Talk about a comeback. The Southern Hoiho came back from the death to beat the Mainland Pouakai 75-74 in Christchurch last night.
The Hoiho trailed since the first quarter but produced an unbelievable 18-5 final quarter to bring it back and start the season with three wins from three games.
American import Paige Bradley was a calm presence, and, slotting two points, brought the scoreline back to seven points in the middle of the fourth period.
Ashten Prechtel produced a big block, Zoe Richards drove to the hoop and sank the two, while drawing the foul.
She missed the free throw, but Prechtel was there to gather the crumbs and put the ball up to trail by one.
Bradley then drew the foul, too, and nailed both free throws for the Hoiho to finally take the lead for the first time since early in the game, with 9sec to go.
That was all it took with the Hoiho on the right side of the scoreboard. Members of the bench stampeded on to the court to celebrate the come-from-behind victory.
Bradley was strong all game, finishing with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Prechtel, too, had 22 points, eight rebounds and a game-changing seven blocks.
The winless Pouakai had the better of the first three quarters.
Sharne Robati scored a game-high 24 points and import Jasmine Dickey — playing her first game — finished on 16 points.
The Hoiho had a shaky start and the Pouakai took advantage, going on a 7-0 run.
The visitors went on a nine-point flurry at the end of the quarter.
Bradley hit the top of the arc, and as Zoe Richards cut to the hoop, Bradley flicked it off for Richards to finish.
Bradley’s ability to off-load to put her players to the hoop is second to none.
That gave the Hoiho its first lead of the game, but Pouakai grabbed a late basket to lead 23-22.
But that surge came undone in the second quarter, when the Pouakai piled on 27 points.
Robati was lethal at the hoop and the Pouakai looked a completely new side from the one that dropped their opening two games.
The Hoiho’s rebounding game they pride themselves on was lacking early, but Prechtel swatted away shot after shot.
But the Pouakai took a 50-39 lead into the halftime break.
The Hoiho muscled up in the third quarter.
Samara Gallaher drained a lovely three, Prechtel added another two points, and then a couple of free throws, to bring the score back to nine points.
Tsubasa Nisbet drove to the post, hooked it in and pushed the lead back out to 69-57 at the third quarter.
Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa
The scores
Southern Hoiho 75
Paige Bradley 22, Ashten Prechtel 22
Mainland Pouakai 74
Sharne Robati 24, Jasmine Dickey 16
