It was far from perfect but it ran out a 55-47 winner over the Northern Mystics in Palmerston North on the ANZ Premiership’s opening Super Sunday weekend.
The result was always comfortable, a 17-8 first quarter setting the platform for the Steel to lead by 15 heading into the final quarter. Losing the final quarter 18-11 was surely never in the plan.
However, with another game tonight, the Steel had made several changes to give its experienced players some extra rest.
Up until that point the Steel was dominant, shooting out to a 16-5 lead early on. The defence was disruptive and the attack showed its ability to be patient and look after the ball.
Goal shoot Jennifer O’Connell was physical in the circle and shot well throughout the first half to make 20 of 23 goal attempts.
She showed the Steel should cope fine in the post-Jhaniele Fowler-Reid era and combined well with Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who was sublime at times.
That ensured it led 17-8 at the quarter break and it extended that to 32-21 at halftime.
Coach Reinga Bloxham was not exactly sure what was behind the great start, although had been pleased with it.
"I think they were quite focused. They knew what their jobs were and there was good purpose and intent in the warm-up and that sort of flowed through on to the court,’’ she said.
"We were just really patient looking after our possession and just made sure anything else we had we took it to post and scored as well.’’
The goals slowed down in the third quarter for the Steel but its defence, coupled with poor shooting from the Mystics, enabled it to extend the lead to 44-29.
Bailey Mes’ struggles at goal shoot from the Commonwealth Games continued. She managed just 14 from 27, her confidence seeming to spiral downwards as the game progressed. That culminated in her being shifted to goal attack and Amani brought on at goal shoot midway through the third quarter. She made an immediate impact, scoring 19 goals in a quarter and a-half, shooting at 90%.
Meanwhile, the Steel was out of sorts. Its shooting percentage plummeted to 58% in the fourth quarter.
Te Paea Selby-Rickit attracted more defensive attention with O’Connell on the bench and Olivia Bates struggled to be a shooting threat.Bates had been introduced at halftime alongside Dani Gray and Courtney Elliott, making for a young line-up in the second half.
Bloxham had been glad to get all three some experience, although admitted the side took a while adapting to the new combinations. She was also pleased to give O’Connell, Wendy Frew, Te Huinga Selby-Rickit and Abby Erwood breaks before tonight’s game against the Central Pulse. She said it was something to consider on the double-header weekends and was glad to have been in a position to make those changes.
That game, which will also be in Palmerston North, begins at 7.45pm.
ANZ Premiership
The scores
Steel 55
Te Paea Selby-Rickit 35/46, Jennifer O’Connell 20/23, Olivia Bates 0/3.
Mystics 47
Tera-Maria Amani 19/21, Jamie Hume 14/20, Bailey Mes 14/27.
Q1 17-8, Q2 15-13, Q3 12-8, Q4 11-18.
