By Rosie Gale
In a dramatic clash at RAC Arena, the West Coast Fever have maintained their spot at the top of the table, edging out the reigning premiers, the Adelaide Thunderbirds, in a nail-biting one-point thriller 57-56.
After enjoying a comfortable run through the season, the West Coast Fever faced a formidable challenge as the Adelaide Thunderbirds brought the pressure, testing the table-toppers in Perth.
Kadie-Ann Dehaney delivered a standout performance on court, amassing an impressive total of 68.5 Nissan Net Points powered by e-power. Her dominance was particularly evident in the first and third quarters, where she showcased exceptional skill and contributed significantly with 10 deflections and two crucial intercepts.
The Fever faced a sluggish start, but their tenacious defensive pressure and remarkable athleticism ensured they stayed in the game, maintaining composure when it counted most.
“We were below standard, especially at the start with our work rate. We decided at halftime that this is the line; when we get back out here we need to apply the pressure and lift the standard of work rate,” Dehaney said post-match.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds burst out of the gates, dominating the court and the scoreboard early– putting the Fever on the back foot.
Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Matilda Garrett showcased incredible athleticism in defense, their aerial skills on full display, while Latanya Wilson proved vital in intercepting when the Fever were in transition.
Georgie Horjus was lively early on, racking up 20 Nissan Net Points powered by e-power, five goal assists, eight centre pass receives, and seven feeds, consistently taking on Sunday Aryang and providing a reliable option through the middle.
Meanwhile, for the Fever, Dehaney had a standout first quarter, racking up impressive stats early against her Jamaican teammate Romelda Aiken-George, accumulating 46 Nissan Net Points powered by e-power, five deflections, and two intercepts.
Adelaide's relentless effort kept the Fever up the court, limiting their attacking options and preventing them from converting when they did manage to gain possession.
However, when Shanice Beckford dropped the first Super Shot, bringing the score back to within one, momentum shifted in favour of the Fever. With just two minutes remaining in the first quarter of a low-scoring term, the Fever seized the lead for the first time.
Fowler-Nembhard secured a penalty goal right on the buzzer, and despite a strong start from the reigning premiers, the Fever were able to claw their way back to take the lead 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter proved to be a tough grind for the Thunderbirds, as they struggled to maintain possession while the Fever capitalised on their opportunities in front of goal, maintaining their lead and asserting control over the game.
However, after a series of positional changes, momentum shifted, and it was the Thunderbirds who seized control.
In an attempt to stifle the comeback, Alice Teague-Neeld returned to the court in the WA position for the Fever after a flurry of goals from the Thunderbirds, just a minute short of the Power Five.
Latanya Wilson didn’t shy away from the contest after being shifted from WD to GD, tallying three deflections and an intercept as the ball swiftly moved from end to end.
A decisive Super Shot from Lauren Frew propelled the Thunderbirds into a two-point lead, leaving the Fever scrambling to regain control.
The midcourt partnership of Horjus and Hannah Petty outshined the Fever, while Tayla Williams' relentless pressure across the court was impressive.
A late Thunderbirds goal served as a slight blow to the Fever's spirits as they headed into the main break holding a slim two-point lead.
As the Thunderbirds pressed on in the third quarter, the Fever found themselves in uncharted territory, experiencing the unfamiliar feeling of being in a losing position for the first time this season.
Latanya Wilson's physicality on the ball proved pivotal for the Thunderbirds, as they chipped away and ramped up their defensive pressure.
But in a pivotal moment for the Fever, Jordan Cransberg intercepted the center pass, swiftly leading to a conversion by Fowler-Nembhard, followed by a Fever center pass.
Following that, Aiken-George squandered a straightforward opportunity right under the post, gifting possession to the Fever and earning a warning from the umpire.
Dehaney pulled off a crucial intercept, leading to Fowler-Nembhard's successful conversion at the other end, narrowing the score margin to four. Beckford then landed her second Super Shot out of six attempts, bringing the team within two points.
Cransberg unleashed her best in the third term, being the No.1 ranked player on the court during the quarter with 44.5 Nissan Net Points powered by e-power, 10 goal assists and 13 feeds.
Following an offensive contact on Williams, the Fever gained another opportunity, which they capitalised on to level the score. With the center-pass in their possession, they swiftly fed the ball to Fowler-Nembhard, who drew a contact call and subsequently scored, equalising the score on the buzzer.
The Thunderbirds knew the Fever would come, and they did: an outstanding performance from Fowler-Nembhard extended their lead to five within the opening five minutes.
Wilson secured a crucial intercept, signalling a potential turning point for the Thunderbirds. However, Aryang matched her effort with an impressive aerial intercept for the Fever, and the team in green reaped the rewards.
Fever maintained their composure, surging ahead to a commanding four-point lead as the Power Five echoed across the court.
Following a delay called on Horjus, the ball was swiftly redirected to the top of the circle, where the Fever capitalised with a crucial one-pointer.
Horjus faltered with a pivotal Super Shot miss, allowing Fowler-Nembhard to swiftly counter with a crucial one-pointer at the other end. This surge by the Fever in the final moments seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Thunderbirds.
Dehaney received a warning, and seizing the opportunity, the Thunderbirds capitalised with a successful shot on goal, chipping away at the gap on the scoreboard. Unfazed, Dehaney continued her relentless pursuit, ultimately forcing an offensive contact on Lucy Austin, resulting in the Fever regaining possession. Austin then showcased her resilience by sinking a Super Shot, narrowing the gap.
With just one goal separating the teams, Austin had a chance to put her team in the lead with another Super Shot but it narrowly missed the mark.
In a thrilling showdown, the West Coast Fever clinched victory by a single goal, turning the tables on the reigning premiers with a final score of 57-56. This marks the Fever's sixth consecutive triumph, solidifying their position at the top of the table.
