The NSW Swifts have begun their ANZ Championship season like a bullet train, hurtling to a 55-41 win over the West Coast Fever in Sydney tonight.
In a breathtaking start to their 2013 campaign, the Swifts scored eight consecutive goals in the opening few minutes, leaving the Fever gasping and grappling to get back into the game.
With a wealth of international shooters in her arsenal, Fever coach Norma Plummer elected to play Caitlin Bassett and Catherine Cox under the hoop in her starting seven. In a frenetic start, Bassett got the scoreboard rolling, but the Swifts added the next eight goals – most of them from the hands of Susan Pratley.
From the outset, Sonia Mokloma, was in ferocious form at goal defence for the Swifts, and the Fever could not break through into the shooting circle, or finish off cleanly when they finally did. Wing attack Kim Green was also on song, drilling the ball down the centre of the court with little interruption.
The Swifts continued to hold the balance of power, up 19-8 at the first quarter break.
In an attempt to turn around the uncomfortable situation, the Fever had a full-court shake-up, introducing Kate Beveridge at goal shoot – marking her return home to Perth this season - Verity Simmons at wing attack and Josie Janz at goal keep. A more concerted and confident attack kept the Fever in step with the Swifts for the most of the second spell, drawing the quarter 13-all.
But they still could not figure out a way to shut down Pratley, who created her own space to shoot with little resistance, scoring 20 from 23 attempts. There was more bad news for the Fever, losing defender Andrea Gilmore with an ankle injury.
The Swifts’ halftime lead of 32-21 put them in good stead for the second half, providing they could maintain the persistent pressure.
And they answered coach Lisa Beehag’s call to keep the screws on the Fever, building their advantage out to 15 goals, 44-29, at three-quarter time. Mo’onia Gerrard, at wing defence, was calm and controlled in cutting down the Fever’s attacking chances, despite the efforts of Cox to step up the scoring tempo.
Both sides made shooting switches with 15 minutes left on the clock – Lisa Millman joining Cox in the Fever circle, and Amorette Wild replacing the Swifts’ well-performed goal shoot Carla Dziwoki.
The changes initially benefitted the Fever, who played with a new vigour under the influence of Shae Bolton, who had moved to centre.
They could take some solace out of winning the final quarter by one, but it was too little, too late, and the Swifts put the finishing touch on the match. Pratley’s 32 goals from 37 shots was the highlight of the game.
