blocks.
Pizzey was efficient in Christchurch, scoring 14 points on 6-from-10 shooting while also handing out six assists and blocking two shots. Bertholdt added 16 points and three steals in her Tauihi debut, setting up an intriguing interior matchup of contrasting styles.
Whai will want to impose themselves with physicality, but the ability of the Hoiho to stretch the floor through their frontcourt could pull bigger defenders away from the basket.
Gilday’s first Tauihi appearance produced 12 points on 5-from-9 shooting, including 2-from-4 from deep in a game that turned free flowing when the teams took the court for the second half.
Bradley’s opening game was remarkable. Her 13 assists were one shy of her career high and was the 10th occasion (in 40 games) she has dished double figure assists in a game. That facilitation was driven by her defensive disruption, and that two way play will be equally important this time around.
| Category | Whai | Hoiho |
|---|---|---|
| Points | Emme Shearer, 25.0 | Lil Dart, 22.0 |
| Rebounds | Laina Snyder, 8.0 | Lil Dart, 7.0 |
| Assists | Emme Shearer, 6.0 | Paige Bradley, 13.0 |
| Steals | Patricia Brossmann, 4.0 | Paige Bradley, 7.0 |
| Blocks | Shearer/Snyder/Brossmann, 2.0 | Bec Pizzey, 2.0 |
| 3PM | Emme Shearer, 5 | Lil Dart, 2 |
Whai’s leaders are drawn from their opening victory over Kāhu. Hoiho’s opening-round numbers were led by Dart, Bradley and Pizzey across the major categories.
With only one game played by each team, the sample is small, but there are already some significant contrasts.
| Category | Whai | Hoiho |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Points per game | 81.0, 2nd | 80.0, 3rd |
| Points allowed | 60.0, 1st | 87.0, 5th |
| Scoring margin | +21.0, 1st | -7.0, 4th |
| FG% | 52%, 1st | 44%, 3rd |
| Defensive FG% | 32%, 2nd | 47%, 5th |
| 3P% | 48%, 1st | 23%, 4th |
| FT% | 81%, 1st | 63%, 4th |
Whai opening-round numbers were prodigious at both ends, particularly their 52 percent shooting and 32 percent defensive field-goal percentage. Hoiho scored 80 despite shooting just six made threes and will be looking for to match their efforts in the passing lanes defensively, a league high 18 steals, in keeping the opponents from putting the ball in the basket after conceding the most points in the opening round.
Both teams are looking for their first Rapid League victory.
Whai opened with a 38-18 loss to Kāhu, while Hoiho fell 36-23 to Pouākai. Through one game, Whai sit fifth in scoring at 18.0 points per game and Hoiho fourth at 23.0. Defensively, Hoiho are allowing 36.0 points and Whai 38.0.
Shamar Broughton led Whai in Round 1 with six points and five rebounds, while Hoiho’s Alexa Duff was one of the standout Rapid performers of the opening round with 12 points, second among all players in scoring.
Hoiho were badly beaten on the glass against Pouākai, losing the rebounding count 27-13, and that will be an immediate area to improve.
There are also roster changes to watch. Kiana Brown, who scored four points in Round 1, is unavailable due to U18 national team commitments, while Sammy Gallaher is questionable with a calf injury.
Whai have Pitman listed in their Rapid group along with Langton, Ohia, Rogers, Tahata and Taingahue, while the Broughton twins will be suited up as well.
Whai could hardly have asked for a better start.
They shot the ball efficiently, defended at a high level and received significant production beyond their starting five. Shearer was outstanding, but the most encouraging aspect for Tane Bennett may have been how many different players influenced the game.
The opening loss for the Hoiho was more encouraging than the final margin suggests.
They forced turnovers, created good offence through Bradley and received strong production from Dart, Pizzey and Bertholdt. Their challenge is translating those disruptive defensive possessions into enough stops in the half court.
Last season Whai swept this matchup 3-0, but the closet game was in Dunedin.
Will the Whai stay defend their home court again to stay undefeated as they chase a three-peat? Or will the Hoiho turn the tables on last year's results and start off their double header on the front foot?
