BNZ Northern Kāhu [72] defeated by the ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens [88]
Queens stay on top as they head into the playoffs in top form.
The Tokomanawa Queens finished off the regular season with a strong win against the Kāhu as they set their eyes on the home semi-finals. Coming in against the top team, the Kāhu showed no fear as Lauren Mansfield (19pts) put the Kāhu into the game with two quick deep threes. The Queens' interior presence, led by Penina Davidson (22pts), kept them ahead as they go into the second up by six. Kāhu came into the second quarter with the same intensity that they had throughout the season as Tahlia Tupaea (17pts) gets a quick tough and-one, giving her ten early into the second quarter. Tupaea's interior presence and Abigail Curtin's (8pts) strong second-quarter performance helped the Kāhu get the game within one, but Kristy Wallace (24pts) began to heat up and helped take the Queens to a seven-point lead as they entered the final half of the regular season.
Kristy Wallace showed why the Queens are top of the table as she led the final hustle, scoring ten of the Queens' 20 points in the fourth quarter alongside four steals in the fourth quarter alone. Despite the Kāhu's tough season, they put everything into their final game with exciting potential, as young rising star Sienna Maurice (5pts) showed the Kāhu's fight. The Queen's victory secures them a home semi-final as they enter the playoffs.
Lauren Mansfield (19 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST), Tahlia Tupaea (17 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST), Haliegh Reinoehl (8 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST)
Kristy Wallace (24 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST), Penina Davidson (22 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST), Stella Beck (17 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST)
BNZ Northern Kāhu [33] Defeated by ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens [34]
Queens finish their stellar run in a one-point game
Game Recap
The Queens' strong defence gives them the tight win as they finish the rapid league season going eleven and one. The Queen's strong defence and the Kāhus' passive play led to a low-scoring game going into the second quarter, but as the Kāhu began to swing the ball around, they began to pick up the pace. A team effort led by Keeley Tini (10pts) tied the game up twenty-three all as the champs were faced with one final challenge. And it would be a challenge as both teams wanted to finish their season off with a victory. Paige Burrows (8pts) took the early charge in the fourth, putting the Queens up by two as both teams fought hard to stay ahead. A layup from Josephine Trousdell (6pts) put the Queens up by four, but as the Kāhu have done throughout the season, they put up a strong fight, but unfortunately, the Kāhu fell just short, as they have for most of the season. Down by three, the Kāhu couldn't get a shot off from behind the line and settled with a two. The Queens finish their stellar rapid league season with one loss.
Northern Kāhu
Keeley Tini (10 PTS, 3 REB), Azure Anderson (7 PTS, 5 REB)
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
Pahlyss Hokianga (12 PTS, 1 AST), Paige Burrows (8 PTS, 2 REB), Briarley Rogers (8 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST)
