R6 of the 2024 G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi and Sky Broadband Rapid League is upon us as we officially enter the second half of the regular season. With the Kāhu flying high on top of the ladder, all eyes are on the battle below them and right now no other team is playing consistently. It makes for some thrillers this week.
Thursday November 7 – The Northern Group Tauranga Whai vs ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai
QEYC – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 3 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
WHAI: (PG) Mikayla Cowling, (SG) Ashley Joens, (SF) McKenna Dale, (PF) Laina Snyder, (C) Lara McSpadden.
POUĀKAI: (PG) Mikhaela Cann, (SG) McKenzie Forbes, (SF) Haliegh Reinoehl, (PF) Esra McGoldrick, (C) Cassandra Brown.
What To Look For: The Whai instantly looked a better team last game against the Hoiho with McKenna Dale slotted into the starting line-up, making for a very athletic and classy starting five. The Pouākai are also coming off a great win, memorable in so many ways after coming back from 19 points down with 12 minutes to play against the Queens. The confidence the Pouākai bring into this round will be needed as they face a big task against the Whai, and then the Kāhu. In this first game, look for Cassandra Brown and Lara McSpadden to lock horns in what promises to be a key battle, while Mikhaela Cann and McKenzie Forbes will need to lock-in defensively against Mikayla Cowling and Ashley Joens.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
WHAI: Jade Kirisome, Eva Langton, Pahlyss Hokianga, Sophie Rogers, Emma Rogers, Kaylee Smiler, Laura Kuka.
HASWELL TIMBER POUĀKAI: Tessa Morrison, Tara Manumaleuga, Abby Cubillo (FIBA Asia), Sharne Robati, Lauren Tewhata, Vitolia Tuilave, Maddy Timms.
What To Look For: These two teams love the three-ball, so look for lots of shots from the land of plenty. Put simply, the team landing the long bombs is likely to win the game.
Saturday November 9 - BNZ Northern Kāhu vs ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai
Eventfinda Stadium – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Tickets: HERE
Television: Live on Sky Sport 2 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Probable TAUIHI Starters
KĀHU: (PG) Chloe Forster, (SG) Chevannah Paalvast, (SF) Tahlia Tupaea, (PF) Iimar'I Thomas, (C) Penina Davidson.
POUĀKAI: (PG) Mikhaela Cann, (SG) McKenzie Forbes, (SF) Haliegh Reinoehl, (PF) Esra McGoldrick, (C) Cassandra Brown.
What To Look For: Last time these teams met on this court the Kāhu blew the Pouākai away, yet it came just six days after the Pouākai defeated the Kāhu, so attempting to guess the result might be futile. What we do know is that the Kāhu obliterated the Whai last week (by 33 points) and the Pouākai took down the Queens in an amazing comeback. Let's also not forget that the Pouākai remain the only team to beat the Kāhu this season. What are we looking for this time? We simply cannot go past Tahlia Tupaea and McKenzie Forbes matching up on each other again - there simply is no love lost between them, and we should expect fireworks.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
KĀHU: Azure Anderson, Krystal Leger-Walker, Lilly Rotunno (FIBA Asia), Steph Bairstow (FIBA Asia), Tannika Leger-Walker, Bailey Flavell,
HASWELL TIMBER POUĀKAI: Tessa Morrison, Tara Manumaleuga, Abby Cubillo (FIBA Asia), Sharne Robati, Lauren Tewhata, Vitolia Tuilave, Maddy Timms.
What To Look For: Watch for the relentless pressure applied by the Kāhu. Between Lilly Rotunno, Krystal Leger-Walker and Azure Anderson there is literally no respite and if the southerners cannot take care of possession against the incoming pressure, then this will end in a win for the Kāhu.
Sunday November 10 – Southern Hoiho vs ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
Edgar Centre – Rapid 2:00pm / Tauihi 3:00pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 2 from 2:00pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
HOIHO: (PG) Paige Bradley, (SG) Chelsea D'Angelo, (SF) Natalie Chou, (PF) Zoe Richards, (C) Samantha Bowman.
QUEENS: (PG) Florencia Chagas, (SG) Stella Beck, (SF) Jihyun Park, (PF) Jordan Horston, (C) Lou Brown.
What To Look For: All eyes on the Queens here and how they respond to what was a very poor last quarter performance last week against the Pouākai. The Queens became very individual down the stretch and lost structure, something they would have discussed during the week - expect a fierce performance against the Hoiho as they look to make a statement and shift some unwanted attanetion elsewhere. The Hoiho have blown hot and cold all season, and Ahlise Hurst has been in the thick of that inconsistency - this looms as a big game for her to get back on track. Look for the cash between Paige Bradley and Florencia Chagas after hey missed each other back in the opening game of the season when Chagas was struck down with illness. Both point guards are relentless and won't give an inch, so grab your popcorn!
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
HOIHO: Millie Simpson, Tyler Mitchell, Samara Gallaher, Ahlise Hurst (FIBA Asia), Elise Gilbert, Aliyah Dunn, Abby Harris.
QUEENS: Grace Hunter, Alana Paewai, Jacinta Beckley, Awatea Leach, Lauryn Hippolite, Tiarna Clarke, Keriana Hippolite.
What To Look For: Will this be another game where the Queens start well and jump out to a first half lead, to only then go to sleep in the second half and be overrun? Over to you Queens - can you finally hold a lead and win your first game of the Rapid season?
