Tactix into finals series with Steel
A few weeks ago it was almost unthinkable but at the end of the final quarter on last night, it became reality.
The Stars won’t be in the ANZ Premiership playoffs, even though they spent the first 11 weeks of the season at the top of the ladder, after losing a thriller to the Southern Steel, 45-46 in Auckland .
The Steel’s win locked them and the Mainland Tactix into the final two playoff spots and one of the South Island teams will face the Northern Mystics in the grand final at Spark Arena in Auckland on August 8.
The Steel and Tactix will meet in the elimination final a week earlier, but they will be playing for hosting rights in the final round of the regular season, where the Steel will host the Pulse and the Tactix will host the Mystics in a potential grand final preview.
With the Mainland Tactix beating the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic on Sunday afternoon, the Stars went into last night’s game at Pulman Arena needing to win to stay alive in the race for the top three.
And even though goal shoot Maia Wilson struggled for the second week in a row, making just 11 of her 21 attempts, they hung in there for the first three quarters. At the end of the first, it was 13-all. At halftime, it was 24-all. It was their defensive effort, led by Anna Harrison and Elle Temu in the circle, that was keeping them in it – alongside a big effort from goal attack Jamie Hume, shouldering a heavier load than usual.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the visitors’ lead stretched out to five goals, and Stars coach Kiri Wills had seen enough.
She had backed Wilson to bounce back from last week’s dismal outing, and kept her on much longer here than she did then, but the call eventually went out for Monica Falkner to replace her.
The Stars won some crucial ball and Falkner made her first three shots and just like that, the scores were tied, 44-44, with just under five minutes to play.
Fisher put the Steel back in front in the closing stages but Hume couldn’t respond for the Stars. Then Fisher was penalised, and they had a chance to tie things up, only for Falkner to miss the potential equaliser, leaving the Steel to celebrate.