A Challenging Weekend: Tokomanawa Queens Show Resilience in Defeat to Whai, Look Ahead to Next Match-up
Coming into this Sunday afternoon match-up between our Tokomanawa Queens and the Whai, both teams were eager to get back in the win column after dropping their previous games. Adding to the challenge for the Queens, star centre Maya Dodson would miss the game due to illness.
Unfortunately, the home team dropped their Rapid and Tauihi league games. Still, the packed and energetic Te Rauparaha Arena crowd were treated to some exciting basketball.
RAPID LEAGUE
The main storyline from the Rapid League game was the return of 2022 champion and captain Stella Beck. After being away from the team for the early part of the season, being able to work her way back into game shape through the Rapid League is a massive luxury.
Unfortunately, the added star power wasn't enough to take the Queens to victory, losing 29-21 to the Whai. Leading scorer with 11 points for the Whai, Pahlyss Hokianga registered the first points of the game, and the Whai never looked back.
Some rough early turnovers from the Queens proved to be a theme that would continue from start to end. Doubling the Whai's total, 12-6, resulting in a 13-4 deficit in points scored off turnovers. The home team was led in scoring by Parris Mason, who had 10 points, followed closely by Beck with seven points to go along with eight boards.
TAUIHI LEAGUE
After an initial Rapid League loss, the Queens and their fans were eager for a fast start in the Tauihi League. But the Whai had other plans. Courtesy of a 21-3 run out of the gates, the visitors finished the first quarter 26-7 in front. The Whai were then able to push their lead to a game-high of 28 points.
The Queens weathered the storm in the middle two quarters, only losing by two combined points (39-41). Before launching a late comeback, winning the final quarter 32-17. That push came too late as the Whai claimed victory 84-78. Like the Rapid League game, the opposition scored the first two points and never relinquished the lead.
Leading the game in scoring for the Whai was American Mikayla Cowling. Her 21 points were a game-high, and she hauled in eight rebounds. Just behind her with 17 points was fellow import guard Aaliyah Wilson, her one-made three in the game came in the dying stages to put her team up six. Sarah Sagerer rounded out the stellar showing from the import trio, recording the game's only double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
As for the hometown Queens, without such an essential piece in Maya Dodson, it would require those players around her to step up and fill her shoes. Tegan Graham had her highest-scoring output of the season with 15 points. Josie Trousdell came into the starting lineup to replace Dodson and had a near-double-double with eight points and 11 boards. A five-game streak of 20+ points for Chrislyn Carr also ended, finishing just one point short on 19. The main positive the Queens can take out of the loss was the 13 points off the bench from Stella Beck. With six regular-season games to go, we hope to see more of these performances in a winning effort.
The two losses mean that the Queens stay in a solid third place on the table, three points behind the top spot. Their next game comes against the Northern Kāhu, at Te Rauparaha Arena, 7:30 pm on Saturday night, Rapid League at 6:30 pm. It will be the second rematch of last year's final and also another chance for the Queens to move up to second spot with a win.
It is also an excellent chance for first-time fans to experience the fantastic atmosphere created at the home games. With each round, the crowd and team are building bigger and better than the last, so you want to take advantage of all of the final three home games!
RAPID: Queens 21, Whai 29 ➡️ Full Stats
TAUIHI: Queens 78, Whai 84 ➡️ Full Stats