Round 3 delivered three convincing wins, with Tauranga Whai and Tokomanawa Queens both breaking through for their first victories of the season, while Northern Kāhu continued their unbeaten start and created a little history along the way. There were standout performances from some of the competition’s youngest players, a new Rapid League scoring milestone, and plenty of movement on the ladder. Mike Lacey takes you through all that and more in today’s Rapid Wrap.
In the Round 3 opener, Tauranga Whai conjured up their first win of the season as they beat Yellow I Glass Mainland Pouākai 35-25 in Christchurch.
After the scores were locked at nine points apiece at quarter-time, a couple of arching threes from Ruby Cutbush delighted the home crowd, although three points from Sophie Rogers in the shadows of half-time gave Whai a narrow 18-15 advantage.
The third quarter proved decisive, with the Whai outscoring the hosts 12-4, Rogers and Shamar Broughton contributing five points apiece.
Whai defence continued to thwart Pouākai, while Eva Langton, the game’s leading scorer, wrapped up victory with a triple and a layup.
Yellow I Glass Mainland Pouākai 25 – Sari Mowbray 8pts, Ruby Cutbush 7pts, Eva Jeffries 5pts
Tauranga Whai 35 – Eva Langton 10pts, Sophie Rogers 8pts, Shamar Broughton 7pts
Northern Kāhu made it four from four to begin the season as they swept Yellow I Glass Mainland Pouākai aside to record a decisive 42-21 win at Eventfinda Stadium.
Sari Mowbray scored six first-term points, but the Pouākai guard was upstaged by Sienna Maurice, who found nothing but net with a Hail Mary effort from just beyond the halfway line to give Kāhu a 17-10 half-time lead.
The hosts enjoyed a productive third quarter, with threes from Olivia Williams and Kayla Manuirirangi contributing to a 15-4 run.
Inside makes from Emilia Ainley and a couple of threes from Ruby Cutbush did little to interrupt Kāhu’s march to victory, with debutant Katie Moors adding the final points to go with a game-high nine rebounds.
Northern Kāhu 42 – Sienna Maurice 12pts, Olivia Williams 9pts, Kayla Manuirirangi 7pts, Katie Moors 2pts, 3stls & 9rebs
Yellow I Glass Mainland Pouākai 21 – Emilia Ainley 7pts, Sari Mowbray 6pts, Ruby Cutbush 6pts
After three consecutive games on the road, Southern Hoiho returned to the Edgar Centre in Dunedin, but the homecoming didn’t produce the desired result as Tokomanawa Queens triumphed 31-19.
The Queens were paced by an outstanding performance from Nahala Toeleiu. The 16-year-old tallied 13 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block to ensure they picked up their first win of the season.
After the Queens opened up an early double-digit lead, Millie Simpson and Zoe Richards combined for 10 points as Hoiho fought back to trail 15-13 at half-time.
Hoiho were unable to maintain that momentum as the Queens pulled away in the second half, with Alaska Rhebok, Aria Cowley and Toeleiu to the fore.
Southern Hoiho 19 – Millie Simpson 8pts, Zoe Richards 6pts & 7rebs
Tokomanawa Queens 31 – Nahala Toeleiu 13pts, 8rebs & 3stls, Alaska Rhebok 8pts & 4stls, Aria Cowley 4pts & 3asts
Azure Anderson opened the scoring against Pouākai and, in doing so, the Kāhu forward became the first player to score 200 Rapid League points.
A week after displaying strong form at the Secondary Schools National Championships, a number of players shone for their respective Rapid teams.
As reported above, Queen Margaret College guard Nahala Toeleiu was at her stat-stuffing best for the Queens with 13 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block.
Rangitoto College standout Sienna Maurice top-scored for Kāhu as they moved to 4-0, while St Andrew’s College championship winner Emilia Ainley did likewise for Pouākai.
In the same game, Westlake’s Katie Moors demonstrated why she is a former Defensive Player of the Tournament at Nationals as she added three steals to her strong debut performance for Kāhu.
In the opening game of the round, point guards Shamar Broughton (Mt Maunganui College) and Eva Jeffries (St Andrew’s College) went toe-to-toe, as they had in the Nationals Final, for Whai and Pouākai respectively.
| Position | Team | GP | W | L | %won | For | Agst | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Northern Kāhu | 4 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 156 | 89 | 175 |
| 2 |  |
Mainland Pouākai | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 111 | 122 | 90 |
| 3 |  |
Tokomanawa Queens | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33 | 80 | 83 | 96 |
| 4 |  |
Tauranga Whai | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33 | 85 | 97 | 87 |
| 5 |  |
Southern Hoiho | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 99 | 140 | 70 |
