Maria Tutaia. Getty Images
The third quarter ain't called the championship quarter for nothing.
In last night's transtasman league grand final the Mystics' hopes of spoiling the Firebirds' perfect season came crashing down in the third quarter as the home side surged ahead with almost military precision.
The Aucklanders faltered. Embarrassingly so.
For a
moment in the second spell, when the Mystics had the Firebirds' attack line panicking, many Kiwi fans dared to dream the trophy would be ripped from the vice-like grip of the Australians.
While the Firebirds held a two-goal lead at halftime, there was a feeling that the momentum was with the Mystics, who had most of the running in the second quarter.
But in the space of five shambolic minutes all the hard graft that had got the Mystics to that point was undone.
You can pinpoint the exact moment when things started to unhinge for them.
Three minutes and 12 seconds into the third period when young defender Kayla Cullen called a time-out.
Cullen, last week named the best young player in the league, has been plagued by a cramping problem since later in the season.
Fearing fatigue would cause the condition to worsen, Mystics coach Debbie Fuller opted to bench the talented youngster, in the hope of being able to bring her on later.
Unfortunately that left little option but to put Rachel Rasmussen, who stands at just 1.83m, back on against 1.96m shooting machine Romelda Aiken.
Five quick goals later, the Mystics recognised their error and tried to get Cullen back out on court and the call went out to the team.
The only problem was that it was Anna Scarlett who called the injury time-out to effect that change. But having called the second injury break of the quarter, Scarlett had to leave the court. A rookie mistake.
Another time-out later and Rasmussen was off, allowing Scarlett back on at goal keep.
But the damage had been done.
The classy Firebirds line-up took full advantage of the disarray in the Mystics' camp and by the time the visitors had the intended seven on court, the Firebirds held a nine-goal lead and their confidence washigh.
Game over.
