LG Mystics Let Go Of Lead

Monday, 29 June 2009

The LG Mystics had a win within their grasp but let go of a significant advantage in front of a packed crowd at the Trusts Stadium in the penultimate round of the ANZ Championship on Saturday.

The 59-57 result was as close as the score suggests, yet this time it was the home team which actually held the lead, something they haven’t been used to throughout the season.

Jamaican goal shoot Romelda Aiken at 1.96m provided 47 of her side's goals, but was very limited in anything else and made here side one-dimensional.

Ahead 51-44 with a touch over nine minutes to play the Mystics looked more than likely to bring a smile to the face of coach Te Aroha Keenan.

Instead, the Firebirds cleared the deficit in less than 4min, as the Mystics became tentative letting go of their regular flowing game.

That 12-3 run was pivotal to the final outcome as the Queenslanders showed the desperation required to give their playoffs aspirations a
huge lift.

Notoriously slow starters who have won the first quarter in just one of 12 outings this season, the Mystics against found themselves behind early on.

However, they trailed just 13-16 after the first quarter and then won the second 16-15 to very much remain in the contest.

Shooter Cathrine Latu and Pamela Cookey really got into their work after halftime as the Mystics found an extra spring in their step to win the third quarter 18-12 and earn a lead of 47-43 entering the final stanza.

Latu and Cookey, shared the workload, with Latu ending the match having succeeded with 35 of her 40 attempts while Englishwoman Cookey converted 22 of 25.

Mystics captain Temepara George said her players became hesitant with the victory line in sight.

"We were up by seven with nine minutes to go and we got hesitant with the ball.

"There were some highlights but we've been saying that all season. The disappointing thing is that we should learn from each game and we haven't.

"We had that game in the bag and at the end of the day we lost it."

The LG Mystics end their season on July 6 against Canterbury Tactix in Christchurch..