Queens crowned as inaugural Tauihi champions
THE inaugural Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa champions are the Tokomanawa Queens.
The Queens beat the Northern Kahu 7162 in the final of the inaugural league at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson on Saturday night.
Dynamic Argentinian point guard Florencia Chagas (22 points, six rebounds and six assists) was named MVP, backed by Jamie Nared (14 points) and captain Stella Beck (11 points, seven points and five steals).
Chagas’ tussle with fellow Tall Fern Micaela Cocks (14 points, four rebounds and three assists) was a highlight of the final.
Tera Reed (nine points and 10 rebounds) had a nice night for the Kahu, while Marte Grays and Tahlia Tupaea each scored 12 points.
Northern enjoyed the best of the opening minutes to lead 50 before Parris Mason made free throws.
The regularseason champion suffered a significant setback in that period as influential point guard Krystal LegerWalker picked up two fouls.
However, Nared also picked up two fouls to balance the equation.
Cocks had eight points in the quarter but Jacinta Beckley’s late three balanced the books at 1515.
Youth player of the year Chagas gave the Queens their first lead of the game before Grays made backtoback scores to pinch the advantage back the way of the Kahu.
A 70 Queens run preceded an identical Kahu surge — or more precisely a Tupaea outburst.
A hugely competitive half finished with the impressive Mason giving the Queens a narrow 3533 lead.
Gabby AdamsGavet (eight points and eight rebounds) made the opening score of the second half but it was Chagas and Nared running the show as the Queens’ lead climbed to 4735.
Stifling the Queens’ defence was finally broken by LegerWalker but Nared found the basket at the other end to keep her team’s lead in double figures.
That situation had not changed at threequarter time — the Kahu held to just eight points in the quarter and trailed 5441.
Nared’s tumbling jump shot continued the Queens’ offensive domination, a Josie Trousdell block fortifying their defensive wall.
Cocks eventually made a score — then another — but it was the Queens in full control at the midpoint of the fourth with a 6047 lead.
Gustavsson made a neat inside bucket before Reed and Grays raised the optimism of the Kahu fans, as the lead was cut to seven with two minutes to play.
With one minute, 21 seconds to play, Reed reduced that by two, but the anxiety of the Queens followers was eased by a Mason layup and a Beck steal.