Homemade talents sparkle in Mainland Pouākai’s Tauhi victory on opening night

Homemade products Tessa Boagni and Mary Goulding played the lead role when Mainland Pouākai launched the new Tauihi women’s basketball competition in style.

The groundbreaking league, which sees every game being broadcast on Sky, importing players and earning salaries on par with their men’s NBL equivalent, kicked off at Christchurch’s Cowles Stadium on Thursday night.

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

Showed as a frontrunner for the title in the five-team competition, the Pouākai faced a tough challenge from the Hoiho, who trailed by as many as 15 points but never went away.

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American guard Erin Whalen shot 15-12 at 7-12 for the Pouākai, who led 39-26 at halftime.

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

With a 23-17 third quarter from the Hoiho, they went into the final quarter, with seven behind (56-49), but the Pouākai withstood the pressure to secure a home win on the opening night.

The Wellington-Manawatū-based Tokomanawa Queens made a winning start by beating Mid-North Whai 82-78 on Saturday in a close final in Porirua.

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

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

Goalkeeper Chagas, who was drafted 31st overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2021 WNBA Draft, came close to a triple-double with a game-high 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists – but turned around eight times.

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

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

The Northern Kāhu won in their first match and defeated the Hoiho 50-46 on Sunday in a low-scoring clash in Dunedin.

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

Australian guard Tahlia Tupaea was the best player on the field, and played an important role for the Kāhu with 23 points, five rebounds and three steals.

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

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

ON THE EYE:

Tauhi round results:

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

By Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua: Tokomanawa Queens 82 (Florence 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 Center, Dunedin: Northern Kahu 50 (Tahlia Tupaea 23, Krystal Leger-Walker 9) Southern Hoiho 46 (Samara Gallaher 19, Snyder 9) 1V: 10-6, HT: 17-21, 3V: 32-31.

score: Poukai 1-0, Queens 1-0, Kahu 1-0, Whai 0-1, Hoiho 0-2.