LG Mystics keep top four dreams alive

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Conjuring up their best all-round performance of the ANZ Championship season so far, the LG Mystics kept alive their top-four dreams with a 52-49 victory over the Southern Steel in Invercargill last night.

In a physically demanding match, marked by an almost flawless shooting display from LG Mystics goal shoot Cathrine Latu, the Steel admitted to being out-energised by a Northern side desperate for a win to stay competitive.

LG Mystics captain Temepara George said each week her side were making a step up in their play.

"I think we have the talent within the team, and we had to come out and give a good performance", she said.

The LG Mystics now sit alongside the Steel in a transtasman logjam with the Thunderbirds and the Firebirds, all vying for fourth spot.

The Steel came into the match on the back of two uncomplicated wins; coach Robyn Broughton sticking with her reliable starting seven, asking them to be confident, patient and in control.

LG Mystics coach Te Aroha Keenan was calling on her side to finally produce the consistent performance which has been missing from the Mystics repertoire this season.

Fine tight play was the signature of both sides from the outset, the Steel making the first advance to lead by three after the opening five minutes.

Steel midcourters Wendy Frew and Liana Barrett Chase put in some smart feeds to Megan Dehn and Daneka Wipiiti, who were comfortable sharing the shooting duties.

When LG Mystics goal attack Maria Tutaia found room to move, her sweet shooting brought it back to level-pegging, and then just as quickly, into the lead by three as Mystics added five straight goals just before the first break.

Down 16-12 going into the second spell, the Steel were encouraged by Broughton to shut down Tutaia, who was settling in as the key to the LG Mystic’s growing advantage. Te Huinga Reo Selby-Ricki, at goal defence, answered the call straight away, putting the pressure on LG Mystics goal shoot Cathrine Latu to take on the weight of the shooting.

Latu didn’t miss a beat, or a shot, and the LG Mystics went on another scoring spree to lengthen the distance between the teams to nine.

With Joline Henry and Althea Byfield rock solid on defence for the LG Mystics, the Steel were forced into a chain of mistakes in and around their circle which reverberated through the court.

With the halftime score seven goals in the LG Mystics favour, 30-23, the Steel brought their impact player, shooter Julianna Naoupu, on court to try to better their scoring statistics. Naoupu had her work cut out for her - up against a charging Byfield, who showed no signs of the ankle tweak she suffered right on halftime, but the young shooter stormed into the game like an old hand.

In defence, Steel poured on the pressure, wing defence Erica Burgess making her presence felt, and the Southerners slashed at the deficit to get within two. But the magical sleight of hand of George yet again kept the LG Mystics in the game, and 40-37 ahead going into the final quarter.

The last 15 minutes were relatively subdued in comparison to the feisty pace maintained for the rest of the match. With less than two minutes on the clock, Steel staged a last-gasp comeback to close within two again, but a long shot popped in by Tutaia - finishing with 88 percent accuracy in strong support of Latus 28 from 29 - ensured a much-needed LG Mystics win.