Mystics 47
Tactix 46
Once is disappointing, twice is frustrating, three times is agonising, but a fourth time? Absolutely gut-wrenching.
The Canterbury Tactix have again blown a handy advantage heading into the final quarter, last night edged out by one-goal by the fast-finishing Northern Mystics in Auckland.
The Tactix led 39-34 at three-quarter time, but frittered away too much possession in the final spell, allowing the Mystics back into the match.
In what has now become a familiar story, the Tactix wilted under the heat as the match entered the pressure-filled final stages. The usually reliable midcourt became hesitant, while the shooting pairing of Jodi Brown and Anna Thompson lost their nerve, failing to go to the post with confidence.
Already this season the Tactix have let points go begging against the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and the Southern Steel through a lack of composure down the home stretch.
Tactix captain Julie Seymour was at a loss to explain how her side once again faltered at the last. "It's been the story of our season," she said. "We keep talking about it and thinking about how we can fix it, but obviously we haven't come up with the answer."
Mystics captain Temepara George, who last week announced she was making herself available for the Silver Ferns, gave the selectors plenty to think about with another impressive midcourt performance.
George held the attack end together with her strong vision and feeding into the circle, and produced a typical terrier-like performance on defence.
The inspirational centre was delighted with the fighting spirit her side showed last night.
"We really wanted it, we said go out there and do it for each other, and we did," she said.
Both sides sit in the lower rungs of the ladder, but you could be forgiven for thinking they were fighting for a place at the top, such was the intensity of a physical match with every ball keenly contested.
The home side gave the Tactix a four-goal headstart after blowing their first two possessions. Though the Auckland defence did well, any good work on defence was immediately undone by brain explosions down the other end of the court. They struggled for rhythm, allowing the Tactix out to a healthy 14-9 lead at the first break.
The Mystics improved their defence in the second spell.Midway through the period they trailed by just one goal and could have led if not for poor shooting. Both Pamela Cookey and Jade Topia missed sitters.
With Topia's stats dropping to 60 per cent, Mystics coach Te Aroha Keenan brought on Cathrine Latu. The more-assured Latu gave the Mystics a two-goal lead, albeit only for only a couple of minutes, with the Tactix getting a 25-24 lead on the stroke of halftime.
Visiting coach Mahon-Stroud no doubt had some choice words for her side at halftime and the Tactix duly responded after the break, with shooter Jodi Brown in particular coming out firing. Brown helped the Tactix re-establish some breathing space with her willingness to put up the shots from anywhere in the circle, doing so with impressive accuracy.
But they lost their way in the tense finale, becoming hesitant on attack, while their shooters faltered.
