Steel win extra-time thriller over Magic

Needing extra time to find a winner, in a first for the season, Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel edged a gallant Avis Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 56-53 in a drama-filled and intense outing in Dunedin on Saturday.

With the scores tied 51-all at the end of regular time, extra time was called with teams needing to play out two three-minute halves, the super shot staying in play and with one team needing to win by three as a result.

Georgia Heffernan gave the Steel the upper hand when nailing the only super shot of the match just as the first spell of extra time ended, the home side, roared on by a capacity crowd, holding their nerve through the final three minutes to seal a hard-fought win.

That extended the Steel’s winning streak to six consecutive matches and, for the moment, into top spot on the table. Despite the disappointment of coming so close, the Magic could take plenty of heart after delivering their best outing of the season.

Winning just two quarters through the first six rounds, the Magic won two more in this game alone and kept the high-flying Steel on notice throughout a riveting and absorbing contest while also securing their first points, courtesy of a bonus for finishing within five.

For the home side, shooter Aliyah Dunn and defender Carys Stythe were key performers, the ever-reliable Dunn scoring a perfect game with 46 from 46 for the second week in a row while Stythe was at her menacing best with four intercepts and eight deflections.

Athletic shooter Saviour Tui and long-reaching defender Oceane Maihi were at the heart of the Magic’s resurgent form which could have a big impact in the coming rounds and the make-up of teams (top three) contesting the Finals Series.

Producing one of their best quarters of the season, the Magic kept the Steel honest through a close and keenly contested opening. Finding more flow in their attacking game with Tui prominent through her timing and aerial skills, the Magic converted all of their first quarter attempts.

With Dunn, the competition’s most accurate shooter, performing in similar fashion at the other end, the Magic’s defensive efforts led to turnovers and increased opportunities. Unable to make best use of their own turnover ball and poor option-taking at times, the Steel were given plenty to think about when trailing 14-15 at the first break.

The Magic continued to provide a stern defensive examination on the resumption as a dogged exchange unfolded. That forced the Steel into a game of patience, the energy and experience of captain Kimiora Poi in tandem with the defensive work of Stythe helping the home side gain the slightest of edges.

Centre Poi was a standout, both on attack and defensively, while rangy goalkeeper Stythe was at the heart of snapping up clean turnover opportunities with her quick footwork and ability in the air.

For the Magic, the defensive trio of Edgecombe, Maihi and Erena Mikaere ensured the visitors remained well up for the contest. A couple of lapses on attack from the Magic stalled their momentum, the Steel grabbing the initiative to ease into the lead but well aware the Magic remained hot on their heels when heading into the main break with a 28-26 lead.

The signs looked ominous for the Magic when the Steel scored the first three goals of the third stanza but the visitors were far from done, absorbing and then inflicting their own momentum swing on the back of fine defensive hustle from Maihi, who was a standout at one end, while an increasingly confident Tui was back to her best through her athletic ability and finishing.

The Magic negated the Steel’s three-goal run with two three-goal runs of their own to hand the lead back in their favour, the midcourt link between Ariana Cable-Dixon and Tui growing ever more evident as the visitors snuck a 40-39 lead at the last break and leaving the game wide open.