Whai Claim Back to Back Titles
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai are back-to-back G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa champions after a runaway 93-66 Grand Final win against Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai in Christchurch.
At half-time, the Whai led by just a single point (32-31), but after the break they put together a dominant display, outscoring the Pouākai 61-35 to sew up a second consecutive title.
The Whai were paced by Mikayla Cowling, who poured in a game-high 28 points (4/8 3PT) to go with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, deservingly earning the Grand Final MVP Award. The Whai skipper received outstanding support from Laina Snyder, who pulled down a Grand Final record 20 rebounds to accompany 14 points, 6 assists and 3 steals.
Emme Shearer, the leading New Zealand scorer in Tauihi ’25, tallied 16 points. Jess McDowell-White had a double-double of 10 points and 12 assists, and Hannah Hank pulled down 13 rebounds to go with 8 points. There were also valuable contributions off the bench from Tayla Dalton (7 points) and Jade Kirisome (6 points).
Taylor Mikesell top-scored for the Pouākai with 13 points, McKenna Dale scored a dozen, Morgan Yaeger had 11 and Bree Hall added 10. Marena Whittle totalled 8 points and 12 rebounds, but the league’s leading scorer struggled to get her offensive game going, finishing 2-for-19 from the field.
Collectively, the Pouākai shot just 30% (23/76) from the floor, which paled against the Whai’s 36-for-75 at 48%. The Whai also enjoyed superiority on the boards with a 52-43 advantage.
Playing their final game at Cowles Stadium, Mainland Pouākai fell behind early to a couple of Cowling triples.
Teenage guard Emma Rogers knocked down her first shot, but a brace of Locandro baskets inside gave the Whai a 13-8 lead.
A Rogers and-one play was countered by Cowling, who took her personal tally into double figures and helped her team to a 19-13 quarter-time lead.
Back-to-back makes from Bree Hall tied proceedings three minutes into the second period, only for Hank to restore the Whai advantage. That was short-lived as Whittle and Dale made their first scoring contributions. But it was Tayla Dalton with the final say ahead of the interval, her corner three pushing the Whai ahead 32-31 after a tight first half.
The lead changed hands on multiple occasions early in the third before Shearer produced eight points to push the Whai ahead 49-41.
The Whai then unleashed a 13-3 run and, although Dale scored seven straight points for the hosts, it was the Whai in control at three-quarter time with a 62-49 lead.
The Pouākai fans were hushed at the start of the final frame as the Whai effectively sealed the win with another 12-2 run, pushing their advantage to 23 points.
The Pouākai fought until the end, but the Whai had little trouble closing out a memorable win and a second consecutive title.
For the Whai, it is a second Tauihi title in as many years, while the Pouākai are left waiting for a first championship. Whai players Sophie Rogers, Laura Kaka, Jade Kirisome, Laina Snyder and Mikayla Cowling take home a winner’s medal for the second time, while Tane Bennett tastes success in his first year as head coach after stepping up from the assistant role in previous campaigns.
Result:
Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai 66 — Mikesell 13pts, Dale 12pts, Yaeger 11pts, Hall 10pts, Whittle 8pts, 12rebs & 5asts, Whittaker 6pts, 5rebs & 5asts
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai 93 — Cowling 28pts, Shearer 16pts, Snyder 14pts & 20rebs, McDowell-White 10pts & 12asts, Hank 8pts & 13rebs
