Lightning hold out Firebirds to keep title defence alive

Sunshine Coast Lightning outlasted state rivals Queensland Firebirds in a thrilling Super Netball minor semi-final.

Laura Geitz of the Firebirds, left, competes for the ball with Lightning’s Caitlin Bassett. Picture: AAP

Sunshine Coast Lightning outlasted state rivals Queensland Firebirds in a thrilling Super Netball minor semi-final to keep their title defence alive.

The defending champions survived 57-56 in front of 6453 boisterous fans at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre yesterday to set up a grand final rematch with the Giants in next Sunday’s preliminary final. The winner will go on to meet West Coast Fever in the championship decider in Perth on August 26.

In a bruising and tense affair yesterday, Sunshine Coast led virtually throughout the Queensland derby but only had the playoff in the bag in the final seconds.

Lightning proved more clinical and composed in the clutch moments for the first three quarters until the Firebirds mounted a spirited comeback in the last term.

With Australian coach Lisa Alexander tipping the winner to go all the way to the title, both sides produced a match worthy of the billing. They showed their championship credentials from the outset, going goal for goal in the opening half, highlighted by brutal battles in both goal circles.

Lightning defenders Geva Mentor and Karla Pretorius provided the break by forcing two late attacking turnovers for their side to score the last five goals of the first half for a 31-27 lead.

Firebirds shooter Romelda Aiken netted on the last shot of the half but the buzzer sounded as the ball was in mid-air to deny the goal. The visitors carried their momentum into the second half, quickly jumping out to a seven-goal lead as the Firebirds attack struggled under pressure.

Ahead 48-42 at the last change, Lightning then started to feel the heat as the home side threw everything at them in a tense final quarter. The Firebirds tied the scores with seven minutes left after Pretorius threw an errant pass but she immediately made up for it with a turnover to deny her rivals the lead.

Sunshine Coast were then never headed as Caitlin Bassett, who finished with 37 goals from 39 attempts, iced her chances.

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The Giants missed the chance to host the championship decider after a 63-57 loss at Sydney’s Quaycentre on Saturday. But they’ll be able to take the court in front of about three times as many fans at Qudos Bank Arena, also in the Sydney Olympic precinct, next weekend.

Giants veteran Susan Pettitt says playing in front of a home crowd is always a positive but to do so in the preliminary rather than the grand final is disappointing in her last season of professional netball.

“I’m pretty annoyed actually,” Pettit said after the loss. “We’ve got to have a look at the video, (work out) what we did badly, watch the game tomorrow and see who we’re playing — it could be anyone’s game.”

If the Giants are successful against Sunshine Coast next weekend, a grand final meeting with Fever would be the third game between the two sides in four weeks.

“We don’t mind playing them again, we are just disappointed it won’t be at home,” Pettitt said.

Spirits were higher for those in green and black after Saturday’s semi-final, with Fever’s star shooter Jhaniele Fowler brushing off a knee injury sustained in the first quarter.

“A home grand final is superb, it means a lot,” Fowler said. “Being at home with the fans and family all behind us — it’s going to be awesome.”

AAP