Laina Snyder could tell her shot was off from the moment she let it go.
The forward immediately tore off after her miss, reached the ball just before it went out of bounds, and batted it back in for the Southern Hoiho.
It earned the Hoiho another possession as it looked to reel in the Mainland Pouakai’s fourth-quarter lead in Queenstown last night. The ensuing shot missed – perhaps because Snyder did not take it.
The American forward was everywhere and did everything, largely because she had to, for the Hoiho. She put up 24 points on 50% shooting, to go with 12 rebounds and three assists – the majority with her head bandaged, following a clash which left her with a cut.
Her hustle and intensity were exemplary and she regularly clamped the Mainland Pouakai best players on the perimeter.
But, as has been the case all season, she did not have enough support.
The Hoiho fell 70-58 to the Pouakai, all but ending their Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa playoff hopes.
It was a much improved performance on the thrashing they received from the Northern Kahu a week earlier.
Certainly this Hoiho team does not lack for spirit. It showed plenty of grit and did well to hang around against a useful Pouakai team. There was just not enough scoring from elsewhere.
With 90 seconds to play, the Hoiho second-highest scorers were tied on six points.
Nicole Ruske and Zoe Richards both found the hoop late to finish on nine and eight points respectively.
Realistically, that is not enough to win a game, especially when the Pouakai had four players in double-digits, Tessa Boagni and Trinity Baptiste finishing with 20 each.
That was largely the difference between the two teams.
The Pouakai, who lost star forward Mary Goulding to an early injury, came up with key baskets and hit several big shots.
They were also clinical at the foul line, while the Hoiho hit just eight-of-19 – leaving 11 points on the court right there.
Despite that, the Hoiho did have their radar on point early.
Tori Dugan opened the scoring with a three-pointer, while Richards hit one from the corner, and a three-point play from Olivia O’Neill helped them to a 13-9 first quarter lead. That range of scoring went missing from there, though.
Snyder kept the Hoiho score ticking over through the second quarter, but missed the period just before halftime after a head clash with Terai-Ma-Teata Elia while going for a rebound. The Pouakai took advantage of her absence, Boagni and Baptiste both scoring late in the quarter to give the visiting side a 30-26 halftime lead.
Snyder returned to keep the Hoiho in touch after the break, but two quick triples from Pouakai guard Erin Whalen forced the home team in a timeout at 42-35.
The Hoiho got that deficit back to five, but two three-pointers from Lauryn Hippolite gave Mainland a 53-43 three-quarter time lead.
From there the Hoiho hung around, but could not close the gap, as Boagni took control late to close out the win for Mainland.
Tauihi Basketball
The scores
Pouakai 70
Trinity Baptiste 20, Tessa Boagni 20
Hoiho 58
Laina Snyder 24, Nicole Ruske 9
Quarter scores: 9-13, 30-26, 53-42
