By Chloe Pilkington
The West Coast Fever take their fifth win of the season after holding strong against an impressive fourth quarter fight back from the Queensland Firebirds at Nissan Arena.
Going goal-for-goal early in the first quarter, a wayward ball from Firebirds’ WD Gabby Simpson was capitalised down the other end by the unstoppable Janelle Fowler.
Unforced mid-court errors from the Firebirds were picked up by Fever, as the away side impressed with their quick down-court transition and finding Fowler under the post with ease.
Fever GA Sasha Glasgow shined on court, taking on the role of playmaker for the Fever attack end and finishing the game with 70 Nissan NetPoints to her name.
Courtney Bruce put her body on the line, falling hard on the court and coming off for the remainder of the first quarter.
The first tactical time out was called by Firebirds’ coach Bec Bulley, as her side trailed 7-15 going into the first Power Five of the match.
Donnell Wallam sunk the first Super Shot of the game with confidence, taking the score to 10-17 with 3 minutes left of the quarter.
Fever capitalised with uncontested centre passes, getting the ball easy to Fowler as Bakewell-Doran did everything she could to stop the flow into the Fever circle.
Wallam drained a much needed Super Shot, as Fever took the first quarter 15-25.
A shift in momentum gave the Firebirds a strong start to the second quarter, with Mia Stower confidently passing into the goal circle to Wallam from range.
An error off Verity Simmons was capitalised down the other end by the Firebirds’ shooters, scoring two in a row off their centre pass.
Fever coach Dan Ryan called the first Fever tactical time out, with his side up by 11 against the home side (24-35).
Courtney Bruce was brought back onto court at GD, as Rudi Ellis stayed in GK and contested strong against Wallam in the air, coming up with a deflection which was rewarded down the other end off the hands of Fowler.
Down by 13, Firebirds were forced to take Super Shots in the second Power Five of the match but Wallam was unable to drain the 2-pointers.
An uncharacteristic miss by Fowler (her only miss of the game) was rebounded by Remi Kamo and converted down the other end with a critical goal by Wallam.
Stower stood up during the Power Five, sinking her first Super Shot of the game but Fever held onto a strong 11 goal lead going into the half time break.
Firebirds used the full width of their bench going into the third quarter, with Macy Gardner going into C as Ravallion moved into WD and Moore came on as GA, making her fourth appearance in the league.
The Firebirds positional changes paid off, as the home side came out firing and forced a held ball early by Fowler and converted by Wallam bringing the score to 32-43.
Emma Cosh was brought on court as GA for Fever, but was unable to make an impact, only scoring 2 out of 6 attempts to post.
Alice Teague-Neeld dominated in the Fever attack line, coming off with 24 Goals Assists and 35 Feeds.
A critical pick-up by Gardner and a confident long ball from Dunkley to Wallam got the margin back to 12 (38-50).
Another miss by Cosh was capitalised with a quick goal from Wallam as the third Power Five of the match began.
Firebirds were able to keep Fever to their lowest scoring quarter, with Wallam draining a crucial Super Shot taking the score to 51-58 going into the final quarter.
After finishing the third quarter strong, Firebirds were unable to keep the momentum going as Fever scored two straight goals early in the final quarter.
Every Fever ball was contested by the Firebirds as their home crowd willed their team on.
An offensive contact off the hands of Teague-Neeld was capitalised by the Firebirds, bringing the score back to 5 (56-61).
As the final Power Five began, the Firebirds were forced to shoot out the match.
Glasgow was brought back on court to replace Cosh, sinking a Super Shot and keeping the Fever ahead by 8.
A fired up Wallam kept her team in the fight, draining 3 Super Shots in a row, closing down the margin to 3.
After an impressive fightback from the Firebirds and a crucial run of Super Shots off the hands of Wallam, the home side were unable to seal their first win of the season against the undefeated West Coast Fever (71-73).
