Through to the finals by the barest of margins.
The Southern Steel clung on for a 46-45 win over the Northern Stars in Auckland last night.
That elevated the Steel to 30 points and gave it an unassailable lead over the fourth-placed Stars with one game left, sealing
a spot in the ANZ Premiership’s elimination final.
The Steel will meet the Mainland Tactix in that game, although home court is still
undecided.
It was a win typical of the way the Steel has played all season.
The team scrapped its way to a four-goal lead early in the third quarter.
From there it held the Stars off and while the hosts got the score back to 44-44 late in the game, they never took the lead.
The Steel was patient and delivered just enough to hold on.
All four shooters on court had a shot each in the final two minutes, but the Steel’s George Fisher was the only one to hit.
The Steel was clinical at the shooting end, Fisher and Tiana Metuarau connecting on a combined 46/51.
The Stars stayed in the game, with veteran goal keep Anna Harrison causing chaos for the Steel feeders.
But the side was unable to effectively use that ball.
The Stars shot just 70%, taking 13 more shots than the Steel.
Maia Wilson notably managed just 11/21, a second poor shooting night in a row for the Silver Fern.
Steel coach Reinga Bloxham was both relieved and ecstatic at the result.
"We always knew it was going to be an arm-wrestle and it was an absolute battle right to that last whistle," she said.
"I thought at times we showed a lot of composure and then at times we probably were too composed and held the ball a little bit much and got a bit choked up.
"But just absolutely stoked the way it played out.
"I thought Tiana did a good job and George Fisher, it was great to see her have a good game against that defensive end."
The intensity both teams started with was notable and while both turned ball over, they went to quarter-time at 13-13.
The Stars’ shooting woes became apparent after the break.
They made just 11 of their 21 second quarter shots, Wilson stuttering at 2/9.
Meanwhile the Steel shooters were clinical, but the Stars scrapped well to go into halftime at 24-24.
Two pick-ups to start the third quarter gave the Steel a 28-24 buffer.
From there the side held its lead and while Harrison came up with two key intercepts — one early and one late in the quarter — it maintained a 37-35 lead to end the quarter.
The Steel made that lead five early in the fourth quarter.
However, Harrison continued to cause chaos in the Steel shooting circle and came up with ball.
The Stars reeled the lead in and got it back to 44-44, before Fisher got the Steel over the line late in the game.
