Fever Suffers First Defeat for 2015
The Queensland Firebirds have inflicted the first loss on the West Coast Fever this season with a 56-48 win in front of more than 6000 fans at Perth Arena.
In an ominous warning to rivals, the Firebirds overcame a lack-lustre opening quarter performance to make a significant statement on the competition.
The victory gained the Firebirds revenge for their seven-goal loss to the Fever in Brisbane in the opening round and enabled them to secure the Challenge Trophy.
The battle within the battle between Diamonds captain Laura Geitz and the game’s most potent goal shooter Caitlin Bassett (WAIS) lived up to the pre-game hype as the two champions locked horns in an intriguing contest.
Despite receiving plenty of physical attention, Bassett remained focussed and her accuracy, along with that of Natalie Medhurst (WAIS), was decisive. They nailed all 12 attempts in the opening quarter while the Firebirds had one more shot but trailed by three goals at quarter time.
There was plenty of scrappy action early as both sides coughed up turnovers amid the pressure of such a high-stakes clash.
Fever wing defence Ashleigh Brazill (WAIS) was outstanding, getting her hands to plenty of ball to disrupt the Firebirds movement and create opportunities for her side.
The Firebirds were able to secure their own turnover ball, only to waste chances with tardy work in attack. Firebirds goal scoring machine Romelda Aiken was being forced away from the post and it was not until the second quarter that her influence became an issue for the home side.
The Firebirds had more control with their movement and the feed into Aiken had more authority. Even when Aiken missed, her height enabled her to continue her reputation as the leading rebounder.
Diamonds invitee Gretel Tippett struggled with goal shooting but there was no damage as Aiken took control.
At the other end of the court the Fever struggled for clean movement into Bassett, who was under constant close attention from Geitz and seemingly a little frustrated with the treatment.At half-time, Bassett and Fever captain Brazill spoke with the umpires.
As has become a habit with the Fever, Shae Brown (WAIS) was switched from centre to wing defence and Brazill went to the centre. Josie Janz-Dawson (WAIS) also replaced April Letton at goal defence.
The Firebirds also made a change in defence for the third quarter with Bec Bulley taking Clare McMeniman at goal defence.
The intensity of the Firebirds defensive work created a string of turnovers from the Fever and they pounced to grab a six-goal buffer.
Aiken took her career tally to 4000 goals when she shot her 34th goal late in the third quarter.
The Fever needed to find some answers and they responded with the fighting attitude which had propelled them to the top of the ladder, cutting the margin to just three goals at three-quarter time.
The gap was closed to just two early in the final quarter but that was the end of the challenge from the Fever as the Firebirds regained momentum. Bulley created some turnovers and her midcourt team-mates Kim Ravaillion and Caitlyn Nevins provided quality ball for Aiken in the circle, whose poise secured the points and the Challenge Trophy for the Firebrds.
-ANZChampionship