Tauihi action is almost upon us with the season tipping off this Friday, but for the fans who are still trying to get up to speed here is what to look for during the Round 1 action.
Friday September 26th - Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai v Southern Hoiho
Cowles Stadium, Christchurch - Rapid League 6:30pm, Tauihi 7:30pm
Television: Rapid League Live on Sky Sport 3 from 6:30pm (NZT) followed by Tauihi, then Tauihi from 7:30pm (NZT) live internationally on ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally)
TAUIHI Probable Starters:
POUĀKAI: PG: Taylor Mikesell, SG: Morgan Yaeger, SF: Esra McGoldrick, PF: Charlotte Whittaker, C: Abigail Fogg
HOIHO: PG Paige Bradley, SG Claire Jacobs, SF Taylah Simmons, PF Zoe Richards, C Jessie Edwards
What To Look For:
Paint control: Edwards/Pizzey vs Whittaker/Fogg, whoever wins the glass dictates pace.
Pace & space vs structure: Pouākai want early threes; Hoiho prefer organised PNR through Bradley.
Key duel: Mikesell’s off-screen gravity vs Simmons/Richards’ length.
Turnover battle: Mainland’s pressure vs Southern’s composure.
Possible RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups (non-Tauihi starters):
POUĀKAI: Olivia O’Neill, Emma Rogers, Kavanah Lene, Marena Whittle, Mckenna Dale
HOIHO: Alexa Duff, Sammy Gallaher, Lil Dart, Eva Langton, Abby Harris
What To Look For:
Tempo: Duff/Gallaher push; O’Neill/Lene answer with pace and pressure.
Second chances: Langton/Harris vs Whittle/Dale on the O-boards.
Saturday September 27th — The Northern Group Tauranga Whai v ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Tauranga — Rapid 2pm, Tauihi 3pm
Television: Rapid League live on Sky Sport 6 from 2pm (NZT) followed by Tauihi, then Tauihi live from 3pm (NZT) internationally on ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally)
TAUIHI Probable Starters:
WHAI: PG Jessica McDowell-White, SG Tayla Dalton, SF Mikayla Cowling, PF Emme Shearer, C Sophia Locandro
QUEENS: PG Kristy Wallace, SG Bec Cole, SF Riley Lupfer, PF Lou Brown, C Penina Davidson
What To Look For:
Glass check: Brown/Davidson form a fearsome rebounding duo — Whai must rebound as a collective.
Shot creation: Cowling vs the Wallace/Cole/Lupfer engine on the perimeter.
Transition vs half-court: Whai thrive running; Queens punish switches and post seals.
Whistle watch: Can Locandro/Hank stay on the floor guarding Davidson?
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups (non-Tauihi starters):
WHAI: Storey Sadler, Jade Kirisome, Sophie Rogers, Graecyn Parahi, Hannah Hank
QUEENS: Keriana-Maria Hippolite, Pahlyss Hokianga-Heather, Stella Beck, Jihyun Park, Josephine Trousdell
What To Look For:
Shooting lanes: Sadler/Rogers vs Beck/Park spacing wars in the corners.
Wing length: Park/Parahi deflections = easy run-outs.
Sunday September 28th — BNZ Northern Kāhu v Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai
Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland — Rapid 2pm, Tauihi 3pm
Television: Rapid League live on Sky Sport 4 from 2pm (NZT) followed by Tauihi, then Tauihi live internationally on ESPN 3 (United States), FIBA You Tube (globally)
TAUIHI Probable Starters:
KĀHU: PG Tahlia Tupaea, SG Aliyah Matharu, SF Jasmyne Roberts, PF Abi Curtin, C Haleigh Reinoehl
POUĀKAI: PG Taylor Mikesell, SG Morgan Yaeger, SF Esra McGoldrick, PF Charlotte Whittaker, C Abigail Fogg
What To Look For:
Style clash: Kāhu’s guard-led small-ball vs Pouākai size. Can Kāhu rebound by committee to finish possesions?
Perimeter pressure: Matharu/Roberts attacking close-outs vs McGoldrick’s mobility.
Clutch creators: Tupaea (with Mansfield off the bench) vs Mikesell late.
Foul trouble swing: Early whistles on Fogg/Whittaker could tip control, can the Kāhu get to the backline on penetration?
Probable RAPID LEAGUE Line-Ups (non-Tauihi starters):
KĀHU: Lauren Mansfield, Azure Anderson, Keeley Tini, Vitolia Tuilave, Imani Rasmussen
POUĀKAI: Olivia O’Neill, Emma Rogers, Kavanah Lene, Marena Whittle, Mckenna Dale
What To Look For:
Speed vs size: Mansfield/Anderson pace against Rasmussen’s length.
Wing boards: Tini/Tuilave vs Whittle/Dale to decide extra shots.
