The goal attack coolly slotted a goal with eight seconds to play, to help the Southern Steel to a 53-52 win in Christchurch.Tomorrow the 26-year-old will get the chance to show that composure at home, as the Steel hosts the Tactix at the Edgar Centre.
She will be hoping it does not come that close again, although having done it once already, the Steel will be glad it has a proven late game performer.
"As Shannon caught the ball and was looking at me, I knew I had to put a shot up," she said.
"I just tried to take a breath and go through my process of what I do when I practise my shot.
"So just technique and flick of the wrist and making sure I took a big breath in and bend my knees.
"And luckily it went in.
"I think our legs were a wee bit tired if we had to play that extra time."
Tomorrow’s game will be a true home game for Selby-Rickit.
The shooter has been based in Dunedin since 2010 and was looking forward to playing in front of what is expected to be a large crowd.
It would be a big game too, the Steel coming off a five-goal loss to the Northern Mystics on Wednesday in a tight competition.
Consistency had been an issue and that was apparent in the loss, a horror third quarter proving too much to come back from.
Selby-Rickit said the team had looked at that and a consistent performance remained the team’s goal.
Personally, she was still looking to improve her accuracy and passing, while also looking to create more for goal shoot Jennifer O’Connell.
After Jhaniele Fowler-Reid’s departure at the end of last season, Selby-Rickit now boasts virtually all of the experience in the Steel shooting circle.
That left her in more of a leadership position, as well as giving her the chance to play at goal shoot at times.She was looking to lead by example and was enjoying the added responsibility.
That came after a tough experience on the Gold Coast, where Selby-Rickit was part of the Silver Ferns’ Commonwealth Games side.
The team finished fourth and was the subject to plenty of public backlash.
However, she said it had been good getting straight back into the Steel and not dwelling on the campaign.
"That first week back from Comm Games was pretty tough, trying to get over the disappointment over there.
"But it was actually quite easy coming back into the Steel.
"I’ve been in this team for ages and we’ve got a pretty good culture. A lot of these girls are my mates.
"So it was quite refreshing after having that long Ferns season to be able to come back and play with these guys.
"We have a lot of fun, so it’s been quite good."
The game is set to begin at 4.10pm. The South Beko League team will play Mainland in the curtain raiser at 2.15pm.
Steel v Tactix
Edgar Centre, tomorrow, 4.10pm
Steel: Wendy Frew (c), Gina Crampton, Shannon Francois, Kate Heffernan, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jennifer O’Connell, Olivia Bates, Abby Erwood, Courtney Elliott, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.
Tactix: Ellie Bird, Brooke Leaver, Kate Beveridge, Erikana Pedersen, Kimiora Poi, Charlotte Elley, Sophia Fenwick, Lily Marshall, Jane Watson, Temalisi Fakahokotau.
