Mystics clinch win against injury-stricken Stars

The Mystics maintained their recent dominance in the Northern Challenge, a surging second half pushing them to a 71-55 win over an injury-ravaged Go Media Stars at Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland on Sunday.

Both teams made numerous changes throughout, the Mystics with the luxury of personnel changes for tactical reasons, but the Stars being forced into change after facing an injury crisis when losing the service of three starting players through the match.

After losing the services of well-performed defenders Greer Sinclair and Kate Burley, the gloom deepened when classy shooter Charlie Bell was carried off with an ankle injury with just over a minute remaining in the match.

Sinclair departed just before the first quarter break with a knee injury and Burley late in the third quarter with an ankle injury, both playing wing defence at the time of their demise.

With midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan returning on managed minutes after overcoming a serious knee injury from last season, the Stars resources were stretched thin.

It was the visiting Stars who got away to a flying start, holding sway over the defending champions during the first stanza with slick through-court play and a flurry of pin-point shooting.

Australian import Bell had the honour of sinking the first Summerset Super Shot of the opening quarter, the 1.96m sharp shooter igniting a bonanza of double point shots which take effect in the last five minutes of each quarter.

With Stars captain Maia Wilson playing a prominent role from goal attack role, the shooting pair produced an impressive opening, the skipper chiming in with a nonchalant three super point shots.

Not to be outdone, Filda Vui ensured the Mystics stayed well in touch, the goal attack seamlessly executing three double-point shots, the quarter producing eight super shots in total.

The super shots dried up from that point with no more being recorded through the following three-quarters of the match as the Mystics overcame a slow start, grinding their way to the front before picking up the pace and romping home.

Rocked by the loss of Sinclair, the Stars held on to a narrow 22-20 lead at the first break.

With a reshuffle in their midcourt, including shooter Monica Falkner picking up the wing attack bib, the Stars rattled off an unanswered five-goal scoring streak with defender Remi Kamo being a prominent force.

Unexpectedly, it prompted a tactical timeout from the Stars but it was the Mystics who gained the most from it, taking full advantage of their own reshuffle and reaping the benefit.

Hannah Glen replaced Vui while at the other end experienced goal defence Holly Rae (nee Fowler) and rising young goalkeeper Catherine Hall tightened their efforts with a rash of turnover ball.

Mystics midcourt lynchpin Peta Toeava was an influential figure with her precision feeds to shooting rock Donna Wallam, who kept the scoreboard ticking over with a succession of one-pointers.

In a quarter which produced no super shots, the Mystics overhauled the Stars to take a 35-32 lead into the main break.

The Stars stayed within arms-length but with their super shots not dropping and having to constantly chop and change their playing personnel, the Mystics moved into a position of dominance after taking a 53-45 lead into the last turn.

Toeava was a shining light, dictating the Mystics attack line with her speed and clever feeds to ever-reliable 1.93m Australian shooter Wallam, who looks the perfect like-for-like replacement for Grace Nweke.

The Mystics former shooting maestro is now plying her trade in Australia but Wallam showed she is a force in her own right with a 52 from 57 return under the post.

Happy to nail the win, there was, however, limited celebration from the Mystics out of respect to the Stars adversity.