Magic take win despite gutsy effort from Steel
Southern Steel might still be winless, but they have at least breathed life into their ANZ Premiership campaign after a gutsy performance against Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
In a woeful start to the season, with losses by 26, 20, 34 and 17, Steel turned up big time in front of their home fans at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill last night, bettered only by a slightlyslicker and more experienced visiting side, who prevailed 54-49.
With Silver Ferns shooters Bailey Mes and Ameliaranne Ekenasio to the fore, shooting 30 from 32 and 24 from 26, respectively, along with a handy double of three rebounds and three intercepts from goal keep Erena Mikaere, the visitors mostly kept their noses in front.
Steel would have entered this game clinging to the positive of having won their first quarter of the season in the final period of their 55-38 loss to the Tactix at the same venue on Monday. They won another one here (in the third) and in the end took a bonus point for their efforts.
Best on court was Mes, with a game-high 30 goals, from 32 attempts, at a healthy 94%. She’s never been the most consistent
goal-sinker but in this sort of form she is quite reliable, and Magic knew if they got the ball to her, the deal was usually done.
The big moment came with a couple of minutes left in the third quarter, Kate Burley forced Magic into a stray pass, which gave Steel the chance to net twice to level at 38-38. However, Heffernan missed a sitter to tie it up, and Magic duly went up the other end to take a three-goal lead. Then in the final seconds of the quarter, Burley picked off a pass, only for Georgia Takarangi to come up with a brilliant intercept, to leave the visitors with a two-point buffer going into the final stanza. Magic jump from fifth to third on the ladder with a 2-2 record, and are back in action on Monday night against the Tactix in Rangiora. Steel remain at the bottom of the table, but now have a point and will be buoyed ahead of hosting Mystics in Dunedin next Saturday.