Official Result: Kia Magic (57) def SKYCITY Mystics (54)

Official Result: Kia Magic (57) def SKYCITY Mystics (54)

The Kia Magic have snatched the 2015 New Zealand Conference crown from the hopeful hands of the SKYCITY Mystics, with a thrilling 57-54 victory in Auckland tonight.

The last-dash win not only gives the Magic bragging rights as the top New Zealand team, but the home-town advantage in their semifinal against the NSW Swifts.

All is not lost for the Mystics, who will now travel across the ditch to Brisbane, and a meeting with Australian Conference champions the Queensland Firebirds in the other semi.

Little separated the two top Kiwi sides for most of the intense showdown, until the Magic lifted their game to another level in the final stanza, driven by a full 60-minute performance from their comeback captain Casey Kopua, and a travelling crew of supporters, complete with cowbells.

It was goal-for-goal in the frantic opening minutes, until a couple of basic errors from the Mystics’ midcourt allowed the Magic to make a three-goal leap ahead.

Jo Harten was in her usual glittering form, controlling the Magic shooting circle with barely a miss-step; in fact, all four shooters on court were quickly on target.

Despite Harten’s dominance, Mystic’s goal keep Temalisi Fakahokotau – traditionally a second-half impact player – made her mark disrupting the flow of ball into the Magic shooters, which helped the Mystics to close the gap, trailing by just one 16-15, at the first break.

But it was all Magic as the second quarter unfolded; the cool and calculating head of Kopua, the determination of wing defence Jamie-Lee Price and the strength of goal attack Malia Paseka helped to push the margin out to five.

Maria Tutaia, who entertained the crowd with her floor cleaning shuffle, was equally engaging with the ball in hand – giving a hugely-improved shooting performance from the previous week, succeeding with all but one of her 15 shots, and keeping in step with her shooting offsider Cat Latu, who didn’t miss a beat in the first half.

A pair of perfectly-timed intercepts from Fakahokotau brought the home-side back within two, and a Serena Guthrie steal in the final minute ensured both sides were back on an even keel, 28-all, at halftime.

Both sides stuck to their original line-up for the third quarter and it was the Mystics who resumed control. Wing attack Millie Lees made space to move and deftly feed Latu and Tutaia, who built a handy three-goal buffer.

But as was the nature of this match, the Magic were not prepared to hand anything to the home team and kept in touch, rallied by Kopua – who sent a shiver through the Magic camp when she crashed to the floor, but still she carried on.

With the distance between the sides too close for comfort for the Mystics, they brought the rock-solid Sulu Fitzpatrick into their defence, and they held their ground, going into the final stage, 43-41 on top.

The pace did not ease off as they returned to the court – Leana de Bruin making life uneasy for Latu at one end; and at the other, Kayla Cullen firing herself at any ball that came within her radar. But Paseka stood strong supporting Harten, and suddenly the threat of extra-time was real as the sides were locked 50-50 with just over five minutes left on the clock.

Then, right through court, the Magic lifted their intensity – their bench on their feet applauding and screaming – and stole a four-goal march.

In a last-ditch attempt to regain control, the Mystics brought Fakahokotau back into the fray with less than two minutes remaining. But fate was no longer in their hands – the Magic’s confidence couldn’t be broken, and a searing long pass from Kopua directly into the hands of Harten (who ended with 35 from 38) told the final story.

Mystics shooting statistics:
Cathrine Latu 26/27 (96%)
Maria Tutaia 28/32 (88%)

Swifts shooting statistics:
Jo Harten 35/38 (92%)
Malia Paseka 22/26 (85%)

MVP: Malia Paseka (Magic)

END

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