It is officially the business end of the season - two rounds remain ahead of the Final 4 and every team remains in contention, but for some teams time is running out. All eyes in R9 are on the Southern Hoiho - they are on the double and must get at least one win, preferably two, but it will be a tough task as they go into battle against the competition's top wo teams. Injuries are also a talking point with both the Hoiho and Queens likely to be impacted. Let's delve a bit deeper in what to look for in R9 of G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi and Sky Broadband Rapid League.
Thursday November 28 – ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai vs Southern Hoiho vs BNZ Northern Kāhu
Cowles Stadium – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 2 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA YouTube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
POUĀKAI: (PG) Mikhaela Cann, (SG) McKenzie Forbes, (SF) Haliegh Reinoehl, (PF) Esra McGoldrick, (C) Cassandra Brown.
HOIHO: (PG) Paige Bradley, (SG) Ahlise Hurst, (SF) Natalie Chou, (PF) Samantha Bowman, (C) Aliyah Dunn.
What To Look For: The season is on the line for the Hoiho and they face additional pressure with Zoe Richards ruled out due to whiplash suffered in last week's game. Samantha Bowman (shin) is also under an injury cloud. The Hoiho face a tough weekend, but their total focus will be on this first-up clash with the competition's most in-form team. The Pouākai have been getting better with every game, and with a home final in sight they will prove tough to beat here. Look for McKenzie Forbes, who is coming off a stunning 39-point game and nine triples against the Queens - if the WNBA-drafted guard can maintain that form then the Hoiho are in for a very tough night at the office.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
HALSWELL TIMBER POUĀKAI: Tessa Morrison, Tara Manumaleuga, Abby Cubillo (FIBA Asia), Sharne Robati, Lauren Tewhata, Vitolia Tuilave, Ashlee Strawbridge.
HOIHO: Millie Simpson, Tyler Mitchell, Caitlin O'Connell, Chelsea D'Angelo (FIBA Asia), Elise Gilbert, Elise Carline, Abby Harris.
What To Look For: The Hoiho have dropped away and will need to quickly rediscover some form if they hope to win this. However, the Pouākai are also in need of a boost after losing to the Queens in their last game. Look for Tara Manumaleuga - the Kiwi guard has been getting better and looking more comfortable with every game, and she looms as a key player for the home team and a tough match-up for the Hoiho.
Saturday November 30 - ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens vs The Northern Group Tauranga Whai
Fly Palmy Arena – Rapid 6:30pm / Tauihi 7:30pm
Tickets: HERE
Television: Live on Sky Sport 4 from 6:30pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Probable TAUIHI Starters
QUEENS: (PG) Florencia Chagas, (SG) Stella Beck, (SF) Jordan Horston, (PF) Lou Brown, (C) Tamari Key.
WHAI: (PG) Mikayla Cowling, (SG) Ashley Joens, (SF) McKenna Dale, (PF) Laina Snyder, (C) Lara McSpadden.
What To Look For: The Queens need to find some form after two straight losses at home and how their starting line-up looks could play a big part - will Florencia Chagas or Jihyun Park start? Or will the Queens elect to bring Tamari Key off the bench and start both Chagas and Park, which has probably proven to be their best line-up this season. And then there's the ankle injury suffered by Jordan Horston last week - the team is yet to be announced at the time of writing this, so don't be surprised if Horston misses the game. The Whai are firing, the Queens are faltering. All eyes here will be on the Whai's guards, namely Ashley Joens and McKenna Dale. The Queens struggle to hold opposition guards, so look for Joens and Dale to play key roles for the Whai.
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups
QUEENS: Jihyun Park (FIBA Asia), Grace Hunter, Alana Paewai, Jacinta Beckley, Lauryn Hippolite, Tiarna Clarke, Keriana Hippolite.
WHAI: Jade Kirisome, Eva Langton, Pahlyss Hokianga, Sophie Rogers, Emma Rogers, Kaylee Smiler, Laura Kuka.
What To Look For: Look for the young guns - Emma Rogers and Keriana Hippolite are the two most exciting young players in Rapid League right now and we get to see them go up against each other here. The future is bright!
Sunday December 1 – Southern Hoiho vs BNZ Northern Kāhu
Edgar Centre – Rapid 2:00pm / Tauihi 3:00pm
Television: Live on Sky Sport 1 from 2:00pm (NZT), ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally).
Tickets: HERE
Probable TAUIHI Starters
HOIHO: (PG) Paige Bradley, (SG) Ahlise Hurst, (SF) Natalie Chou, (PF) Samantha Bowman, (C) Aliyah Dunn.
KĀHU: (PG) Chloe Forster, (SG) Chevannah Paalvast, (SF) Tahlia Tupaea, (PF) Iimar'I Thomas, (C) Penina Davidson.
What To Look For: Depending on the outcome of Friday night's game in Christchurch, this clash on Sunday in Dunedin could be a thriller or it could be a similar one-sided contest like last week when these same two teams were separated by 21 points - in favour of the Kāhu. The Hoiho will likely be missing Zoe Richards, which is a big blow going up against Iimar'I Thomas and Penina Davidson. Look for the match-up again between Chloe Forster and Paige Bradley, with the former winning last week's battle.
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: It's a clash between the top and bottom teams, so chalk up a win to the Kāhu. Look for Mary Goulding to continue her rising form, while Krystal Leger-Walker has been enjoying some good long-range shooting of late and will hopefully be letting it fly here.
