The South Pac Magic seems to have finally shaken its slow start.
After losing each of its first five matches, the perennial contender has strung together back-to-back victories in Dunedin women’s club basketball.
It was made to work for the latest of those, a 72-63 win over the Andy Bay Falcons, on Tuesday.
Millie Simpson had 28 points to lead the Magic in another strong outing, while Sarah-Joy Aruwa had 18.
But it was on the defensive end that the Magic gained its separation.
It trailed narrowly for the majority of the first quarter, before increasing its defensive pressure, forcing the Falcons into turnovers.
Not only did that cause the Falcons offence to dry up, it gave the Magic an easier source of open looks in transition.
It was that which allowed it to take a 15-14 lead to quarter-time, but more significantly jump to a 34-20 lead midway through the second quarter.
That became 41-27 at halftime, the Magic continuing to cause damage with its press, but the Falcons beginning to generate some offence.
A series of stops allowed the Falcons to get out in transition just after halftime, crucially preventing the Magic from setting up its press.
That generated more quick points for the Falcons.
They forced the Magic into a time-out, as a Madi Loudon steal and lay-up brought the score back to 46-42.
But the Magic lifted again.
Its press started creating turnovers, led by Simpson, who was equally dominant offensively too.
She scored 10 of her team’s next 12 points, a run capped with a three-point play to make it 57-48 early in the fourth quarter.
Brittany Richards (12 points) hit a pair of triples to keep the Falcons in touch, while Elise Carline (18 points) did her best to get her team back in the game.
But the Magic held off the comeback, never letting the margin get back closer than six.
In the late game Ajax made a statement with a 76-49 win over Varsity.
The score had been 45-40 midway through the third quarter, but Ajax finished strongly, piling on the points in the fourth quarter.
Samara Gallaher had 19 points for Ajax, while Emma Trolove added 15.
Caitlin O’Connell led Varsity with 11.
