Magic, Steel off to a flying start
The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic have ensured Super Sunday at their place was a party, and not a wake.
They won their season opener 71-48 over the Mainland Tactix at Claudelands Arena, pulling away in the second half to run up the margin.
Through the first two quarters, they were in front because they made their shots, led by a strong showing from South African inter-
national Lenize Potgieter, who finished with 54 goals from 58 attempts, not missing one until the 12th minute of the third quarter.
At halftime, the Magic were shooting 94 per cent to the Tactix’s 71, which meant they had a sixgoal lead despite two fewer attempts.
But down the stretch, they saw more of the ball as well, with Grace Rasmussen’s move to goal attack in place of Monica Falkner helping to grease the wheels, and so they ran up the margin, overpowering the Tactix’s second-string defence.
They also benefited from a size advantage in their defensive circle, where Casey Kopua, returning after a year off, and Kelly Jury were a disruptive duo.
In the first game of the seasonopening triple header in Hamilton, the Southern Steel showed exactly why they’re considered the favourites to take out the title, beating the new Northern Stars team 75-57.
The Stars opened up a small lead early, but the Steel came roaring with four goals in the final minute of the first quarter to take a lead which they never relinquished, their experience and continuity from last year proving too much for their opponents, with Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid on fire in the circle, netting 52 goals from 54 attempts.
Both coaches made use of the unlimited substitutions available to try out a number of combinations, especially as the result became a certainty down the stretch, with the Steel extending their lead to nine, 35-26 at halftime, and 10, 51-41, at the end of the third quarter.
The late match of yesterday’s triple-header was between the Northern Mystics and the Central Pulse.