The Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa champions beat the Southern Hoiho 87-78 in Auckland this afternoon.
After being down 25-19 at the end of the first quarter, the Kāhu chipped away at the Hoiho and really made their break in the third quarter.
Taking a 20-point lead midway through set them up for the rest of the game.
But the Hoiho came back fighting to close that gap during the fourth quarter.
The Hoiho started well, and overall looked pretty good, but the Kāhu’s pressure in the second half mounted and made things difficult.
The visitors' shots fell short and they were unlucky to not have more calls go their way.
Paige Bradley banged down a three to get the Hoiho under way, and Samantha Bowman and Natalie Chou followed.
Considering the Hoiho only scored five from 32 beyond the arc against the Tokomanawa Queens on Friday, it was just the start the visitors were after.
Ahlise Hurst came up with a big steal as the Kāhu went to the hoop, and Chou just kept the scoreboard ticking.
Zoe Richards' work rate and hustle in the paint was impressive, using her body to dupe the Kāhu into fouls.
Krystal Leger-Walker drove hard to the hoop for the Kāhu and drew the foul to lock the game up.
The Kāhu found some flow and transitioned nicely to go on a 15-2 scoring run.
But when the Hoiho got aggressive, things started to swing back their way.
Bowman banged a three and Chou put her in the right space in the paint to level the scores again.
The Kāhu absorbed that pressure and Mary Goulding scored a corner three on the buzzer for the Kāhu to lead 47-38 at halftime
Tahlia Tupaea was unstoppable and drained three triples to extend the Kāhu’s lead to 18 points.
She ripped the game wide open for the Hoiho to lead 66-51.
Earlier, the Hoiho won their second rapid league fixture beating the Kāhu 32-27.
