Steel keep finals hopes alive

Ameliaranne Ekenasio delivered her best game of the ANZ Premiership season, but she couldn’t lead the Magic to their second win in three days.

The Southern Steel kept their top three finals hope alive with a crucial 51-49 win over the Magic in Rotorua last night.

It was a vital victory for the Steel, who need to keep winning to maintain the pressure on the Central Pulse and Stars for a place in the elimination final (two versus three).

With the win the fourth-placed Steel move to 16 points. They trail the Pulse and Stars, who have 22 points, by six points, but do have a game in hand, having five round games left.

Despite not getting the win, it was a gritty performance from the bottom-placed Magic, who were playing their third game in five days.

The Steel clung to a 50-49 lead in the last minute, but goal attack Georgia Heffernan was whistled for held ball, giving the Magic possession.

Ekenasio couldn’t convert a late goal that would have tied the score and George Fisher scored at the other end to clinch the win.

The sides delivered a fiercely fought contest with the score level at the end of the first quarter, halftime and third quarter.

There was no love lost with Magic goal keep Erena Mikaere and Steel’s English goal shoot George Fisher involved in a physical challenge while jostling for the ball in the third quarter.

While the Magic couldn’t gain their third win of the season, Ekenasio’s performance in the shooting end was heartening.

Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua would have been delighted to see her produce her strongest outing of the season.

Ekenasio made a slow start to the season, easing her way back after the birth of daughter Luna in November, and then had to deal with Covid-19 and return to play protocols.

The former national skipper, who is targeting selection for July’s Commonwealth Games, got through 60 minutes again and worked well alongside Mes in the shooting end. She converted 27 of her 33 attempts and also grabbed two rebounds.

After butchering a lead against the Tactix on Sunday, the Steel were again guilty of coughing up a decent advantage.

They led 38-32 late in the third quarter, but allowed the Magic to finish the term with a 6-0 burst to head into the final quarter level at 38-38.

It looked like the Steel’s finals hopes were disappearing, but with their season on the line they stepped up in the closing stages.