Tokomanawa Queens Storm the Court: Double Triumph Over Northern Kāhu!
In a rematch of the 2022 GJ Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa final, our Tokomanawa Queens travelled to Tāmaki Makaurau to take on the Northern Kāhu. The Queens would take total points from the Sunday afternoon matchup, claiming one point from the Sky Broadband Rapid League game and a further three by winning the primary Tauihi League contest.
RAPID LEAGUE
The Queens make it two from two in the Sky Broadband Rapid League this year with a 33-21 win over the Kāhu. Despite the comprehensive scoreline, it took a fourth-quarter masterclass from Grace Hunter to separate the tight affair. Hunter scored 13 points in the game (5-6 from the field, 3-3 from three), all those threes coming at the start of the 4th, as the Queens went on an 11-0 run to open the quarter.
As for the Kāhu, they were led in scoring by the Tini sisters, Jaycin and Keeley, with 6 and 7 points, respectively.
This Rapid League win is vital for the team and their season, as the winner gains a competition point before the Tauihi game is even played.
TAUIHI LEAGUES
Much like the earlier Rapid League game, even though the scoreline may look flattering, the game itself was challenging, with no team able to fully seize control. The 84-71 Queens' win can be put down to a huge fourth quarter which the team won 26-15, highlighted by a 13-0 run to ice the game.
It was an uphill climb for our Queens, falling behind by six points early in the first quarter (23-17). It was a true 'battle of the bigs' between our Maya Dodson and the Kāhu's IImar'I Thomas. Dodson came sprinting out the blocks early, scoring eight of her 17 points in the first quarter on an incredibly efficient 4-4 from the field. On the other side, Thomas would be a challenge from start to finish, ending with a game-high 34 points, including 11 in the first quarter while only missing a singular shot.
The Queens managed to flip the switch in the second quarter, winning it 22-13. Shoring up our defence on the inside allowed guards Steph Watts and Chrislyn Carr to wreak havoc in transition. The two guards manage to combine for an overwhelming 51 points. While their stats might not have shown up in the box score, the likes of Paris Lokotui's impact of the defensive side on the ball was a massive factor in the three-point half-time lead.
The third quarter provided much of the same back-and-forward action we had seen in the previous half. Both teams were unable to run away with the game. Still, the Queens maintained a slim two-point lead heading into the deciding period.
A slow start to the fourth meant that the Kāhu took a six-point lead through a quick 8-0 run. Luckily, the Queens stayed composed and weathered the storm before exploding on a 13-0 sprint to the finish line to seal the victory.
Guards, Watts and Carr, were big contributors in what was one of the keys of the game, fast break points. The two pushed the pace and outscored the Kāhu 13-2.
Watts spoke after the game about the importance of playing at speed and getting those fast break points, "one of the main things we wanted to do was have defence lead to offence… we noticed they were getting a bit tired, so we wanted to push them to make it hard."
Overall, a tremendous first regular-season win for the Tokomanawa Queens. The two wins from today mean they jump from fourth to second in the table, with a chance to move into first very soon.
We won't have to wait long before they are in action again, playing this upcoming Wednesday against the Whai. Tune in on Sky Sport 2 at 6:30 pm for the Rapid League game and 7:30 pm for the Tauihi League game.
RAPID: Kāhu 21, Queens 33 ➡️ Full Stats
TAUIHI: Kāhu 66, Queens 89 ➡️ Full Stats