Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai (85) def. BNZ Northern Kāhu (66) - Pouākai do it by committee effort leads the way
Game Recap
The Pouākai take the win on home turf, taking a team earned win against the Kāhu 85-66. Both teams came out firing going blow for blow as Tahlia Tupaea (16pts) and Marena Whittle (22pts) went point for point with six lead changes in the first quarter as the Kāhu went into the second quarter up three. The Pouākai duo of Whittle and Fogg (12pts) fought hard in the second quarter to help give them a slight six point edge going into the second half.
Going down double digits early into the third Krystal Leger-Walker (8ast) kept Kāhu within fighting distance moving the ball around and getting key players like Tahlia Tupaea (16pts) in the game. Getting the game within 5 the Kāhu looked like they were mounting a come back but a team lead run put created a double digit lead that the Pouākai would not give up.
The final period turned into a blowout with five Pouākai players in double digits led by a double-double from Whittle as the Pouākai show their heart looking to finish the second half of their season strong.
Mainland Pouākai - Marena Whittle (22 PTS, 11 REB, 1 AST), Abigail Fogg (12 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST), Mckenna Dale (12 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST)
Northern Kāhu - Tahlia Tupaea (16 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST), Haliegh Reinoehl (16 PTS, 3 REB, 2 STL), Lauren Mansfield (10 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST)
BNZ Northern Kāhu (32) def. Yellow i Glass Mainland Pouākai (27) - Kāhu get their first rapid league win
Northern Kāhu get their first win in a tough Rapid League season, keeping their composure despite a loud home town Christchurch crowd and coming away with the victory.
The short staffed Pouākai with only five players for the game have a rough start as Mary Morton-Jones (10pts) gives the Kāhu a eleven point lead going into the second quarter confident and hungry to keep the lead.
The Pouākai home crowd didn't put their heads down and let their voices be heard motivating the home team to make a come back lead by Ava Jones (8pts). Olivia O'Neill (4pts) hit a tough hook shot to tie up the game with a minute left to go in the half but in search for the first win and with nothing to lose Emma-Kaye Schroeder (11pts) took the game into her hands and drove to the rim to help put the away team up 4 going into the second half.
The finish turned into a slugfest as both teams fought hard to the end. But despite the loud home crowd the Kāhu kept their composure thanks to Schroeder and Azure Anderson (7pts) getting crucial steals that cemented their first rapid league victory this season.
Northern Kāhu – Emma-Kaye Schroeder (11 PTS, 2 REB), Mary Morton-Jones (10 PTS, 2 REB), Azure Anderson (7 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST)
Mainland Pouākai – Ava Jones (8 PTS, 2 REB), Emilia Ainley (6 PTS, 6 REB), Hana Lacey-Rameka (4 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST)
