Magic win to claim home advantage
The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic have claimed home advantage for their trans-Tasman league semifinal after beating the Northern Mystics in the New Zealand Conference final in Auckland last night.
Their 57-54 victory at The Trusts Arena means they will host the second-placed Australian side – the NSW Swifts – in Hamilton on Sunday at 7.10pm, with the Mystics having to travel to Brisbane to face top Aussie team the Queensland Firebirds on Sunday, at 2.18pm.
Despite the quick turnaround from Saturday’s conference elimination final, the Magic made a slick start and did well to keep up their intensity throughout the con- test, with Casey Kopua playing her first full game back since injury – at goal defence.
All four shooters were on target early, with the Mystics’ sole miss of the quarter being a long attempt from Maria Tutaia on the whistle, with the hosts going to quartertime behind 16-15 after the Magic had nailed all but two of their attempts.
The Magic started the second quarter well, with a Jamie-Lee Price intercept and a wayward Tutaia pass allowing them to get out to a handy 21-15 advantage.
At the other end of the court Temalisi Fakahokotau was proving an inspiration for the home side, as the exciting 20-yearold went for ball after ball and often came up trumps. The Magic were also guilty of some average passing, and it let the Mystics claw their way back to 28-28 at halftime.
After the break both teams immediately threw the ball away, but it was the Mystics who were able to get their noses in front by three.
All took a gasp when Kopua was banged to the floor by Tutaia. After everything she has been through recently it looked another sorry sight with Kopua clasping her hand over her head. However it was just a knock to the noggin and the Silver Ferns skipper kept going.
Mystics coach Debbie Fuller surprisingly opted to bench Fakahokotau, with Sulu ToneFitzpatrick taking her place at goal keep.
Despite the Magic levelling the scores in the third period, they went to three-quarter time behind 43-41, but quickly tied the game up again, with Malia Paseka (22/26) playing a far bigger supporting act alongside Jo Harten (35/38).
At 51-51 Kopua pulled in a rebound from a Tutaia (28/32) miss, Lees was warned by the umpires and the Magic got themselves a two-goal lead. With 31⁄ minutes to go Kopua then called time for treatment to a knee, however it was the right one rather than her recently damaged left.
From the restart the Mystics were harshly pulled for a break when Kopua had apologised to Tutaia for knocking her out of position, and the Magic were able to go ahead 55-51. Fuller brought Fakahokotau back for ToneFitzpatrick, but it was too late, as the Magic closed it out.