By Chloe Pilkington
In the opening match of the First Nations Round, played on Kabi Kabi Country at UniSC Arena, it was the Sunshine Coast Lightning overpowering their state rivals, the Queensland Firebirds 76-65 in the first instalment of the Battle of the Bruce.
With their powerhouse signings of Courtney Bruce and Liz Watson adding to their already stacked line-up, the Lightning were the team to fear going into the new season. However, it's taken almost seven rounds for the side to find their feet, finally securing their first back-to-back win.
It's been a tough season so far for the Queensland Firebirds, being handed their fourth consecutive loss last week by newcomers Melbourne Mavericks. With the Queensland Cup at stake and the gap on the ladder widening, the Firebirds were desperate to deliver a stellar performance and secure the crucial four points.
With plenty to play for, the opening quarter was physical from the first whistle with both sides gunning to start strong and take an early lead. After an impressive performance last week against competition heavyweights Melbourne Vixens, it was no surprise to see the Lightning start with their winning seven. For the Firebirds, Macy Gardner was awarded the start at wing attack, with Lara Dunkley on the bench.
The purple army applied scoreboard pressure early in the first quarter with their quick transition to goal, as the Lightning struggled to overcome the defensive efforts of Veve, Bakewell-Doran and Kamo. Noongar woman Donnell Wallam was strong under post, keeping Lightning fan favourite Ash Ervin out of play, but it wasn't long before Ervin made her mark with vital deflections to keep Lightning within striking distance.
The Power Five saw multiple attempts at super shots down both ends, with Tippah Dwan slotting in the first two-pointer of the match. But Steph Fretwell's radar was well and truly on, draining two super shots and handing her side a six goal lead at the end of the opening term.
The second quarter saw Lightning’s work rate ramp up to another level, with everything seeming to go the host's way. Wakka Wakka woman Leesa Mi Mi delivered a textbook performance at centre, with pinpoint feeds to Koenen under the post and racking up 19 goal assists and 36 feeds throughout the match.
Trailing by eight goals, the Firebirds were forced to call a tactical timeout and bring fresh legs onto the court. Emily Moore and Isabelle Shearer were brought into the game, but the change failed to halt Lightning’s momentum as they continued to push out their lead.
Determined to keep her side within reach, Wallam sank two clutch super shots to claw their deficit back to four with the Lightning sitting 37-33 after a physical first half.
The home side put their foot down in the second half, with the Firebirds struggling to make any impact on the scoreboard. Forced to call an early time out in the third quarter, Lara Dunkley entered the game for the first time with Gardner moving to the bench.
Liz Watson was a workhorse for the Lightning, linking up nicely with Koenen to create double plays. Watson finished on a mammoth total of 52 feeds, 28 goals assists and 1 deflection.
As the Lightning maintained a commanding 12-goal lead heading into the third Power Five, all eyes turned to the Firebirds' goal shooters under mounting pressure. Tippah Dwan seized the moment, sinking two crucial super shots. Yet, just as momentum appeared to shift in favour of the Firebirds, player of the match Ash Ervin shattered the hopes of the purple army, getting hands on every ball that came the visitor's way.
In the closing fifteen minutes, the Lightning surged ahead, bolstered by Reilley Batcheldor's entry into the game, instantly making an impact with a two-pointer. Meanwhile, at the other end, Wallam delivered a buzzer-beating super shot, but it proved to be a mere glimmer of hope as the Lightning maintained an 11-goal lead at the conclusion of the fourth term.
