You always want to play well.
But when you have been on a slide, sometimes it is just as important to win any way you can.
The Southern Steel did that in Auckland last night.
It picked up its second win of the season, holding off the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 41-40.
That brings the Steel to 10 points, lifting it from being the sole team at the bottom of the table to be tied with the Magic.
It showed fight, and after leading by five, it executed in key moments to hold off a late run from the Magic.
Shannon Saunders was instrumental in creating turnovers and bringing energy to the Steel.
Veteran shooter Ellen Halpenny has joined the squad as an injury replacement and she provided a steady influence.
She was injected midway through the third quarter and shot a perfect nine from nine.
Steel coach Reinga Bloxham said it was great to get the win, admitting there was a mixture of relief and excitement.
"I think it’s a bit of both really.
"It’s been fairly tough losing Jen [O’Connell] and Georgia [Heffernan].
"To get that win has given us a bit more confidence that we might be able to pull ourselves out of this and keep moving forward."
She said the side’s confidence had grown after a nervy start.
"I think it’s been a baptism of fire. You’ve got to work under pressure to get that combination and connection.
"I think the attack, when they got that confidence in themselves, away they went.
"They were a bit scratchy at the start, but definitely pulled through in the end."
The Steel faced a 5-1 deficit early, but Pelasio rebounded a miss to peg one back and get the attacking end going.
Saunders’ spark in the midcourt became influential and Kate Heffernan was equally key in creating turnovers.
The Steel went to the first break down 10-9 and quickly took a 12-10 lead.
The teams traded the lead again midway through the quarter, before heading to halftime at 20-20.
In the third quarter the Steel finally opened a gap.
A penalty and missed shot from Magic goal shoot Kelsey McPhee gave the Steel two opportunities, both of which it took.
Meanwhile, Halpenny entered the game and barely put a foot wrong.
She slotted a goal late in the quarter to make it 30-25.
The Magic closed that gap to one again, before the Steel once more opened a five-goal lead.
It showed patience with the ball to create good shots, while holding the Magic to just one shot in four minutes.
The Magic came back once more, but the Steel executed when it needed to, Halpenny slotting what proved to be the winning shot with 48 seconds left.
In the other games, the Central Pulse beat the Northern Mystics 44-38, before backing up with a 33-32 win over the Mainland Tactix.
The Steel plays again tonight against the Tactix in Auckland.
