Import trio lead the way as Hoiho continue winning ways in Tauihi

Talk about a turnaround from the Southern Hoiho.

Last year’s Tauihi strugglers are the talk of New Zealand’s pro women’s basketball league, sitting top of the table at 5-1 after four rounds.

The Otago-Southland side’s memorable start to the season continued with a pair of victories after losing for the first time last Sunday to the Northern Kāhu.

New coach Todd Marshall and the Hoiho decision makers recruited smartly this off-season and look a different team after going 1-11 in a miserable 2022 campaign.

After accounting for the defending champion Tokomanawa Queens 77-60 in Dunedin on Tuesday, it was much tougher for the Hoiho on the road.

They snuck past the Mid-North Whai 71-69 in Tauranga on Friday, holding off a late rally from the hosts.

Hoiho imports, American duo Ashten Prechtel, Paige Bradley, and Australian guard Ahlise Hurst have been excellent so far and again led the way for the southerners.

All three players scored in double figures in both games, providing strong production at both ends of the floor for the competition pacesetters.

Hurst notched a team-high 25 points in the win over the Whai with double-double machine Prechtel pushing her case for league MVP. Former Stanford college standout Prechtel registered 16 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks in another crazy stat line.

She was also impactful in the earlier win over the Queens, contributing 16 points, 13 boards, five blocks, four assists, and three steals.

The Kāhu continued on their winning ways, improving to 4-2 with a 99-87 over the winless Mainland Pouākai in Whangārei on Wednesday.

It was a case of another week, another brilliant game from American forward Ilmar’l Thomas, who has been some get for the Kāhu.

The Oakland, California, native, dropped 27 points on the struggling Pouākai on 11-19 shooting to go with seven rebounds.

Four Kāhu players scored in double figures with Tall Ferns Tera Reed (21 points, eight rebounds) and Penina Davidson (17 points, nine rebounds, four assists) both impressing. Kiwi guard Awatea Leach was a handful too, chipping in with 18 points, including three triples.

American Jasmine Dickey did all she could to try and lead the Pouākai to an elusive win, producing 33 points and eight rebounds in the losing cause.

On Sunday, the Whai recorded their first win since their season-opener, but were given a late scare in their 84-78 victory over the Queens in Porirua.

With Mikayla Cowling (21) again topping the game’s scoring, as she did two days prior, the visitors had a commanding 26-7 lead by quarter-time, and led by 21 going into the final quarter, but the defending champs showed a heap of fight.

So much so they got to within three with 30 seconds left, before Aaliyah Wilson landed a three-pointer to avert any crisis.

AT A GLANCE:

Tauihi round four:

At Edgar Centre, Dunedin: Hoiho 77 (Paige Bradley 18, Ahlise Hurst 17, Ashten Prechtel 16, Zoe Richards 16) Queens 60 (Chrislyn Carr 21, Stephanie Watts 14, Maya Dodson 12) 1Q: 12-13, HT: 39-22, 3Q: 56-40.

At McKay Stadium, Whangārei: Kāhu 99 (Ilmar’l Thomas 27, Tera Reed 21, Awatea Leach 18, Penina Davidson 17) Pouākai 87 (Jasmine Dickey 33, Natasha Mack 18, Kendell Heremaia 13) 1Q: 26-31, HT: 57-52, 3Q: 76-67.

At Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Tauranga: Hoiho 71 (Ahlise Hurst 25, Ashten Prechtel 16, Paige Bradley 11) Whai 69 (Mikayla Cowling 28, Sarah Saggerer 13, Jade Kirisome 13) 1Q: 19-21, HT: 39-38, 3Q: 59-53.

At Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua: Whai 84 (Mikayla Cowling 21, Aaliyah Wilson 17, Mckenna Dale 14, Jade Kirisome 10) Queens 78 (Chrislyn Carr 19, Tegan Graham 15, Stella Beck 13) 1Q: 26-7, HT: 45-30, 3Q: 67-46.

Standings: Hoiho 5-1, Kāhu 4-2, Queens 3-3, Whai 2-3, Pouākai 0-5.