Steel too good for Magic
WELL that was a big statement.
The Southern Steel emerged a 7660 victor as it ran all over the WaikatoBay of Plenty Magic in the second half in Hamilton last night.
It gives the Steel asix point buffer on the fourthplaced Magic on the table, leaving it one win away from clinching a playoff spot.
Just as importantly, it was yet another demonstration the team is coming into form at the right time of the season.
While the side has shown the ability to win the close ones, this was the first time it has been able to pull away and bury an opponent.
The match was a battle between the shooters for three quarters, neither letting the other get away.
Each team missed just one shot in the first half, both feeding with ease and the shooters proving accurate.
The Steel led 3936 at halftime, having led by six at several times but being unable to extend it.
Indeed, only six more shots were missed in the second half, but it was what the Steel was doing further up the court that won the game.
It did not happen straight away, but the Steel stuck with it and late in the third quarter it got out to a 5649 lead.
At that point the Steel put its foot down.
It scored three in a row to open the fourth quarter, taking the deficit to double digits as the Magic attack began to implode.
Te Huinga Reo SelbyRickit continued in her strong form of creating turnovers, and was joined by Abby Erwood and Kate Heffernan, who both had strong games off the bench.
That prevented the Magic from finding its dangerous shooting duo of Lenize Potgieter and Monica Falkner, who shot 41/41 and 19/22 respectively.
However, the Steel had no problems doing so, the absence of Casey Kopua clearly having an impact on the Magic’s defence.
Jennifer O’Connell continued on her upward trajectory, providing an easy target for the feeders and rarely looking like missing.
She finished shooting 53/55, while Te Paea SelbyRickit was equally good with 23/26.
Gina Crampton, who played part of the game at centre, was a constant threat in the midcourt and racked up 45 feeds.
It was arguably the best the attack has fired all season and coach Reinga Bloxham was pleased with how it had operated.
‘‘I think just those connections have been building and we’ve been put under pressure for a lot of weeks now.
‘‘So being able to execute under that pressure is just sort of becoming the normal, I suppose. They’re finishing off a lot better than what they had been.’’
Bloxham said the way the team pulled away at the end was important.
‘‘I think it was really good for our confidence to be able to push on when we had a lead.
‘‘I was something we’ve talked about in the last few weeks.
‘‘’We’ve got ahead and we haven’t quite pushed on the way we wanted to.
’’So to execute and do the things we’ve practised, I’m really happy with that.’’
Steel goal keep Courtney Elliott left the court with a tight calf after the first quarter, although the change was precautionary.