Firebirds end 15-game losing streak by thumping Giants
Sebastian Tan |
Mary Cholhok has responded from a horror showing to help the Queensland Firebirds end their 15-game Super Netball losing streak, hammering the Giants 78-55.
After suffering a 73-46 demolition at the hands of the red-hot Adelaide Thunderbirds last Sunday, the Firebirds were a transformed team at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney on Saturday.
One of those who lifted was Cholhok, who played for just 12 minutes and had five goals against Adelaide before she was sent to the bench.
But she exorcised her demons on Saturday, mixing style with substance to register 62 points from 80 shots, also grabbing 15 rebounds from her misfires.
It wasn’t just Cholhok who dazzled in Sydney. Ruby Bakewell-Doran was busy in defence with seven gains, five rebounds and two intercepts, while the Firebirds’ midcourt was seamless in transition.
Having scored just nine points in last Sunday’s first quarter, Queensland came out firing on Saturday, with Te Paea Selby-Rickit (21 goal assists, 29 feeds) and Macy Gardner (25 feeds, four gains) providing crucial feeds to Cholhok.
The Giants’ wheels fell off in an anticlimactic finish as the Firebirds (1-3) stepped up to secure their first win since round two last season.
Victory came after star defender Kelly Jackson was ruled out late after copping a knock to the face last round.
“(Winning will give us) that confidence of what we know we’re actually capable of,” Bakewell-Doran told Fox Sports.
“We’ve had such a good training week and the girls just dug in and fought back so hard after that loss.”
The Giants have a potentially bigger injury issue, after star defender Jane Watson limped off the court in the third quarter and had heavy strapping around her calf.
The home team also missed captain Whitney Souness, who was on the bench during the first quarter, and the young Giants lacked composure in her absence.
Even after Souness returned, their shots refused to sink, and they conceded 34 turnovers to continue their winless start (0-4) to the season.
Cholhok was pinpoint early as the Firebirds capitalised on a flurry of nervy moments from the Giants to lead 22-12 at quarter-time.
The physicality stepped up in the second quarter as the Giants tried to cut into the deficit, but they coughed up plenty of turnovers to trail 43-24 at the main break.
The Firebirds went on an 8-2 run to start the third quarter as the visitors set up a convincing victory.
AAP