The Southern Steel have plenty to take away from their preseason action in Otaki.
They returned home yesterday with one win and two losses from the annual tournament and have a better idea of the areas they need to tidy up before the ANZ Premiership gets under way next month.
After opening with a strong 54-46 win over the Northern Stars, the Steel lost 45-33 to the Waikato Bay of Plenty on Saturday and finished with a 70-57 loss to the Northern Mystics yesterday.
You can never read too much into preseason — especially when extended squads are used and players are missing from every team as they manage their return to play.
Incumbent Steel wing defence Renee Savai’inaea was sidelined for the tournament, while captain Kimiora Poi also sat out the Mystics game.
Training partners Holly McRae and Ella Southby got plenty of game time and did not look out of place at the next level.
It gave head coach Wendy Frew a chance to test out several combinations as they looked to grow the depth of their squad ahead of their opening game on April 11.
Midcourter Serina Daunakamakama showed the depth in her game and was one of the best on court throughout the weekend.
She was explosive off the line, hit the circle edge hard and found some nice space into her shooters.
Carys Stythe was in the thick of everything, coming out to hunt the pocket and showing nice timing on her lean over the shot.
Australian defender Jess Milne showed promise, Khayne-Lii Munro-Nonoa worked hard, and Georgia Heffernan and Aliyah Dunn’s connection remained from last season.
Southby and Heffernan teamed nicely in the circle against the Stars, offering a shorter and mobile circle.
It helped the Steel produce a 20-9 third quarter and put their foot down.
The Magic led by five for much of the second game, and only really pulled away in the final quarter.
The Mystics’ long-standing connections made things all too easy for the Auckland side, who will be tipped as favourites for the crown.
It was a messy game from both teams with players being rotated regularly.
But the Steel threw away too much ball and needed to fine-tune their finishing passes on attack.
Heffernan and Southby nailed six two-pointers in the third quarter, showing the Steel’s intent to attack the double digit period.
It was an interesting weekend.
The Pulse beat the Stars 61-58 and the Magic 60-54, but lost 59-45 to the Mystics, while the Tactix beat the Mystics 50-47 and the Magic 54-51.
The Steel have another preseason clash against the Mainland Tactix in Dunedin on Sunday.
