Circle variety works for Mystics

Having two very different players on the court works.Cathrine Latu Variety in the shooting circle works for the Northern Mystics according to goal shoot Cathrine Latu. The top-class shooting trio of Latu, Grace Rasmussen and English import Pamela Cookey, shot a 92 per cent average during round four of the ANZ Championship against 2008 premiers NSW Swifts.
All three have a very different style and Latu, who shot 38 from 40 on Monday, said people have critiqued the Mystics for not having a set combination in the goal circle. "People have said we need a set combination - but having two very different players on the court works."
Both players are fast and agile goal attacks but their qualities were put to good use when the Mystics required that sort of play, Latu said. "Pam has a good head - she's an international and is good under pressure. She works the circle really well. And Grace is surprisingly fast ... her defence is amazing."
"They both play really different but it works ... my job is to adjust to both of them."e
The season has been a struggle for the Mystics, with only one win in four. However, despite a 59-55 Swifts defeat, Latu said her side were happy with how they played, as they "finally played how they had been practising".
Latu, who previously worried her shooting was not up to scratch, said she had lessened the pressure she placed on herself. It seemed to have worked, as she shot a 90 per cent average over the 60 minutes.
Finau Pulu made her debut, running with the opportunity when it came her way. Latu said she was impressed with Pulu's effort at wing defence.
On Monday, the Mystics go up against the Central Pulse at TSB Bank Stadium in Wellington. It is their second clash in a month, and the Mystics' 54-50 victory in round two was their only win this season.
But Latu said they were a side not to be taken lightly.
"We are trying not to get too confident going into Monday's game," she said.
"The Pulse came very close to winning against the Fever and they are getting better every week."
A six-goal buffer kept the Fever in front of a persistent Pulse team who went down 60-54 last Saturday.
Two weeks ago, the Mystics were pounded by the Fever 57-46.
With each week, teams are getting better and the games getting harder, Latu said.