Thunderbirds torched by Lightning and Giants beat Vixens to go second

Adelaide Thunderbirds’ horror season continued yesterday with a crushing 31-goal home defeat to Sunshine Coast Lightning.

Lightning’s Caitlin Bassett wins the ball against the Thunderbirds at Priceline Stadium in Adelaide yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

Adelaide Thunderbirds’ horror season continued yesterday with a crushing 31-goal home defeat to Sunshine Coast Lightning — their biggest losing margin of the season.

The Lightning won each quarter to record a 75-44 victory and take home all four Super Netball bonus points on offer.

Adelaide were outplayed across the court and trailed by 26 goals at three-quarter time, when the Lightning’s star shooter Caitlin Bassett and defender Geva Mentor were substituted for Cara Koenen and Erena Mikaere.

But even a second-string Lightning side looked dominant over the Thunderbirds, winning the last quarter by five points.

Lightning coach Noeline Taurua said the move to take Bassett and Mentor off was a gamble, given the Lightning need every bonus point available in their bid to qualify for finals.

“It’s always a toss up, knowing where we are at this end of the competition, but also for us as a team and our team morale it’s huge,” Taurua said after the game. “We always talk about team but sometimes being able to put it out there on court is another aspect so I’m really happy that we were able to do that.”

Despite 41 goals in the match from Bassett and 14 from Koenen in the last quarter, Adelaide goalkeeper Kate Shimmin was best on court for the home side, snatching several turnovers despite a clear height disadvantage. At the other end, Thunderbirds’ import shooter Cat Tuivaiti continued her comeback from a knee injury, taking to the court in the second quarter to replace Shimona Nelson.

Tuivaiti shot seven goals but became frustrated before Nelson came back on in the final quarter and finished the game with 24 goals from 30 attempts.

Coach Dan Ryan, who will leave the club at season’s end, said it was a “disappointing day out.”

“I think there’s a lot of emotional fatigue in the group at the moment taking it’s toll,” he said.

“We did have a really good preparation this week but (it) certainly looked like a group today that was struggling a bit out there with energy levels.

“But we need to make sure that we keep fighting and keep pushing on, two games to go and we’re still hungry and still believing that that win is possible.”

Meanwhile, the Giants climbed to second spot after a 60-58 win over Melbourne Vixens.

Played in a finals-like atmosphere at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena, last season’s grand finalists led 45-44 heading into the fourth quarter and answered every Vixens goal to close out the win.

With midcourters Serena Guthrie and Kim Green controlling the play, the Giants built a six-goal advantage by halftime but the home side clawed their way back courtesy of a 17-12 third quarter.

The Giants held on in the final minutes to claim seven competition points, moving two behind ladder leaders West Coast Fever with two rounds left to play.

“I’m pretty happy with that win and obviously points at this end of the season are so valuable,” Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald said.

“I have so much respect for the Vixens side that to be able to come away with a win, I always feel it’s very valuable.”

The loss brought an end to the Vixens’ five-match winning streak and while they remain in third place on 56 points, Queensland Firebirds and Sunshine Coast Lightning are breathing down their necks on 55 points to set up a three-way battle for two semi-final spots.

AAP