Oceania Youth Tournament 2004: Tahiti women recap

How could they go higher? The Tahiti girls team played well in the Oceania Youth Tournament 2004 but they missed to claim a medal against the strongest Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. But the girls should be proud of their games, led by Tareina Adams and Maea Lextreyt, the best players of this team and both of them in the 10 best scorer of the tournament. This squad lacked height and a deeper bench but considering the number of inhabitants in Tahiti, it's very hard to go higher than the 4th place.

Tahiti started the pool phase with one goal: claim one of the two best place and avoid to play Australia or New Zealand in the quarterfinals. They start with an easy 72-19 victory over the small Cook Islands, in this defensive display Tareina Adams scored 18pts and Maea Lextreyt added 16pts. The second game was much harder against the strong fijian team, the girls missed the first-half and were lead 7-45 after two quarter. Only Tahiarii Terriierooiterai managed to score in double figure (10pts), the team finally lost 33-85. Then came a decisive game versus Papua New Guinea for the second place. Maea Lextreyt led the squad with 18pts 11rbs and thanks to their defense, they defeated the Papous 61-43.
Ladder after the pool's phase:
1- Fiji  3-0
2- Tahiti  2-1
3- Papua New Guinea 1-2
4- Cook Islands0-3

In the quarterfinal, Tahiti was facing New Caledonia, the other french territory. The girls used their best weapon, a strong defense, to take 19-point lead at half-time (39-18). They just needed to control the tempo in the second half to secure a 63-39 victory and a bid to the semifinals. Maea Lextreyt was, again, the leading-scorer with 19pts 9rbs, Erena Eta Eta added 15pts and 6rbs.

In a mission impossible-like semifinal against the all-mighty australian team the girls from Tahiti were harmless. Australia has a bigger, a stronger, in one word a better squad. The game ended on a 112-23 score but this 89-point loss was not to disapointting for the team who really enjoyed playing against such a strong team. Again only Tahiarii Terriierooiterai managed to score in double figure (10pts) but her teamates provides no help.
The story was much the same for the bronze medal game against Fiji who already beat Tahiti by 52-points in the pool phase. The girls tried their best, showing a great heart but they really couldn't stand tall versus Fiji and its duo Mikaelar Whippy and Valerie Nainima (25pts both). Tareina Adams was great in this last game with 20pts 7/12FG and Maea Lextreyt ended with 15pts.

Tahiti women U20 stats:
Tareina Adams13.0pts 40.4%FG 37.5%3 71.4%FT 2.8rbs 0.5ast 27min 6gp 20pts vs Fiji
Maea Lextreyt13.0pts 28.8%FG 43.8%3 56.7%FT 5.0rbs 1.2ast 30min 6gp 19pts vs New Caledonia
Tahiarii Teriierooiterai 8.3pts 42.1%FG 62.5%FT 2.8rbs 1.2ast 27min 6gp 12pts vs PNG
Erena Eta Eta 7.3pts 32.0%FG 30.0%3 20.0%FT 3.7rbs 1.0ast 28min 6gp 15pts vs New Caledonia
Naiki Iorss 6.2pts 44.0%FG 33.3%FT 6.3rbs 0.2ast 1.3bs 24min 6gp 13pts vs Cook Islands
Haydee Mihxeurai  3.8pts 33.3%FG 50.0%FT 2.5rbs 0.3ast 15min 6gp 12pts vs Cook Islands
Heiura Nena 0.5pts 12.5%FG 1.2rbs 0.3ast 12min 6gp 2pts vs Fiji
Marion Caron 0.0pts 0/2FG 0.3rbs 3min 6gp

Final Standings:
1-Australia
2-New Zealand
3-Fiji
4-Tahiti
5-Papua New Guinea
6-New Caledonia
7-Solomon Islands
8-Cook Islands