Mystics Close But No Win

A frenetic start to the LG Mystics clash with the Steel kept the large crowd at the Trusts Stadium enthralled but couldn’t give the home team the victory it was aiming for in the ANZ Championship.

An on-song Donna Wilkins provided the push for the Southern Steel to shut out the Mystics 61-52 in an entertaining game on Monday night.
But it wasn’t all the way of the Southerners, who nearly squandered a six-goal halftime lead. 36-32 but bounced back in a tight final quarter.
It was in the third quarter where the Auckland-based team pushed hard and took the score to within a couple of goals and continued the strong showing through most of the final quarter as well. It was only in the last two minutes that the score crept away from them.
However the experienced head and accuracy of Wilkins was vital as she maintained her strong efforts throughout to return 35 shots from 37 attempts for a 95 percent success rate.

The game was physical with both sides, but particularly the Mystics sporting a few bruises after a number of elbows being used in close marking.

The first quarter proved a real arm-wrestle with the teams evenly matched throughout. Both showed a willingness to move the ball crisply and cleanly, making for a free-flowing spectacle as the score was 17-16 to the visitors.
Steel Goal shoot Daneka Wipiiti, while not as accurate as Wilkins, managed to shoot 26 from 34 for a 76 per cent success rate and sunk some invaluable long shots in the final quarter.
Mystics goal shoot Cathrine Latu and goal attack Pamela Cookey took time to get into their work, but by the third quarter were splitting the circle well and sinking their shots with confidence..
Cookey in particular continued some outstanding recent play, getting through a huge amount of effort on defence, working the ball tirelessly on attack and shooting impeccably when it mattered. Cookey was steadier in missing only three of her 26 shots.
However the Mystics who had several team members struck down with the flu were guilty of gaining superb intercepts and then throwing away the ball straight after with a loose pass.
There was a highlight in midcourt as former New Zealand representative Temepara George and current Silver Fern Liana Barrett-Chase battled throughout the game.
Perhaps the biggest hero’s for the Mystics were the defenders Stephanie Bond and Rachel Rasmussen who battle hard against their taller opponents and never gave an inch, whether under the goal or ranging the court.
The LG Mystics now play away to the Magic on Monday 18 May at Rotorua.