Southern Hoiho (99) Defeat by the Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai (94)
Dart catches fire from behind the line to lead the Hoiho to victory.
Game Recap:
The Southern Hoiho's hot shooting from behind the game gives the home team a five-point victory. Both teams came out with the ball flying around. Morgan Yaeger (24pts) came into the first quarter hot, going four for four from the field, helping put the Pouākai up by 3 as they entered the second quarter. But Lil Dart (36pts 2025 Tauihi League High) quickly closes the gap, hitting her fourth three as the Hohio go eight from eleven from behind the arc. Despite the Hohio's hot hand, Yager's speed, and Mikesell's (25pts) three-point shooting, the Pouākai take the lead and go up by one as they enter the second half.
Locked in, both teams came out with a defensive mindset, making it hard for either team to get the ball into the hoop. Mikesell's and Dart's hot shooting kept the game close, with the Pouākai getting a five-point lead, their largest of the game. But Dart doesn't cool down, hitting her sixth three of the game to give the Hoiho a four-point lead that they would not release as the Hoiho go up by seven as they enter the fourth.
Dart took this game by the horns and said this is her night. Hitting her eighth three to go eight from thirteen from behind the line and putting the Hoiho up by twelve. The Pouakai still put up a strong fight and got the game within single digits, but Dart's season-high night would not end in a loss, as Dart hit a layup and kept the Hoiho's lead as they finish the night with a victory and the inside track to a top 2 spot on the ladder and the home court advantage that comes with it in the postseason.
Scoreline & Top Performers:
Southland Hoiho - Lil Dart (36 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST) Rebecca Pizzey (17PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST) Claire Jacobs (17 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST)
Mainland Pouākai – Taylor Mikesell (25 PTS, 3 REB) Morgan Yaeger (24 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST) Charlotte Whittaker (15 PTS, 10 REB, 1 AST)
SKY BROADBAND RAPID LEAGUE
Southland Hoiho (29) defeated by Yellow i Glass Mainland Pouākai (31)
Pouākai take the narrow victory over the Hoiho
Game Recap:
The Mainland Pouākai take the two-point victory in a tight game, led by 16 points from Hana Lacey-Rameka. The game started off with a rush as both teams were trying to get an early lead, resulting in sloppy mistakes. As the players started to settle into the game, the Pouākai began to heat up from behind the line, thanks to Ava Jones (9pts), as the Pouākai took a one-point lead heading into the second half.
Both teams began to hit tough buckets as the lead constantly changed, as Hana Lacey-Rameka began to heat up, getting points from everywhere on the court, but the duo of Eva Langton (7pts) and Zoe Richards (5pts) kept the game close as Alana Howden (5rebs) went to the line to tie up the game entering the fourth quarter. The fourth didn't lose any of its excitement as the game went down to the final seconds.
With thirty-five seconds left, Dart misses a contested three, giving the Pouākai a chance to call their final timeout to come up with the winning play. As time ticked down, the ball was given to Ava Jones, who took the game into her hands and blew by four Hoiho players to get right to the rim and finish the game.
Scoreline & Top Performers:
Southland Hoiho: Lil Dart (10 PTS, 1 REB, 4 AST) Eva Langton (7 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST)
Mainland Pouākai: Hana Lacey-Rameka (16 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST) Ava Jones (9 PTS, 7 REB, 1 REB)
