Tomorrow, Porirua, 3pm
The Queens wrapped up top spot with a record of 8-4. They host the fourth-seeded Whai, who led for much of the season until losing two games on the bounce, and who finished with a record of 7-5.
It will be a big game between the two, but the Queens will head in favourites having beat the Whai three times this season, 84-78 (September 27), 80-70 (November 1) and 88-82 (November 23).
The Queens are a tough team to pin down. Centre Penina Davidson is always hard to contain at both ends. She leads the league for second-chance points (66), defensive rebounds (79) and offensive rebounds (46). Stella Beck’s grit keeps everyone moving and she leads the league for steals (26). Point guard Kristy Wallace is also a sharp shooter and needs to be shut down early.
The Whai are always tough and have the ability to pour in points and shut down teams in the blink of an eye. Hannah Hank has been massive for the Whai and is the league’s leading scorer with 234 points and is coming in off a double-double of 23 points and 17 rebounds. Emme Shearer has been everywhere this season and point guard Jessica McDowell-White directs their offence nicely. They have been missing Laina Snyder through injury. She has been in some form this season, averaging 16.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
It could be an interesting match-up that could go down to the wire between the two. But history is in favour of the Queens, who know how to control the dying minutes.
Mainland Pouakai v Southern Hoiho
Sunday, Christchurch, 3pm
The Pouakai and Hoiho both finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, but points percentage gave the Pouakai the home court advantage.
It has been an intriguing tussle between the two rivals this season. The Pouakai dispatched the Hoiho 121-83 in the season opener, as the Hoiho battled with illness, and it was a Halloween massacre when the Hoiho returned serve to win 102-66 on October 31. The Hoiho ground out a 99-94 win last month and looked really solid for long patches of that game.
Point guards Paige Bradley, who leads the league with 89 assists, and Lil Dart, who leads the league for three-point percentage (50.9%), each add spark to the Hoiho offence. But the luxury to have them both on the floor together has been a point of difference for the Hoiho. Big Jessie Edwards, who leads the league for blocks (18), and Bec Pizzey, who leads for two-point percentage (61.3%) and field goal percentage (55.9%), have been crucial to the Hoiho winning the battle in the paint.
They will be put under a lot of pressure against the Pouakai, who will want to reverse their last two results. The Pouakai have been missing size with Esra McGoldrick and Abigail Fogg sidelined and there is no word yet if they will be suiting up. The Hoiho need to watch Taylor Mikesell on the edges, who has a sharp eye leading the league with 38 triples, Marena Whittle is deadly and Morgan Yaeger is a smooth operator. But the Hoiho’s size should see them home.
