If only the Southern Hoiho could have squeezed another two minutes out of Laina Snyder.
The 26-year-old American power forward poured in 32 points and made eight assists in a heroic but unsuccessful effort to help her side post its opening win in Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa.
Instead, it was the competition front-runner the Northern Kahu which squeezed out an 81-76 win in Auckland last night.
It might have been different had Snyder been on court during the final stretch. She was involved in a heavy clash and was not able to return.
Snyder had almost single-handedly kept her side in touch and her absence took the fizz out of the Hoiho's valiant challenge.
Classy guard Micaela Cocks dropped in 22 points for Kahu, and Madison Wolf was great value for her 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Ashleigh Kelman-Poto (13 points) and Jaycin Tini (six points) made an impact from the bench to help register the side's fifth consecutive win, while Tahlia Tupaea finished with a haul of 14 points.
The Hoiho started stronger, though. The captain Samara Gallaher made a lovely drive to the rim and popped in an easy lay-up, and Zoe Richards grabbed a couple key boards.
The visitors led 10-5 but their opponent rallied. Tupaea got some scoring support from her team-mates and the Kahu went on a run.
But Snyder drained a three-pointer and a lovely assist for Bronwyn Kjestrup to help her side go into the break up 17-15.
Shelby Cheslek got a couple of easy baskets under the rim and Snyder nailed another triple early in the second period.
But Tini emerged from the bench and replied with a brace of three-pointers. Then she grabbed an offensive rebound and kicked it out to Kelman-Poto who drilled another three-pointer.
The Hoiho's handy lead became a seven-point deficit, which grew further to 13 midway through the third period.
Snyder found some late buckets to trim the margin to nine with 10 minutes to go.
The Hoiho stayed within arm's reach and closed to within three points with two minutes remaining and then two points with under a minute to go.
On Thursday the Mainland Pouakai edged the Tokomanawa Queens 69-66.
Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa
The score
Northern Kahu 81
(Micaela Cocks 22, Tahlia Tupaea 14)
Southern Hoiho 76
(Laina Snyder 32, Shelby Cheslek 13)
Quarter scores: 15-17, 38-31 (23-14), 60-51 (22-20), 81-76 (21-25).
