Steel miss out on spot in final

There will be no fairytale finish for the Southern Steel in 2016.

A strong final-quarter blitz has given the experienced Queensland Firebirds a 67-64 victory over the Steel in Brisbane after an intense encounter.

Steel captain Wendy Frew paid tribute to her opponents after the game. ‘‘I thought they played a really clinical 60 minutes and we wish them well for the final.’’

It was a vastly improved start by the gutsy Steel after they were slow out of the blocks in their New Zealand conference final against the Magic last weekend.

They gained a key turnover with the scores at 5-4, from a centre pass by Firebirds player Kim Ravaillion, which gave the Kiwi team a break.

The Steel raced out to a three-goal lead 11-8 as they stopped the flow of ball into the Firebirds’ attacking circle.

A key intercept by Firebirds veteran Clare Mcmeniman and some inspirational defence by the hosts turned the game around.

The Firebirds midcourt helped to unleash Jamaican sharpshooter Romelda Aiken as the hosts took a 19-16 lead after the first quarter.

But the Steel started the second quarter brilliantly.

The visitors grabbed two early turnovers to take a two-goal lead. They varied their attack more to overcome the threat of Mcmeniman and Laura Geitz as midcourters Gina Crampton and Shannon Francois started finding Jhaniele Fowler-reid regularly, while goal attack Te Paea Selby-rickit, who only shot three first-quarter goals, took more long-range shots.

Down the other end, Jane Watson and Te Huinga Selby-rickit started putting pressure on Aiken and Tippett, grabbing two crucial turnovers as the Steel took the second quarter 19-13.

In the second half mistakes started sneaking in as the pressure increased.

The Steel extended their lead to four goals, 30-26, before the Firebirds grabbed key turnovers with the home team ramping up the intensity.

A late goal by Fowler-reid gave the visitors a 49-47 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The home team quickly overturned the deficit as a series of early fourth quarter turnovers stung the Kiwi team.

The experience of the home side started to shine and they raced raced out to a seven-goal lead.

The brave Steel battled back, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit, going down 67-64, with the home team winning the final quarter 20-15.