It was a win that will breathe new life into the defending champions’ season and it was built on a never-say-die attitude. The Firebirds won the two opening quarters and led by as many as four goals in the second half.
Even in the final minutes, the Lightning watched as a five-goal advantage was eroded away with Firebirds goal shooter Romelda Aiken locking the scores up in the final 60 seconds.
The Sunshine Coast held their nerve, though, moving the ball around, starving Queensland of the ball and ultimately finding Bassett to score the match-winner with only one second remaining on the clock.
Defence dictated the early stages of the match, with neither side able to gain a clear advantage while both goal shooters Caitlin Bassett and Romelda Aiken were worried out of early shots.
Crowds have been used to watching the Firebirds frontcourt duo Aiken and Gretel Tippett rotate in and out of the goal circle throughout this season. The Lightning fought the Firebirds with fire, with Bassett also roaming from beyond the circle to change up the Lightning attack.
It put Firebirds goalkeeper Laura Geitz in two minds and paid dividends, with the Lightning leading 11-9 with six minutes remaining in the quarter.
Tippett and Aiken were causing plenty of headaches of their own in a see-sawing battle that saw the Firebirds emerge with their noses in front 15-14 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lightning shot out of the blocks after the break with the first three goals, prompting an early Queensland timeout in a bid to halt their mini-run of momentum.
Tippett was shooting at a 100 per cent and kept that streak alive with an incredible goal, losing balance over the baseline and draining a basket from behind to keep the Firebirds within reach.
At one point the Lightning was four points ahead in the quarter, but the Firebirds clawed every goal back to win the term and take a 29-27 lead into halftime – banking two valuable bonus points in the process.
The Firebirds threatened to skip away early in the third quarter with a 3-1 run, but the Lightning answered back in style with a five-goal unanswered run largely built on the defence of Karla Pretorius.
The Lightning’s defence was dealt a blow with Madeline McAuliffe forced from the court, replaced by veteran Jacqueline Russell. It didn’t slow the home side, though, who claimed the bonus point for the quarter and took a 43-42 advantage into the last break.
It was a full court defensive press from the Lightning, with Steph Wood and Kelsey Browne chiming in with intercepts as the Sunshine Coast pushed their lead out to four goals.
That was quickly reeled back in, setting up the grandstand finish in which the Lightning prevailed.
Q1: Lightning 14 v Firebirds 15
Q2: Lightning 13 v Firebirds 14
Q3: Lightning 16 v Firebirds 13
Q4: Lightning 15 v Firebirds 15
Suncorp Super Netball premiership points
Lightning 5
Firebirds 2
*No bonus point for drawn final quarter
Lightning shooting statistics
Caitlin Bassett 34/38
Steph Wood 24/27
Firebirds shooting statistics
Romelda Aiken 33/39
Gretel Tippett 24/25
Lightning starting seven
GS: Caitlin Bassett, GA: Steph Wood, WA: Kelsey Browne, C: Laura Scherian, WD: Madeline McAuliffe, GD: Karla Pretorius, GK: Geva Mentor
Firebirds starting seven
GS: Romelda Aiken, GA: Gretel Tippett, WA: Caitlyn Nevins, C: Mahalia Cassidy, WD: Gabi Simpson, GD: Tara Hinchliffe, GK: Laura Geitz
Nissan MVP: Steph Wood
