THE OIL
You always sit and wonder where things could have gone differently when a team does not make the playoffs. The Southern Hoiho have, unfortunately for them, become that team this season, finishing with three wins and nine losses from their 12 games in the Tauihi league.
It was not all doom and gloom for the Hoiho. They played some good basketball, and if they had managed to get a win in their opening three games, it could have given them a bit of a push.
But lots of little moments let them down. Teams were able to get runs of scoring against them, and that hurt the Hoiho with some big scorelines going against them late in the season.
Samantha Bowman was sensational, Paige Bradley hardly had a bad game and Zoe Richards was a big presence again.
Ahlise Hurst struggled through the middle of the season with her trademark shots from beyond the arc not dropping. But she came back strongly over the final weeks and attacked the paint to open things up inside for herself.
Injuries hurt the Hoiho, too, Richards, Bowman and Samara Gallaher missing games through niggles.
BEST GAME
The 88-83 win over the Tokomanawa Queens.
Seven days after an agonising 86-85 loss to the Queens, the Hoiho turned that fall into fire when they ignited in Wellington to beat last year’s finalists.
It was a complete team performance and showed the heart and grit the Hoiho had against one of the toughest in the league.
Four players finished in double digits, and point guard Bradley starred with 28 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals.
WORST GAME
The 94-53 loss to the Whai.
There were a couple of tough ones throughout the season, but nothing really went to plan in their lopsided loss to the Whai on Saturday.
Bowman and Richards were out with injury and several bench players got a run to wrap up the year in the heavy 41-point loss.
MVP
Bowman was a big asset in her first season for the Hoiho. The United States import, who came via two seasons in the Australian NBL1, was a weapon under the hoop at both ends of the floor. Bowman, who battled through a calf complaint in the latter half of the season, finished in the league’s top 10 for offensive rebounds (42), defensive rebounds (67), steals (22) and blocks (10).
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Bradley really can do no wrong. One of the best point guards in the country was key in her second stint with the Hoiho this season. She finished second in the league for assists (58) and in the top 10 for points with 170.
American Natalie Chou also did not get the flowers she deserved. Always the first to hustle on defence and put some big pressure on to shut down gun players, Chou finished the season with 12 blocks, 21 steals and 35 second-chance points, and shot 75% from the free throw line, the highest in the Hoiho.
CAMEO AWARD
Chelsea D’Angelo had some nice moments off the bench throughout the season. The Australian import wrapped up with 18 steals and made 17 three-pointers.
