By Rosie Gale
In a hard-fought contest at John Cain Arena, the Mavericks stood strong to secure a commanding 73-61 victory over the Queensland Firebirds
Despite the outcome, the match held special significance for Maddi Ridley, the Melbourne-born defensive midcourter who made her debut for the Firebirds.
Ahead of their clash at John Cain Arena, the Firebirds made headlines with the departure of Head Coach Bec Bulley, announced just days before the game.
Assistant Coach Lauren Brown stepped in aiming to steer the team following a challenging loss to GIANTS Netball last weekend, leaving them at the bottom of the ladder.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks were looking to bounce back from a recent defeat against the Melbourne Vixens in a King's Birthday showdown. Despite the setback, Tracey Neville's squad remained within striking distance of the top four.
In their previous encounter in Round Six this season, the Firebirds faced a slow start against the Mavericks, eventually falling short in a 69-62 defeat at Nissan Arena.
In Sunday afternoon's match, the Mavericks stormed into the quarter with Shimona Jok scoring within the first 30 seconds, followed by another goal to set the pace early.
But in a seesawing quarter, Remi Kamo and Ruby Bakewell-Doran's intercepts alleviated pressure, sparking a Firebirds' run culminating in Donnell Wallam's first goal.
Olivia Lewis maintained her stellar form with a pivotal intercept, well-supported by Kim Jenner in defense. Their cohesive play forced the Firebirds wide and disrupted their attack.
The Mavericks dominated in grain-to-goal efficiency, converting perfectly at 100% while the Firebirds managed 50% in the first quarter.
At quarter-time, the Mavericks edged ahead 16-15 against the Firebirds in a closely contested opening term.
The Firebirds launched strongly into the second quarter as Donnell Wallam netted consecutive goals in the opening minute.
Molly Jovic was pivotal in the midcourt, ensuring the Mavericks maintained their competitive edge. With slick ball movement through the center, Jok added two more goals.
The second term continued as a closely contested affair, with the Firebirds narrowing the gap and applying pressure on the Mavericks.
Kim Jenner's defensive pressure was huge, tallying 34 Nissan Net Points along with two intercepts and a rebound.
Despite equal possession, the Mavericks capitalised better on turnovers, converting them into goals.
Heading into the final quarter, the Mavericks extended their lead to 53-42.
After halftime, the Mavericks found their stride and began to widen their advantage. Despite the Firebirds' resilience, they couldn't halt the Mavericks' momentum.
The Mavericks surged ahead with seven goals in the opening five minutes of the quarter, despite Kamo and Bakewell-Doran's defensive efforts.
Maddi Ridley debuted in WD for the Firebirds, while Hulita Veve moved to Centre to bolster their defense. Meanwhile, Tippah Dwan was replaced by Emily Moore after some uncharacteristic misses.
The Mavericks established their largest lead of the match in the third quarter, stretching it to 13 goals, while the Firebirds sought to mount a comeback.
Macy Gardner and Lara Dunkley provided crucial drives and feeds to Wallam, but the Mavericks maintained control, entering the final quarter with an 11-goal advantage (53-42).
The final quarter carried high stakes as the Firebirds sought redemption following a tough Round 9 loss to the GIANTS.
The scoring swung back and forth until the Firebirds launched a three-goal surge within the first three minutes. However, Gabrielle Sinclair and Jok remained unstoppable for the Mavs, both shooting with 100% accuracy.
Olivia Lewis was doing a mountain of work, securing a crucial rebound, intercept, and deflection against the formidable Wallam.
Despite their efforts, consistent penalties and missed opportunities plagued the Firebirds, allowing the hosts to widen their lead.
In the Power Five period, Wallam and Sinclair traded two-pointers before Moore added two of her own. Sinclair capped off the match with a buzzer-beating shot, sealing a 73-61 victory for the Mavericks.
