Shot at glory gone in blink of an eye
IN front of a packed house on Saturday at Reddish Vale, Stockport Lapwings played host to their big local rivals, Manchester Mystics, in the semi-final of the Second Division Championship.
Already holders of the National Cup and the Northern winners of the Second Division, and having beaten Mystics in the National Cup and twice in the League, Stockport started favourites.
It was quickly apparent that Mystics hadn’t come to roll over and bow to their opponents, and took a one point lead in to the second period, stretching it even further to 28-35 on half time.
Stockport began to outscore Manchester in the third period finally catching them again at 48 all late in the third period. Level again two points later, Stockport rounded off the quarter, four points ahead, 54-50.
Striking first at the start of the last period Stockport looked finally in control when they pulled out a ten point lead. But Mystics would not lie down and they scored the next ten points to tie up again at 60 all. The Lapwings took back the lead, but six in a row from Mystics set them back again to 62-66.
Six on the trot from Stockport gave them back a two point lead with the game clock showing there was less than two minutes left to play.
Manchester were next to score and the Lapwings next offence ended in their player being fouled, with two free throws to come. One minute and 23 seconds left and that chance to go ahead was squandered. Manchester now had the chance to take the lead as the final seconds ticked away, but their shot missed and Lauren Quigley took the rebound, and set the Lapwings off on their final offence. There were just 17 seconds left to go as Stockport moved up court, the score 68 all, and overtime looming.
To avoid it Stockport needed to score, or at least not give away the ball with time for the Mystics to respond.
Unfortunately the shot was missed, and it gave Mystics a chance to take a time out, with the game clock stopped at 4.5 seconds. Mystics inbounded the ball, quickly released a shot which this time was good, and the game was won and lost in that one shot.
Because she was fouled on the shot she had a bonus shot off the line.
The clock was stopped showing 1.7 seconds left to play. In a blink of an eye Stockport’s quest for real glory was gone.
But they have plenty to be proud of, Saturday’s loss being only the second in 31 games. So another season comes to an end, Jade Bow Butters played her heart out scoring 30 points, with the best support she received coming from Emma Macready with twelve points.