LG Mystics Comeback Not Enough

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

The LG Mystics were left to rue a first half blow-out in their latest match of the 2009 ANZ Championship. The eventual loss 50-52 to the Southern Steel in Invercargill could have gone either way but a 15-goal lead by the home side early on had the LG Mystics on the back foot all the way.

The win for the Steel saw Daneka Wipiiti farewell the 2009 competition due to pregnancy, and with her southern team-mates had to call on all their resources to stave off a brave second half fightback from the Mystics.

The little-played Grace Rasmussen was the only surprise in the Mystics line-up as she slotted into wing attack for her first outing since round five. The Steel also presented near-enough to full-strength with the exception of defender Sheryl Scanlan, who was forced out with injury.

Early lapses and missed goals by the LG Mystics helped the Steel edge into a position of control midway through the opening quarter. Fluent and fast through court, the Steel were well-served by shooters Wipiiti and Donna Wilkins, who were in sparkling form under the goal.

Effective use of the midcourt zone and smothering defence from Megan Hutton and Katrina Grant had the Steel well primed as they opened up a handy lead and looked set to run away with proceedings.

A late rally helped the LG Mystics repair some of the damage but it was the southerners who held all the cards in leading 14-9 at the first break.

Looking to run riot on the back of seven straight goals, the Steel shot out to a 15-goal lead before Mystics captain Temepara George sparked a mini revival from the visitors.

Replacement shooter Jade Topia added more movement to the Mystics shooting circle as the visitors chipped away at the deficit. While far from out of the woods, the Mystics did an admirable job in pegging back the Steel's halftime lead to 28-21.

It was a fired up Mystics who returned to the court intent on resurrecting their fortunes in earnest.

The speed of Topia and Pamela Cookey on attack offered the Mystics more opportunities in goal while George was at her brilliant best tracking all over court as she gained a number of steals.

Getting more purchase in the goal circle, the Mystics continued to whittle away the deficit as errors crept into the Steel's game. Giving away more turnovers during this quarter, it was defender Grant who allowed the home team to keep their noses in front with some timely intercepts.

The Steel went to the last break 39-35 ahead to ensure a tense final stanza.

Turnovers were scarce in a torrid run home as both teams were resolute in maintaining possession. There were few chinks as the teams went goal-for-goal throughout a thrilling 15 minutes.

The Mystics had to wait until the last minute to get the vital break in narrowing the gap to two but were left to question how they let the score get so far ahead in the first half.

The LG Mystics next game is against the top side, the Melbourne Vixens on Saturday 20 June at the Trusts Stadium at 2pm.