Falkner shows nerves of steel
Watching the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic pip the Central Pulse in Invercargill yesterday, you wouldn’t have known Monica Falkner was a rookie at this level.
The 21-year-old netted two big goals in the final 70 seconds at Stadium Southland, helping her side to a 50-49 win.
It was not the first time the goal attack has showed cool nerves this season, and she deservedly took the MVP honours, having shot 17 from 19.
Magic coach Margaret Forsyth said Falkner’s display was impressive.
‘‘It was pretty torrid in the shooting circle, as you can imagine against two Silver Ferns, Phoenix Karaka and Katrina Grant, and it was very physical in there,’’ Forsyth said.
‘‘She stood up to that, and was then able to take the ball and be as cool as a cucumber, and the volume was fantastic as well.’’
The Pulse opened up a lead in the first quarter, but the Magic came back to win the opening spell 12-11, and the second 14-12, to take a 26-23 advantage into the break.
But then came the Pulse again, winning the third 15-13 to pull within one, and then going up by three midway through the final stanza, only for the Magic to claw back even then eke in front when it mattered most.
Forsyth said that continuing to come back against a side of the Pulse’s calibre was pleasing.
‘‘It shows that desire and that resilience that I’ve been after for 60 minutes. We talked at the start about just putting everything in there, so they’d know at the end of the game that they’d given it absolutely everything, and they responded in the right way in the big moments of the match.’’
The Magic’s next match is against the Northern Mystics at Claudelands Arena on May 10.