KEY POINTS:
Even a new car couldn't put a smile on Casey Williams' face after the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic's heartbreaking semifinal loss.
Shortly after her side's one-goal defeat to the NSW Swifts in the major semifinal, Williams was named the MVP of the transtasman league.
Williams put on a brave face and graciously accepted the award - a sparkling new Holden Captiva - at the presentation ceremony, but once the television cameras had gone, there was no hiding her disappointment.
The star defender admitted she had mixed feelings about receiving the accolade.
"It is a bonus, don't get me wrong, I'm very appreciative, but I'm here to play for the Magic and we lost by one goal which really sucks," she said.
"I think everyone is gutted and pretty down, but we'll bounce back. It is sport and we're all human so we are going to feel pretty bad."
While the Magic still have an extra life in the playoffs, the mood in the camp after the loss spoke volumes of the tough assignment they now face to claim the ANZ Championship title.
To be the first team to lift the transtasman trophy the Magic will have to win on Australian soil - something they haven't managed to do all year. But before they can go through to contest the grand final in Sydney the Magic must first win next Monday's preliminary final in Hamilton against the winner of last night's late game between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens.
Having lost a game that was there for the taking, Williams believes her side will be eager to prove what they're really made of next week.
"Next Monday I think everybody is going to come out twice as firing," she said.
After holding a two-goal lead at halftime, the Magic were brought to a virtual standstill in the third quarter as they struggled to find a way through the tight midcourt defence of the Swifts. The visitors outscored the Magic 17-9 in the spell and looked to be well in control of the match at the three-quarter break.
A late revival saw the Magic draw level with the Swifts with just minutes remaining, but they could not finish off the job, with the Swifts maintaining their composure down the stretch.
Williams said her side's stirring comeback gives them a sense of confidence.
"We were down by seven, if we had of kept it at that margin we would have been a bit like 'oh man, we've got major problems here' but to lose by one and to show that we can come back proves we've got it all there. It's just those crucial moments we need to nail."
* In Adelaide last night, the Thunderbirds struggled early as their shooters, seemingly suffering from nerves, missed their first seven attempts at goal.
It was more than five minutes into the game before they were able to put a point on the board, and the Vixens were eight goals ahead at quarter-time.
But the Thunderbirds pulled back to 24-all at halftime, and strong support from their home crowd gave shooters Kate Beveridge and Natalie Medhurst the confidence and composure they needed to make the winning points.
