Hot-shot reserve helps Jo’s Giants finish off Firebirds
Steve Barrett |
Supersub Matisse Letherbarrow came in cold and caught fire, lifting the Giants to a 68-63 win over the Queensland Firebirds and helping Jo Harten celebrate her 200th Super Netball game in style.
After watching their 12-goal lead evaporate into a three-point deficit at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena on Sunday, the Giants turned to Letherbarrow – and she delivered.
Checking in partway through the final quarter, the sharp-shooting reserve nailed eight of 10 shots, including four of five super shots, and single-handedly outscored Queensland 10-2 in the last five minutes.
Letherbarrow’s late-game blitz delivered the knockout blow after Amy Sligar had laid the early foundations.
“We wanted to come out and put in a solid four quarters,” Sligar said.
“It was really challenging, but it was good to get the win and celebrate Jo’s 200th.
“It’s an incredible achievement and goes to show what kind of player she is.”
The Firebirds, who slumped to a 10th straight loss, were already on the back foot after losing co-captain Hulita Veve and attacker Tippah Dwan to knee injuries during the week.
The Giants started fast, with Jamie-Lee Price on top in the middle and Sligar strong at wing defence.
The Firebirds coughed up seven turnovers as the Giants jumped to a 21-14 quarter-time lead.
Harten and Sophie Dwyer were in sync in attack as the margin stretched to 32-20, before Queensland clawed their way back.
Lara Dunkley started getting on top of Sligar, as did Macy Gardner against Price in the middle.
The Firebirds finished the half on a barnstorming 14-5 spree, capped by Abigail Latu-Meafou’s three unanswered goals – including a super shot – inside the last minute to slash the margin to 37-34.
Turnovers crept in again for Queensland in the third quarter as the Giants stretched their cushion to 51-44.
But another Firebirds surge – a 6-0 run over the last 90 seconds, capped by a stunning Emily Moore super-shot right on three-quarter time – trimmed the gap to 51-50.
(Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
Queensland coach Kiri Wills delivered an impassioned address at the final break.
“We’ve got 15 minutes (left) where we need to work, work, work,” she said.
“Give this crowd something to bloody cheer for.”
The Firebirds heeded Wills’ message and pinched the lead, before their shooters went cold down the stretch, while the Giants rode Letherbarrow’s hot hand at the other end.
AAP
