Yesterday: Buzzer beater and Rapid response in Dunedin
Round 7 opened with a thriller in the G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi as the Southern Hoiho were edged 83 to 81 by The Northern Group Tauranga Whai at the Edgar Centre. Whai led by as many as 16 in the third quarter before Hoiho stormed back behind Paige Bradley’s playmaking and strong interior touches for Jessie Edwards and Lil Dart. Dart drilled a huge three to tie the scores at 81 with less than ten seconds to play, but out of a timeout Jessica McDowell White drove baseline and kicked to Emme Shearer who rose up on the wing and buried the buzzer beater. Shearer finished with 26 points and 6 rebounds, McDowell White added 14 points and a season high 12 assists, while Hannah Hank posted 15 points and 9 boards. For Hoiho, Edwards delivered a 17 point 10 rebound double double, Dart scored 18 and Bradley flirted with a triple double with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in a playoff style contest that went right to the wire.
In the Sky Broadband Rapid League curtain raiser Hoiho flipped the script, grinding out a 44 to 40 win against Whai. Locked at 32 all heading into the fourth, Hoiho found just enough offense through Alana Paewai and Sammy Gallaher before Abby Harris and Dart added timely scores to keep Whai at arm’s length. Tayla Dalton and Jade Kirisome sparked a late Whai push but Hoiho’s defense and 23 to 14 rebounding advantage proved decisive. Paewai led with 10 points, Gallaher added 7 points and 5 rebounds and Harris filled the stat sheet, while Dalton poured in 15 and Kirisome 14 for the visitors.
Today: Queens and Pouākai re-light an early season rivalry
Saturday shifts the focus to Te Rauparaha Arena where the ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens host the Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai, Rapid at 2.00pm then Tauihi at 3.00pm. Queens arrive in form after their road win in Tauranga with Kristy Wallace coming off a 30 point eruption and leading the league in assists, while Penina Davidson recently became the first player to collect 300 Tauihi career rebounds and Stella Beck logged her first double double of the season. Pouākai are hunting a statement response after a heavy loss in Dunedin that followed a strong patch of form driven by Marena Whittle’s run of double doubles and McKenna Dale reaching both 100 career assists and 550 career points. The matchup between Queens perimeter firepower, via Wallace, Beck and Jihyun Park, and the Pouākai frontcourt contingent of Whittle, Dale, Abi Fogg, Esra McGoldrick and Charlotte Whittaker off the bench should set the tone.
The Rapid League meeting between the top teams on the ladder feels a it could decide the competition. Queens sit on top of the ladder at 6 wins and 1 loss, with Keriana Hippolite and Briarley Rogers both past 50 points on the season and Josie Trousdell anchoring the glass. Pouākai at 5 and 3 are close behind and will again lean on Hana Lacey-Rameka after her 16 point breakout in Dunedin plus the all round impact of Whittaker and promising minutes from 15 year old Emilia Ainley.
Tomorrow: Kāhu search for a spark, Hoiho chase a crucial double split
Sunday belongs to Eventfinda Stadium where the BNZ Northern Kāhu welcome Southern Hoiho to close Round 7, Rapid at 2.00pm followed by Tauihi at 3.00pm. In Tauihi play Kāhu are still chasing their first win of the campaign and looking to halt a seven game skid this season and nine straight defeats overall (dating back to last season). Haileigh Reinoehl has quietly passed 100 points this year and 300 for her Tauihi career while Azure Anderson is growing into a bigger scoring role, but Kāhu will need a full forty minutes from leaders Tahlia Tupaea and Krystal Leger Walker to contain Hoiho’s multiple threats. Hoiho roll into Auckland with renewed belief after the 102 to 66 demolition of Pouākai and last night’s narrow loss that showed they can match anyone for stretches. Paige Bradley has just joined the 200 assist club, Zoe Richards recently crossed 250 career rebounds and the scoring chase between Simmons, Pizzey and Dart for the first Hoiho player to 100 points this season adds another storyline.
The Rapid League rematch feels just as intriguing, as the Kāhu finally broke through last round with a 32 to 27 win over Pouākai, powered by 11 points from Emma Schroeder who became the first Kāhu player past 50 points on the season, plus solid contributions from Anderson and Mary Morton Jones. They now face a Hoiho group fresh from that home win over Whai, built on defense, rebounding and the experience of Sammy Gallaher and Eva Langton, who recently became the first player to reach 30 Rapid appearances. If a young Kāhu core can back up their first victory with another composed display against the Hoiho veteran spine, Round 7 could mark a true turning point in their campaign.
