This week’s wrap starts and ends with the accomplishments of BNZ Northern Kāhu, the 2023 GJ Gardiner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa national league champions.

Last week we reported that the Kāhu had claimed the Tauihi regular season title with a 9-3 record, three wins clear of their nearest rivals.

This meant they travelled to Porirua for the Final Four last weekend carrying top seeding heading into the play-off match up with Whai, a team they had beaten on all three occasions in the regular season.

Kāhu made no mistake in the semi-final completing a convincing 105-80 win against the Bay of Plenty rivals with Akiene-Tera Reed top scoring with a season high 29 points.

Tera put together a terrific shooting performance making 9 from 13 (69%) from the field and 9 from 11 (81%) from the free-throw line.  Penina Davidson was also in good form posting a 

double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The semi-final win on Saturday pitched the Kāhu into a Grand Final rematch against Tokomanawa Queens the following day, the team they lost to in the 2022 championship game.

The Kāhu were able to avenge that defeat in a comprehensive manner, winning all four quarters of the contest, sweeping aside the team from the capital 98-72 in a thoroughly convincing display.

Grand Final MVP Ilmar’I Thomas dropped a game high 31 points for the Kāhu while Tera and Penina again played important hands.

Tera scored 21 points and also claimed 11 boards while Penina added 8 rebounds to 16 points to put the icing on fantastic 2023 seasons.

Tera, the former Westlake Girls High standout, scored 238 points at 18.3 points per game finishing the competition as the highest scoring New Zealander in the league. She was also the second highest 3-point shooter making at 23 from 48 from beyond the arc at 48%.

Penina, who made her Tall Ferns debut whilst still at Rangitoto College, averaged 15.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Her rebounding count was second overall in the league and the highest by a New Zealand player.

Whilst the pair enjoyed outstanding Tauihi seasons they weren’t the only locals in the Kāhu playing group that contained former Harbour reps Jaycin and Keeley Tini as well as Ash Udesike (née Kelman-Poto) and Azure Anderson plus current Harbour players Bailey Flavell and Rebecca Moors.

Roll on the 2024 season!