The Southern Steel goal attack came up with a clutch two-pointer on the buzzer to give her side a 10-point lead at halftime, and pulled the trigger with another on fulltime to hand the Steel a 69-60 win over the Northern Stars in Invercargill on Saturday.
Finishing with two from two from the double-point zone is always electric and the Steel certainly gave their home fans something to smile about after a disappointing opening game the week before.
Their second quarter was marvellous.
After a poor first quarter, where they trailed by four and conceded seven turnovers, it was a welcome reprieve.
They won the second quarter 21-7, and if that scoreline was possibly flattering, what was extremely impressive was the defensive effort.
Holding the Stars to just seven points — especially after many considered the Aucklanders title favourites after last week’s victory — showed the Steel’s defensive strength.
They let the Stars get back into the game, but they held out the visitors when it counted.
Aliyah Dunn was immense with 54 goals and Carys Stythe had six gains and four intercepts.
The Steel swung the ball nicely, finding Serina Daunakamakama in the pocket for a line ball to Dunn on the base.
Martina Salmon faked to the pocket and finished with a pinpoint ball to Amelia Walmsley.
Renee Savai’inaea shut down Claire O’Brien’s dominance on the centre pass, but that good work unravelled when the Steel coughed up soft turnovers.
Salmon nailed the first two-pointer to give the Stars a five-point lead.
Stythe snapped up a rebound, and the Steel found better movement in their attack end, but the Stars led 19-15.
Stythe went for a fly and flicked a nice tip-off to start the second spell.
That led to a lovely passage of play and the Steel levelled within the opening two minutes.
Stythe put Walmsley’s shot under pressure, forcing a held ball, and the Steel made sure of it at the other end for a three-point lead.
The Steel’s attack end was humming, reading each other’s screens and popping on the last second.
At the other end, Stythe and Jess Milne started to work better in the circle. They covered the Stars shooters and Kimiora Poi and Savai’inaea set up them up out front.
The Steel shimmied out to a seven-point lead and that put the Stars under pressure.
Walmsley threw away silly balls and the Stars started to fall apart.
Then Heffernan nailed a two-pointer on the buzzer to give the Steel a 36-26 lead, bringing the crowd into the game.
Momentum started to swing back with the Stars as they closed the gap. Salmon sunk a two-pointer to close the score to 45-41.
But their momentum hit a bump when centre Mila Reuelu-Buchan was suspended for two minutes for reckless play.
The Steel made the most of the opportunity to settle and led 52-44 at the break.
They went goal for goal in the final quarter, until the Stars pounced to get within five.
Salmon nailed a two-pointer to put it within four — but Milne came into her own, flicking a tip back inside as she fell out of court and coming up with a clutch rebound.
Just to top it off, Heffernan sank another two-pointer to seal victory.
