Tiarna Clarke has warmed up for the Commonwealth Games with a three-point shooting barrage.
The 23-year-old, who will represent the Tall Ferns 3x3 at the sport’s first appearance at the Games in Birmingham, put on a shooting clinic on Sunday.
She starred for the Mid-North Whai in their 99-69 thumping of the Mainland Pouākai in Christchurch – draining 11 threes, a New Zealand women’s record, in her 34 points.
The Whai’s win lifts them to a 3-2 record in the new Tauihi competition and sets up a top of the table showdown on Tuesday in Tauranga against the unbeaten Northern Kāhu.
Clarke was in terrific touch for the Whai with 33 of her 34 points coming from three point land.
Nine of her threes came in the second half, including six in the third quarter as the Whai outscored the Pouākai 41-22 in the term to take control.
The Pouākai had been in the game until then, trailing by just four points at halftime (36-32).
Three weeks into the inaugural Tauihi competition, the Kāhu remain the lone side with a perfect record.
The Auckland-Northland based side again showed why they are early-season title favourites, moving to 5-0 with a 81-76 win over the winless Southern Hoiho.
Most would have expected the unbeaten Kāhu to run out easy winners over the Hoiho in Auckland on Friday, but they were pushed all the way.
It was the Hoiho who led 17-15 after the first quarter, fuelling hopes of their first win of the competition and a giant-sized upset.
The Kāhu predictably got into their rhythm and took a 38-31 advantage into halftime, but were never able to pull away from the plucky Hoiho.
A Zoe Richards three with 48 seconds left set up an exciting finish with the Hoiho clawing within two at 76-74.
Veteran Tall Fern Micaela Cocks delivered the dagger blow at the other end, replying with a three to push the margin to five.
Cocks again showed her quality, contributing a team-high 22 points and four assists for the Kahu.
Australian guard Tahlia Tupaea, the best player in Tauihi through three rounds, had another strong all-round game with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
American forward Laina Snyder did all she could to lift the Hoiho to their first win, shining again with 32 points, eight assists, and six rebounds.
The Pouākai would have been disappointed by their sub-par showing against the Whai, having beaten the Tokomanawa Queens in Wellington three days earlier.
American forward Trinity Baptiste powered the Pouākai to a 69-66 win over the Queens with 27 points and eight rebounds.
It was tied at 64 with just over a minute to play after a Florencia Chagas bucket, but Baptiste nailed four straight free throws to clinch the win.
The Hoiho and Queens conclude round three in Dunedin on Wednesday (7pm start) with the southerners targeting their first victory.
AT A GLANCE:
Tauihi round three:
At TSB Arena, Wellington: Mainland Pouākai 69 (Trinity Baptiste 27, Tessa Boagni 13, Ella Fotu 10) Tokomanawa Queens 66 (Jaime Nared 24, Elin Gustavsson 12, Florencia Chagas 10, Jacinta Beckley 10) 1Q: 17-19, HT: 35-29, 3Q: 49-44.
At Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland: Northern Kāhu 81 (Micaela Cocks 22, Tahlia Tupaea 14, Ashleigh Kelman-Poto 13, Madison Wolf 12) Southern Hoiho 76 (Laina Snyder 32, Shelby Cheslek 13) 1Q: 15-17, HT: 38-31, HT: 60-51.
At Cowles Stadium, Christchurch: Mid-North Whai 99 (Tiarna Clarke 34, Kyra Lambert 22, Nikki Greene 17) Mainland Pouākai 69 (Baptiste 20, Erin Whalen 20) 1Q: 19-18, HT: 36-32, 3Q: 77-54.
Standings: Kāhu 5-0, Whai 3-2, Pouākai 3-3, Queens 2-3, Hoiho 0-5.
Credit: Stuff.co.nz
