Donna Wilkins just does not know when to stop, but she does know how to win.
The former Silver Fern scored 32 goals from 34 attempts to help the Southern Steel upset the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 49-47 at the ILT Velodrome last night.
It is doubtful if any of the 2000 or so fans present actually believed the Steel could win before the match tipped off.
With just three personnel returning from 2011, new management and new coaching staff, the most people could seemingly hope for was a competitive beginning. It is meant to be a rebuilding year after all.
Never underestimate Wilkins' will to win. Midway through the third period it appeared as if she was struggling with the pace of the game.
She is still making her way back to fitness after the birth of her third child in January and the decision to switch her from goal shoot to goal attack in the third quarter seemed counter-intuitive.
The Magic had edged ahead and took a six-goal lead into the final period. Red-faced and covered in sweat, Wilkins battled on and somehow mustered the energy to get her side back into the contest.
The Steel scored a series of quick goals and suddenly the crowd swung in behind the home team. The six-goal deficit was quickly erased and the Steel opened a four-point gap before the Magic closed to two goals.
"She shot the lights out didn't she?" Steel co-coach Janine Southby said.
"She is a battler, she knows what it takes and has that real winning attitude and that is contagious in the team.
"I looked at her at that time and wondered whether she was going to last and whether she had the legs. I think her head and her heart got her over the line."
Switching Wilkins and Jodi Brown was, in the end, a masterstroke. But other changes helped swing the game.
Hayley Saunders came on at wing defence for the last quarter and made a huge impact with her speed, and rookie defender Storm Purvis got assigned the toughest job in the business - marking Irene van Dyk.
The 19-year-old more than held her own against her vastly experienced opponent, forcing a couple of turnovers.
"Storm came in with hunger and made such a difference. We believe in our young ones and believe we have strength off our bench even if no-one else does.
"These girls have been training really hard; they were ready for it and it showed."
Having given a great account of itself in the opening quarter, the Steel emerged from the break with more energy and zip than its opponent, particularly in the midcourt where Shannon Francois had the better of Silver Ferns centre Laura Langman.
And Courtney Tairi's one-handed bullet passes were finding their mark rather than the hands of the Magic's formidable defensive combination of Casey Williams and Leana de Bruin.
Midway through the second period, the Steel had outscored the Magic 9-2 and led by six goals.
Coach Noeline Taurua was forced to tinker with the midcourt combination. Khao Watts shuffled forward from wing defence to centre and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick came on at wing defence with Jess Tuki dropping to the bench.
She paid the price for a few errant passes and gradually the Magic clawed its way back into the period, thanks mostly to Williams who picked up a couple of intercepts and the odd deflection.
The Steel switched Wilkins and Brown around in the shooting circle with Wilkins moving out to goal attack. It certainly did not work initially, with the Magic pulling out to lead 40-34 going into the last 15min.
Spare a thought for van Dyk.
She landed all 30 of her attempts but was still on the losing team.
Steel-Magic
The Scores
Steel ...................... 49
Donna Wilkins 32 from 34, Jodi Brown 17/24
Magic ..................... 47
Irene van Dyk 30/30 Julianna Naoupu 12/18, Jess Waitapu 5/5Quarter 13-14, half-time 25-25. third quarter 34-40
