Steel end season on a positive note

Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel wrapped up fourth spot on the points table after posting a closely-fought 61-55 win over Go Media Stars in Invercargill on Monday.

Both teams were out to finish the season on a positive note, the Steel looking to get over the disappointment of narrowly missing out on the Finals Series while the Stars have not had luck on their side in an injury-ravaged campaign.

Despite nothing riding on the final match of the regular season, with both sides already out of Finals Series contention, there was no lack of desire from either side, the Steel holding the edge in the second half to clinch the spoils on the back of a solid season.

Closely contested throughout, the Steel held a two-goal advantage coming into the final quarter during which they took control and shut down any chance of a Stars comeback.

Key targets at both ends, Aliyah Dunn for the Steel and the Stars Maia Wilson, did all that was asked of them from the goal shoot positions with Dunn nailing 42 from 43 and Wilson 44/45.

In the end, the Steel won the moments that mattered while having slightly the better of the possession stakes. The Stars competed gamely but just lacked the consistency to keep the Steel under the pump.  

Both sides made solid and effective starts with the Steel managing to nose in front on the back of pacey and accurate attacking play which was expertly finished by shooters Dunn and Georgia Heffernan. The Stars also gained traction from the long game to bring the contest back to level terms.

Defensive pressure from Carys Stythe and Abby Lawson created turnover opportunities for the home side in the Stars attacking zone, ultimately iced by a super shot from Georgia Heffernan to push the Steel out to a 14-10 lead at the first break.

With defenders Lili Tokaduadua and Remi Kamo getting their hands to intercept opportunities on the resumption, the Stars clicked into gear. Converting their extra ball opportunities, the confidence levels lifted from the visitors.

That resulted in finding their flow, speed and accuracy on attack where the movement of captain Wilson opened the space under the hoop with the ball landing perfectly via Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and Lisa Mather.

Starting with an 8-4 run against them, the Steel took a tactical time out before the Stars nudged into narrow lead, the last five minutes of the second stanza going goal-for-goal and ending in a 28-all stalemate at the main break.

The Steel turned the tables during a high-scoring and entertaining third quarter. The home side needed no second invitation when pouncing on a couple of early lapses in the Stars scoring zone.

The response was rapid and highly accurate through-court play where Kate Heffernan and Kimiora Poi worked the ball expertly to set up the shooting duo of Georgia Heffernan and Dunn. The shooters worked seamlessly in tandem, Heffernan sharing the load while Dunn continued her strong season with an impressive showing.

The Stars hung on admirably, with midcourter Reuelu-Buchanan and Kate Heffernan having a mighty tussle while Wilson ended the stanza in style when sinking a super shot to narrow the Steel’s lead to 45-43 at the last break, leaving the game wide open.