Commentator's Call: Race to the finals heating up
If that’s how the Magic play after a poor practice, Marg Forsyth will be hoping all future trainings are as bad.
In a special Hobbiton-themed match on Wednesday night, the Waikato Bay of Plenty side firmly despatched the Northern Mystics 67-52.
It was the Magic’s best performance of the year, and came on the back of what shooter Lenize Potgieter described as a terrible training session. It catapults them into fourth place on the ladder, breathing down the neck of the Tactix, with a game in hand.
It was a curious performance from the Mystics. Super first and third quarters from the home side of 18-11 and 18-12 respectively, shut them out of the game. Casey Kopua’s class was clear for all to see and the Magic’s shooting circle had their best outing yet. In fact, it was very much a team performance.
The Mystics need to be careful. Only a total collapse in form will prevent the Pulse making the finals, and that means only two other teams will go through. For now, the Steel and the Magic look the most likely, but it’s dangerous to write off the Mystics just yet. Remember their win over the Pulse, the week after being thrashed by them 60-38.
As far as Round 9 is concerned, the Mystics have a quick turnaround. They’re in Nelson on Sunday afternoon to play the Tactix for the third time. They’re one apiece so far this year, and if the Tactix can pull out another gutsy finish, they’ll fancy their chances.
The Tactix beat the Steel at their own game in Round 8, holding their nerve to take a nail-biting win. It means that for the first time in their ANZ Premiership history, the Steel has copped two losses in a row. The bad news for the southerners is that they play the red-hot Pulse in Invercargill on Monday night and could extend that unwanted record.
The round is completed in Auckland on Wednesday night when the Stars host the Magic. The score line in the Stars’ 66-50 loss in Porirua last week flattered the Pulse. It was a far more entertaining game than the margin suggests, particularly in the third quarter which the Stars won 17-12.
Shooters Maia Wilson (41/42) and Aliyah Dunn (40/43) stole the show and there are going to be some selection headaches for the Silver Fern selectors.