Tupaea in fine form for Kāhu

The Northern Kā hu gained a win in their first game of the new Tauihi women’s basketball competition, overcoming the Hoiho 50-46 in a low-scoring clash in Dunedin yesterday.

Both teams battled offensively with the Kahu shooting 25% from the field (16/64) and the Hoiho 23% (15/66) in a game dominated by tough defence.

Australian guard Tahlia Tupaea was the best player on court, proving instrumental for the Kā hu with 23 points, five rebounds and three steals.

The loss drops the Hoiho to 0-2 to start the competition. Hoiho lost to the Mainland Pouā kai 73-63 on Thursday night and the Wellington-Manawatū -based Tokomanawa Queens 82 edged Mid-North Whai 82-78 on Saturday.

Round one concludes with the Kā hu hosting the Queens tonight at Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre in Pukekohe (7pm start), and the Whai and Pouā kai meeting tomorrow (7pm start) at Tauranga’s Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre.

Tauihi round one results:

At Cowles Stadium, Christchurch: Mainland Pouā kai 73 (Mary Goulding 16, Tessa Boagni 16, Erin Whalen 15) Southern Hoiho 63 (Laina Snyder 32, Zoe Richards 8). 1Q: 21-15, HT: 39-26, 3Q: 56-49.

At Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua: Tokomanawa Queens 82 (Florencia Chagas 22, Elin Gustavsson 20, Stella Beck 17) Mid-North Whai 78 (Sharne Robati 17, Kyra Lambert 15, Dominique McBryde 15, Tiarna Clarke 12, Nikki Greene 11). 1Q: 31-13, HT: 47-36, 3Q: 69-58.

At Edgar Centre, Dunedin: Northern Kā hu 50 (Tahlia Tupaea 23, Krystal Leger-Walker 9) Southern Hoiho 46 (Samara Gallaher 19, Snyder 9). 1Q: 10-6, HT: 17-21, 3Q: 32-31.

Standings: Pouākai 1-0, Queens 1-0, Kāhu 1-0, Whai 0-1, Hoiho 0-2.