After a long 10-week preseason, the Hoiho are ready to hit the floor in the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa league.
They finally get that chance tonight when the Hoiho take on the defending champions, the Tokomanawa Queens, in the opening game in Porirua.
"It’ll be good to finally hit the court, that’s for sure," Hoiho head coach Todd Marshall said.
"It felt like it was months away and all of a sudden we’re here.
"Can’t wait to get on the floor. Wee bit of nerves, but we’re really looking forward to it."
It is a big game first up to start the season — followed by their first home game on Saturday — and Marshall wanted his players to learn who they were as a team and how they worked together.
"It’s really about doing all the little things that coaches go on and on about before we start looking [ahead]," Marshall said.
"We’ve just got to get to know each other and do things that we’ve been doing in training.
"It’s always different when you hit the floor for the first game, or two, with the change ... a lot more head to head.
"So there will be an adjustment there, but just stick to what we’ve been doing, and ride through the bad spots and any good spots, grab them and make them last as long as you can."
The Hoiho have had a good build-up to the season, having the added luxury of their first two imports, Ashten Prechtel (United States) and Ahlise Hurst (Australia), joining them early.
"It’s just been really nice to get both Ashten and Ahlise in early to get to know some of the girls and loosen up and get ready for the season."
Paige Bradley, an American point guard who has been playing with the Hobart Chargers in Australia, will link up with the squad in Porirua tonight. Former Junior Tall Fern Gracie Roberts-Hare, who has been playing overseas, will also join the team.
There are strong imports scattered throughout the league’s five teams this season — including several who have been drafted previously into the WNBA — making for a good standard.
"It’s pretty cool — they set that tone last year, really," Marshall said.
"They really went after the best quality they could get and it’s just continued this year.
"We’ve tried to make sure we’re in amongst that group of bringing players over that have come from really good, strong performances and I think that’s what we’ve done."
The Hoiho staff have also put an emphasis on drawing on the experience of past Otago players to create their culture, putting out a "general invite" for anyone to be involved in their set-up, which had been well-received by present players.
"We want to give them a wider network of support and not just to be too isolated in their own little shell.
"We’d love anybody out there that’s been a past player, or heavily involved in the women’s programme, to feel that they are welcome at any of our trainings, anything that we do, and love for them to get to know the team."
