McKenzie Forbes Takes Centre Stage
We have a new single-game scoring leader - welcome McKenzie Forbes! The 2024 LA Sparks drafted guard torched the ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens for 39 points in R8 to set a new Tauihi record, her haul including an incredible 9 made three pointers. The victory also pushed the ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai up to second on the ladder - they look to be the competition's in-form team right now, already boasting dual wins against the Queens and Kāhu this season. If Forbes can keep this form going, the chances of the Pouākai winning this year's championship will be greatly increased.
Whai Finally Overcome Their Bogey Team
It's been a long and often painful road - the Whai have often viewed the Kāhu as big sister, and since the inception of Tauihi big sister has monstered little sister. Earlier this season the Kāhu humiliated the Whai 81-48, a massive 33-point loss that remains an all-time record defeat for the Whai. It really was a night to forget. However, here we are a few weeks on, and finally the Whai are rid of the shadow lurking over their shoulder - an 80-72 win against the Kāhu is the shackle the Whai had to break if their hopes of a championship run this season were to emerge.
Down by 9 points after one quarter, the Whai smashed the Kāhu either side of the half-time break, mastering a 50-27 run that broke the game open. It was the sort of performance that will finally have this offensively focused Whai team believing they can get on a run and win this competition.
McKenna Dale Showing Ominous Signs
For some reason it took the Whai a long time to insert star Kiwi McKenna Dale into their starting line-up this season, but the rewards have been there for all to see since they have. The Whai hierarchy will tell you Dale was being held back for the opening half of the season due to a hand injury, however not once through that stretch did Dale show any signs of an injury, nor did she wear any protective strapping or brace.
While the Whai continue to battle with consistency, since starting Dale is averaging 18 points per game, compared to just 11.3 points when she was coming off the bench. Add to this, with Dale coming off the bench the Whai went 1-5, but with Dale starting the Whai are now 3-1.
Kāhu Firepower Snuffed Out in Losses
The Kāhu have dropped four games on the year but three recent losses have also been their three lowest scores for the season - 66, 67, 72 - and all have occured in games where the opposition has lifted the level of physicality to push the powerful offensive locomotive off the tracks, especially at the three point line.
The 3 most recent losses have delivered 1-18 (5%), 4-19 (21%) and 4-22 (18%) from deep for a combined 15% shooting clip. For a team that averages 33% from deep on the season that is concerning, but if you take out those 3 most recent losses the Kāhu shoot 39.8% while making just over 6 per game. While the team has other ways to score slowing them down from deep has proven a trigger for slowing them down which no doubt will lead to more teams forcing them off the line. They control their own destiny when it comes to snagging top spot, but if the shooting stays cooled off that destiny of being the regular season's best may shift to one of their competitors.
Queens Have A Problem That Needs Fixing ... Fast
The Queens have lost their last two games, have dropped to third on the ladder, and have the toughest run home of all teams with games against the Whai (Palmerston North), Pouākai (Christchurch) and Kāhu (Whangarei). As hard as the coming fortnight looks on paper, the Queens have a bigger problem that needs immediate addressing - opposition guards are burning them!
The latest in a string of big performances by guards against the Queens came from the hot hand of McKenzie Forbes, who hit a new league high 39 points and dropped 9 threes in the process. It came just a week after Paige Bradley netted 28 points to lead the Hoiho to victory over the Queens.
The concerning trend is real - McKenzie Forbes (39 points and 26 points), Paige Bradley (28 points), Tahlia Tupaea (24 points and 27 points), Ashley Joens (32 points and 27 points) and Ahlise Hurst (19 points and 18 points) have all shot above their season average against the Queens.
The next 'guards' test for the Queens is a date with Ashley Joens this week - it's a challenge the Queens must step up and find an answer to.
A Star Has Arrived
It may slip under the radar, but for those there to see Keriana Hippolite in the Sky Broadband Rapid League last Sunday there was an edge to the teenager's game that would have made Basketball New Zealand's high-performance crew very happy. The young star ripped the game apart, finishing with 18 of her team's 40 points, 7 of her team's 17 rebounds, and a +17 in under 13 minutes. It was the most impressive individual performance of the Rapid League season.
Hippolite's thirst for quick transition, fearless attacks on the basket, and willingness to offer relentless defensive pressure turned heads in a major way. Already a noted national team player at junior levels, the horizon looks to be extremely bright, and the Queens will be hoping the young gun is keen to return in 2025.
