Star American import Ashten Prechtel has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a foot injury in last Sunday’s game against the Northern Kahu.
She was pulled from the court in the third quarter in their 82-75 loss in Auckland.
Hoiho management could not elaborate on her injury when contacted yesterday, but a full diagnosis was expected next week.
It means she will miss tomorrow’s game against Whai and the playoffs, which the Hoiho have already qualified for, in Porirua next weekend.
"Unfortunately, with the short time remaining in the season she will not recover in time to play in any of the remaining games or finals," the team said in a statement on social media yesterday.
"Wishing Ashten all the best in her recovery."
Coach Todd Marshall said they were disappointed to lose Prechtel for the rest of the season.
"It is a gutting blow - absolutely," Marshall said.
Prechtel has been influential in her first season in the Tauihi league. After the last round, Prechtel led the competition in defensive rebounds (109), offensive rebounds (41) and blocks (27), and was second in steals (18) and second-chance points (43). She finished fifth for points (194) and assists (37).
She missed the Hoiho game against the Mainland Pouakai after concussion symptoms at the start of last month.
They desperately missed her rebounding ability, suffering their worst loss of the season, a 102-61 shellacking.
Growing up in Colorado, Prechtel gained exposure in the Elite Youth Basketball League for two years before committing to Stanford in 2019.
She dominated during her college career. Stanford won the Pac-12 conference three times and added a NCAA championship in 2021.
Earlier this year, she was drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA, but was cut after attending a training camp.
It led to her signing with the Hoiho, arriving in Dunedin — her first visit to New Zealand — in June and becoming a key cog in the Hoiho turnaround.
They won one game in the inaugural Tauihi season last year, but have had a remarkable improvement under Marshall, winning seven games so far this season.
They will be hoping to add another to that list when they play the Whai tomorrow night.
• Prechtel and Paige Bradley have been nominated for defensive player of the year in the Tauihi league. Zoe Richards has been nominated for most improved player and Caitlin O’Connell and Tyler Mitchell have been nominated for youth player of the year.
