Horouta missed too many shots at goal and misdirected too many passes to threaten Waikohu.
Both teams had good passages of play, especially in the first half when all players had to work together to get the ball in to their shooters.
In the second half, Waikohu tightened their defence and opened up their attack to pull away.
Waikohu co-coach Pania Tomoana described it as a “real team effort”.
“The girls were committing themselves right through the court and the shooting accuracy was very good,” she said.
Her coaching offsider, Cheryl Te Rito, said the team were confident, and worked together very well.
“It didn't matter who we put on. They brought the ball through the court nicely. They played very well together.”
Horouta Gold coach Charnelle Rutene put it simply.
“We got outplayed and outmuscled tonight,” she said.
“It was not a good enough performance against a team like Waikohu.”
Rutene said every point was vital at this end of the season.
Last night Horouta Gold came away empty-handed.
“We have two games left now, against Whangara Old Girls and F45 High School Old Girls, and they are must-win games if we want to make the top four.”
Waikohu defender Humaria Higgins had a good game. She seemed to be everywhere on the court, putting pressure on the ball carrier, creating turnovers with her tips and intercepts, and being available for back-up passes.
Waikohu centre Jessica Ruru also had a good game. She was a strong link between both ends, drove to the top of the goal circle and had good placement of her passes in to the shooters.
In the other game last night, Whangara Old Girls and Gillies Electrical Gisborne Girls' High School fought out an exciting game that could have gone either way.
The students led 11-10 after 15 minutes, it was 24-all at halftime, and Girls' High were up 40-35 at three-quartertime.
But Whangara came back at them in the final 15 minutes to win 51-48.
The third quarter was virtually goal for goal.
In the last few minutes of it there was some good passing from Girls' High centre Te Arai Waihape-Matthews in to shooter Kassie Owen, who was slipping effortlessly along the baseline, and the students pulled ahead by five goals.
However, five minutes into the last quarter, the experienced hands of Whangara had pulled back the deficit and the score was 42-all.
In that period, Whangara Old Girls shooters Tiara Weir and Nardia Whaitiri-White, along with midcourters Taley-Jade Kemp and Miriata Callaghan, created good movement in the goal third and worked the ball speedily into the goal circle for the shooters to score some impressive goals.
From 42-all, Whangara scored a run of goals to lead 48-44 and they managed to keep the students at bay to take the win.
GGHS Snr A were pressured into errors at critical times in the game and had to be content with a bonus-point loss.
Girls' High coach Tanya Owen said it was a disappointing result for the girls.
“I feel like we lost connections during that final quarter and made far too many errors,” she said.
“Whangara are an experienced side, and they capitalised on our mistakes.”
Girls' High will face the top two teams in their final two games in round-robin play before the playoffs.
YMP and Waikohu are on top of the points table with 28. Whangara have 13, Girls' High 12, Horouta Gold 11 and High School Old Girls 10.
The third and fourth spots for the playoffs are still very much up for grabs.
