The race to the Final 4 is on! A mixed bag of results last week has squeezed the ladder and all five teams remain firmly in the hunt for this year's Tauihi finals. Any slip up from here could prove costly, which makes every game a must win and appointment viewing. Let's take a look at the three big games awaiting us in R8 and what we should be looking for.
Thursday November 21 – Southern Hoiho vs BNZ Northern Kāhu
Edgar Centre – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 3 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA YouTube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
HOIHO: (PG) Paige Bradley, (SG) Ahlise Hurst, (SF) Natalie Chou, (PF) Zoe Richards, (C) Samantha Bowman.
KĀHU: (PG) Chloe Forster, (SG) Chevannah Paalvast, (SF) Tahlia Tupaea, (PF) Iimar'I Thomas, (C) Penina Davidson.
What To Look For: The Kāhu find themselves is rare air this week, but for all the wrong reasons. The 2023 champions have never lost 3 games in succession, but after losses to the Pouākai and Queens we now find Jody Cameron and her talented team searching for some answers. And though many would think a win against the Hoiho should be a mere formality, it is actually quite the opposite. The Hoiho were brilliant last week against the Queens and they look to have real belief in their system, and in each other. If the Hoiho can shoot as well as they did in the capital last Sunday, and if they can limit one of Thomas, Davidson or Tupaea, then this should be a ripping contest. Oh ... and the Kāhu will need to think very carefully on how they go about stopping Paige Bradley who has been on a tear.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
HOIHO: Millie Simpson, Tyler Mitchell, Caitlin O'Connell, Chelsea D'Angelo (FIBA Asia), Elise Gilbert, Aliyah Dunn, Abby Harris.
KĀHU: Azure Anderson, Krystal Leger-Walker, Lilly Rotunno (FIBA Asia), Steph Bairstow (FIBA Asia), Eliana Tuaiti, Mary Goulding.
What To Look For: Two teams going in different directions right now. Look for the Kāhu to jump to an early lead and get good minutes into the likes of Eliana Tuaiti, Mary Goulding and Azure Anderson. Hard to see the sliding Hoiho winning this one.
Saturday November 23 - The Northern Group Tauranga Whai vs BNZ Northern Kāhu
Cowles Stadium – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Tickets: HERE
Television: Live on Sky Sport 9 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Probable TAUIHI Starters
WHAI: (PG) Mikayla Cowling, (SG) Ashley Joens, (SF) McKenna Dale, (PF) Laina Snyder, (C) Lara McSpadden.
KĀHU: (PG) Chloe Forster, (SG) Chevannah Paalvast, (SF) Tahlia Tupaea, (PF) Iimar'I Thomas, (C) Penina Davidson.
What To Look For: The only team to win both games on a double this season is the Kāhu and depending on how they fare in Dunedin on Thursday night, this game in Tauranga could deliver the same outcome. If the Kāhu can win both games in R8, and when you consider their massive points percentage, they will almost certainly wrap up top spot on the ladder and book a home semi-final. What are we looking for in this game? It's all about the Whai! Last week in Christchurch, and at full strength for the first time this season, the Whai were incredibly underwhelming and arguably suffered their worst loss of the season. Now sitting at the bottom of the ladder, how the Whai respond here against a team they have never beaten is the key watch. Make no mistake, this Whai team should be a contender this season, but they need to show us exactly what they are capable of. There would be no better way than to start their finals assault than with a win over the Kāhu.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
WHAI: Jade Kirisome, Eva Langton, Pahlyss Hokianga, Sophie Rogers, Emma Rogers, Kaylee Smiler, Laura Kuka.
KĀHU: Azure Anderson, Krystal Leger-Walker, Lilly Rotunno (FIBA Asia), Steph Bairstow (FIBA Asia), Eliana Tuaiti, Mary Goulding.
What To Look For: Look for Pahlyss Hokianga to step it up and take it to Lilly Rotunno. The young Kiwi guard has been shuffled back in the pecking order with the return of Morgan Yaeger, so Rapid League now presents as a chance to remind the coach what she is capable of.
Sunday November 24 – ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens vs ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai
TSB Arena – Rapid 2:00pm / Tauihi 3:00pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 4 from 2:00pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
QUEENS: (PG) Florencia Chagas, (SG) Stella Beck, (SF) Jordan Horston, (PF) Lou Brown, (C) Tamari Key.
POUĀKAI: (PG) Mikhaela Cann, (SG) McKenzie Forbes, (SF) Haliegh Reinoehl, (PF) Esra McGoldrick, (C) Cassandra Brown.
What To Look For: The Queens dropped the perfect opportunity to be a game clear on top of the ladder when they lost to the Hoiho last week, so how they respond here will be fascinating. Last time against the Pouākai the Queens were coasting to victory before they literally imploded down the stretch and looked completely out of synch with each other. The Pouākai continue to turn heads, and they will be quietly confident here, but they will need to turn the screws defensively. Look for the Queens to come out snarling - question is, can they play a consistent 40 minutes?
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
QUEENS: Jihyun Park (FIBA Asia), Grace Hunter, Alana Paewai, Jacinta Beckley, Awatea Leach, Lauryn Hippolite, Tiarna Clarke, Keriana Hippolite.
HALSWELL TIMBER POUĀKAI: Tessa Morrison, Tara Manumaleuga, Abby Cubillo (FIBA Asia), Sharne Robati, Lauren Tewhata, Vitolia Tuilave, Maddy Timms.
What To Look For: After losing their first six games the Queens have won their last two, both against the Hoiho. Last week the Queens landed a competition record 9 triples. If they shoot like that again then chances are a third straight win might be on the cards.
