THE Sunshine Coast Lightning have cemented their top spot on the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) ladder, defeating the GIANTS in a nail-biter (52-58). Unfortunately for GIANTS coach, Julie Fitzgerald, her milestone 350th game was a disappointing one, with both sides competing hard but not cleanly, and keeping fans on their edge of their seats into the dying minutes.

With both the GIANTS and Lightning coming off losses last rounds, the top teams came out firing in their battle for pole position. With both teams breaking each others first centre passes, the start of the game was like a tennis match, with chaos ensuing as the whole court struggled to find their feet and settle themselves into the game.

Cara Koenen was working the baseline from the start of the game, driving hard to get the lob over the heads of April Brandley and Sam Poolman. This is in part due to the work of Steph Wood out the front, who was setting up play and drawing Brandley out to give Koenen the space for that drive. However, the Lightning defence was a little slow off the mark, with the GIANTS getting ahead by three goals half through the first quarter and Lightning coach Kylee Bryne calling a time out.

After the timeout the GIANTS let the Lightning get back a bit in the final five minutes of the first quarter, with both Sophie Dwyer and Jo Harten missing a super shot each and allowing the Lightning to convert those turnovers into goals. Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni were now starting to find their groove, with Maweni’s strong hold over the ball shaking Dwyer and Harten’s confidence and forcing those missed shots. With a minute left to go, Dwyer sunk a super shot to finish off the first quarter ahead for the GIANTS, 15 -14.

The start of the second quarter was almost worse than the first, with two turnovers from both sides in the first 90 seconds back on the court, and the GIANTS calling a timeout just one minute and 40 seconds into the quarter. It was a highly anticipated match but both teams were still not able to settle themselves, either throwing balls backwards rather than forwards or not willing to let them go at all. The transition play seemed a particular problem, with a Lightning intercept from Pretorius lost in the centre court with a pickup from Maddie Hay, then to Amy Parmenter before being lost in the middle again.

Coming into wing attack four minutes in the second quarter, Binnian Hunt was a game changer for the Lightning, bringing that little bit of extra height to the edge of the circle and good vision into the ring. The defensive duo fo Pretorius and Maweni continued to work really well together, forcing the shooters wide and stopping Harten’s drive to the post. Harten did not look like her usual, confident self, missing somewhat easy goals and throwing away balls. The GIANTS defence kept them right in the game though despite the missed shots, with Brandley collecting six gains in the first half alone. Lightning won the quarter to tie the game up at half time with both sides on 28 goals each.

Quarter three was where both teams finally started to settle into the game and gain some momentum. The contest between Poolman and Koenen continued to be very physical, although both seemed to be enjoying the challenge. Parmenter kept up her intensity, collecting eight gains and six intercepts over the course of the match. With Harten and Dwyer struggling to get past their defenders, the GIANTS called a timeout as the Lightning put themselves ahead with three goals in a row. This allowed the GIANTS to have a small break and get their heads back in the game. Harten was forced off the court with just two minutes to go in the third by the blood rule, with 20-year-old Matisse Letherbarrow coming onto the court to score her first goal and put the GIANTS in front. A quick goal from Lightning again levelled the scores at three quarter time, 40 goals a piece.

Lightning decided to change up their attack line heading into the final quarter, moving Wood into wing attack, Koenen into goal attack and introducing Peace Proscovia into shooter. Adding Proscovia into the ring gave Lightning just a bit more height and the benefit of her strong hold under the post, combined with the smart set up of play from Koenen. Despite the change up, Lightning quickly found their groove with this new arrangement, scoring three in a row relatively quickly.

A clever tip from Parmenter put the Giants back in it, with a bit of back and forth before the scores were again level at 44 each with 10 minutes of the game left. A few uncharacteristic misses from Dwyer allowed Lightning to use the turnovers to their advantage and get back up by three. In an attempt to keep the Lightning shooters on their toes, with Proscovia not missing a single shot yet, the GIANTS brought on Matilda McDonell in goal keeper. The Lightning then took Laura Scherian off and put Maddy McAuliffe back into centre to give them some height in the middle of the court.

With the biggest lead of the game, Lightning were up by four goals with just two minutes left of the game. In an attempt to level the scores, both Harten and Dwyer tried for a super shot by missed. Now at 52 – 57, Lightning just ate up the clock in the final minute, and secured their place at the top of the ladder at the final buzzer six goals up (52 – 58).

Harten finished with 28 goals from 36 attempts at 78 per cent, while Dwyer struggled to find her range –  converting at 61 per cent thanks to her 17 goals. Maddie Hay was strong through the midcourt, amassing 17 goal assists as Price led the way for the GIANTS with 19. Defensively, Brandley was instrumental thanks to her five gains and two intercepts. For the Lightning, Koenen was integral sinking 36 goals from 40 attempts as Proscovia starred going at 100 per cent accuracy with her 16 goals straight. Wood and Scherian carried the load with 13 goal assists apiece, as Pretorius and Maweni picked up a combined 15 gains.

GIANTS 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 (52)
SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING 14 | 14 |12 |18 (58)

STARTING SEVEN:

GIANTS:

GS: Jo Harten
GA: Sophie Dwyer
WA: Maddie Hay
C: Jamie-Lee Price
WD: Amy Parmenter
GD: April Brandley
GK: Sam Poolman

Lightning:

GS: Cara Koenen
GA: Steph Wood
WA: Laura Scherian
C: Mahalia Cassidy
WD: Maddy McAuliffe
GD: Karla Pretorius
GK: Phumza Maweni

Photo credit: AAP