Homegrown talents shine in Mainland Pouākai’s opening night Tauihi win

Homegrown products Tessa Boagni and Mary Goulding starred as the Mainland Pouākai launched the new Tauihi women’s basketball competition in style.

The groundbreaking league, which sees every game televised on Sky, import players, and salaries on a par with their men’s NBL equivalent, tipped off on Thursday night at Christchurch’s Cowles Stadium.

Led by double-doubles from Canterbury talents Goulding (16 points and 10 rebounds) and Boagni (16 points and 11 rebounds), the Pouākai triumphed 73-63 over the Southern Hoiho.

Tipped as a frontrunner for the title in the five-team competition, the Pouākai held off a gritty challenge from the Hoiho, who trailed by as many as 15 points, but never went away.

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American guard Erin Whalen chipped in with 15 points on 7-12 shooting for the Pouākai, who took a 39-26 lead into halftime.

US forward Laina Synder was terrific for the Hoiho, scoring 32 of their 63 points, while also hauling in 10 rebounds and handing out four assists.

A 23-17 third quarter from the Hoiho saw them head into the final term, trailing by seven (56-49), but the Pouākai withstood the pressure to earn a home win on opening night.

The Wellington-Manawatū-based Tokomanawa Queens made a winning beginning, edging the Mid-North Whai 82-78 in a close finish in Porirua on Saturday.

Tokomanawa were in control for much of the game, leading by 20 in the second quarter, but the Whai refused to go away.

Import duo Florencia Chagas (from Argentina) and Swede Elin Gustavsson showed their class for the Queens, combining for 42 points. Captain Stella Beck was influential too with 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

Point guard Chagas, who was drafted 31st overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2021 WNBA Draft, went close to achieving a triple-double with a game-high 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists – but commited eight turnovers.

Gustavsson, a 29-year-old power forward, caused the Whai problems, contributing 20 points on 9-14 from the floor, and grabbed nine boards.

A three from Kyra Lambert trimmed the Queens’ lead to 80-75 with 46 seconds left, but two free throws from Gustavsson clinched victory.

The Northern Kāhu gained a win in their first game, overcoming the Hoiho 50-46 in a low-scoring clash in Dunedin on Sunday.

Both teams battled offensively with the Kahu shooting 25% from the field (16/64) and the Hoiho 23% (15/66) in a game dominated by tough defence.

Australian guard Tahlia Tupaea was the best player on court, proving instrumental for the Kāhu with 23 points, five rebounds, and three steals.

The loss drops the Hoiho to 0-2 to start the competition.

Round one concludes with the Kāhu hosting the Queens on Monday at Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre in Pukekohe (7pm start), and the Whai and Pouākai meeting on Tuesday (7pm start) at Tauranga’s Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre.

AT A GLANCE:

Tauihi round one results:

At Cowles Stadium, Christchurch: Mainland Pouākai 73 (Mary Goulding 16, Tessa Boagni 16, Erin Whalen 15) Southern Hoiho 63 (Laina Snyder 32, Zoe Richards 8) 1Q: 21-15, HT: 39-26, 3Q: 56-49.

At Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua: Tokomanawa Queens 82 (Florencia Chagas 22, Elin Gustavsson 20, Stella Beck 17) Mid-North Whai 78 (Sharne Robati 17, Kyra Lambert 15, Dominique McBryde 15, Tiarna Clarke 12, Nikki Greene 11) 1Q: 31-13, HT: 47-36, 3Q: 69-58.

At Edgar Centre, Dunedin: Northern Kāhu 50 (Tahlia Tupaea 23, Krystal Leger-Walker 9) Southern Hoiho 46 (Samara Gallaher 19, Snyder 9) 1Q: 10-6, HT: 17-21, 3Q: 32-31.

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