With an emphatic 87-60 victory Tokomanawa Queens consigned Southern Hoiho to a fourth consecutive GJ Gardiner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa loss at TSB Bank Arena in Wellington on Sunday afternoon.
Tokomanawa enjoyed major contributions from Tall Fern Stella Beck (17 points on 7 from 10 shooting) plus the import trio of Jaimie Nared (19 points), Elin Gustavsson (15 points and 12 rebounds) and Florencia Chagas (14 points).
Hoiho’s leading scorer Laina Snyder demonstrated her class with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Shelby Cheslek was also prominent with 11 points and 7 rebounds but Southern’s lack of scoring threats was underlined again in this one – Tori Dugan next best with 8 points.
Despite Beck making an uncontested layup to open the scoring Samara Gallaher ensured Hoiho would, as in the previous three games, make a solid start.
Eight points apiece midway through the first, Beck and Grace Hunter broke the deadlock with consecutive threes before Gallaher reduced the deficit, then levelled the scores at 17 points each.
Nared, back in the Queens line-up after missing the previous game with a back injury, opened the second quarter scoring however consecutive buckets from former Gonzaga University centre Cheslek gave Hoiho the lead (23-19).
Queens then enjoyed a 13-3 run as Argentinian guard Chagas nailed consecutive deep threes.
Snyder made a much needed response but with former WNBA player Nared beginning to dominate the Queens advantage hit double figures for a 42-32 half-time lead.
Beck, having missed the bulk of the first half due to foul trouble, scored with her first touch after the break - Gustavsson knocked down a jumper - the Queens lead suddenly up to 17 points.
Former Junior Tall Fern Paris Mason (5 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals) was a spark off the bench for Queens, her transition basket a reward for fine defensive work earlier in the play.
Hoiho’s scoring issues were evident in the third – just 9 points made in the period meaning the hosts had a massive 64-41 lead at the three-quarter mark.
Dugan, the Canadian College player of the year in 2022, dropped 5 points early in the final period before Mason landed a deep three to keep the Queens lead hovering around the 20-point mark.
Snyder and Dugan kept the score ticking over for Southern but there were plenty on offer at the other end – Tall Ferns Beck and Beckley taking advantage as Tokomanawa improved to 2-1 for the season.
SCORE: Tokomanawa Queens 87, Southern Hoiho 60
Queens: Nared 19 PTS | Beck 17 PTS | Gustavsson 15 PTS & 12 REBS | Chagas 14 PTS & 6 ASSISTS | Beckley 9 PTS
Hoiho: Snyder 19 PTS & 10 REBS | Cheslek 11 PTS | Dugan 8 PTS
Full box score HERE.
Stuff MVP Votes
Jaime Nared (Queens) - 10 votes
Laina Snyder (Hoiho) - 7 votes
Elin Gustavsson (Queens) - 6 votes
Stella Beck (Queens) - 5 votes
Shelby Cheslek (Hoiho) - 1 vote
Samara Gallaher (Hoiho) - 1 vote
Upcoming Opponents
Southern Hoiho – July 15 @ Northern Kāhu
Tokomanawa Queens – July 12 @ Mainland Pouākai
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Round 2 Tauihi Schedule
