Ebbs & Flows in Tauranga

While it wasn’t an ideal outcome, it was great to see our Mainland Pouākai back in action. There was a lot to learn from and enjoy about the season opener, which saw the Pouākai fall 18 points short of the Whai.

POUĀKAI – 80
McGoldrick – 19 pts, 9-15, 7 rbs
Brown – 19 pts, 11 rbs, 2 blk
Reinoehl – 10 pts, 14 rbs, 3 blk

WHAI – 98
Joens – 25 pts, 8 rbs, 7 ast
McSpadden – 21 pts, 13 rbs, 4 ast
Snyder – 17 pts, 6 rbs, 3 3pt

05/10/24 BOX SCORE

Pouākai forward Cassandra Brown struck first on the scoreboard, getting the hoop and the harm in the opening moments of the match. 

In fact, Brown was intent on making highlight plays early and often, emphatically rejecting Morgan Yaegar in transition. 

Yaeger unfortunately missed the remainder of the game after an awkward landing on her side. 

McKenna Dale gave the Whai an injection of energy following Yaeger’s exit, knocking down her first three-pointer of the night to extend the Whai lead to 15-7.

It was a slow start for McKenzie Forbes, who shot just 1-5 in the opening period. She started to find her footing with 2 minutes left in the first quarter, stepping into a pull-up jump shot.

Whai import Lara McSpadden’s interior scoring proved difficult to contain in the early stages of the game, as she closed out the first on a perfect 4-4 from the field.

While the Pouākai were creating viable looks for the likes of McGoldrick, Brown, and Tara Manumaleuga to start the second period, they weren’t quite able to convert on those opportunities.

Over the course of the game, the Pouākai shot just 22% from deep, compared to the 37% clip of the Whai.

Jade Kirisome opened the second quarter with nylon from beyond the arc, succeeding it with an aggressive and-one play at the rim. 

Forbes eventually broke the team’s cold streak with a kick ahead dime to Mikhaela Cann in transition, following it with the first Pouākai three-pointer of the game with just under 4 minutes left in the second quarter.

Going into half-time, the Pouākai trailed the Whai 55-32. 

Whatever magic Head Coach Paul Flynn conducted during his half-time pep talk had clearly taken effect because the Pouākai re-entered the game with a second wind. 

A pair of confident triples from Forbes and McGoldrick inspired hope into the Pouākai faithful.

McGoldrick kept her foot on the gas, scoring on consecutive drives and bringing her total to 13 points on an efficient 6-7 shooting.

A momentous transition three from Forbes then forced the Whai into a timeout, as she brought the Pouākai within 14 points after being down as much as 24.

Cann wiggled her way into the middle of the lane, recollecting control of the ball and finding an open Sharne Robati in the corner for three. 

McKenna Dale promptly responded going the other way, recording her second triple of the ball game.

To close out the third, Laina Snyder went on a heater, sinking back-to-back triples and finding her rhythm on a push shot in the lane.

Ashley Joens opened the new period with a bullet pass to McSpadden for yet another and-one opportunity.

Foul drawing had been the story of the night for the Whai, who drew 21 to the Pouākai’s 8.

Joens’ personal score count had been ticking over all night; she took it coast-to-coast to score her 24th point, extending the Whai’s lead to 86-62.

With just over 5 minutes left in the game, McGoldrick blew up a pick-and-roll, leading to a Forbes touchdown pass to Brown.

Brown then landed her first three-pointer in the competition from head-on, bringing her tally to 16 points with 4:20 left in the fourth.

Haliegh Reinoehl kept the highlights coming late into the game, swatting a Snyder pull-up jumper from behind to send it out of bounds.

In the final moments of the match, Reinoehl secured her double-double with a post-move, bringing her numbers on the night to 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The Pouākai look ahead to the second leg of their road trip, facing the Southern Hoiho in Dunedin on Saturday, October 12th. 

Tickets to our home opener against the Northern Kāhu are available now!

Join us on October 19th at Cowles Stadium as the Mainland Pouākai make their home debut for 2024!