Fever Snatch Late Draw with Swifts
The West Coast Fever remain undefeated and sit top of the Australian conference after a last second goal to Caitlin Bassett earned her side a draw against the NSW Swifts on Monday.
For the second week in a row, the NSW Swifts have been caught in an electrifying deadlock – this time fighting back from a nine-goal deficit to draw 59-59 with the Fever.
Although both sides were frustrated to take only one point away from such an intense showdown, it means both remain unbeaten after four rounds. The Fever, who dominated the first quarter, but held on by their fingernails in the last, are now top of the Australian Conference, one point ahead of the Melbourne Vixens and Swifts.
The match was controlled by Australia’s top two shooters at either end of the court – Caitlin Thwaites for the Swifts and Bassett (WAIS) for the Fever, with both, remarkably shooting at 88 per cent accuracy.
Neither side gave an inch in the opening moments – the Fever making a quick surge, but the Swifts slowly finding a rhythm to wipe out a four-goal deficit.
But luck seemed to favour the Fever, and the Swifts were rattled when captain Kim Green came out worst in a head clash with Ash Brazill (WAIS).
The Swifts also struggled to break through the concentrated midcourt defence of the Fever, and to come up with a strategy to stop the ball barrelling so easily through court to Bassett, who was unstoppable once it was in her safe hands.
In fact, she scored 13 goals for the visiting side before her shooting partner Nat Medhurst (WAIS) even took aim at the goal.
Up 19-13 at the first break, the Fever threatened to widen the chasm even further. But with the Swifts introducing fired-up wing defence Jade Clarke, and goal defence Julie Corletto willing to take more risks, the home side strove to stop the Fever from spiking.
On attack, the accuracy and athleticism of shooter Caitlin Thwaites sparked the Swifts back into contention; once nine down, the Swifts reeled it in to four just before half-time.
But there was no denying Bassett’s domination under the hoop. Her stunning 29 goals – more than the Swifts’ total – played a massive part in the Fever securing the first half 33-28.
Green was forced out of the game for the second half, dizzy with concussion from the earlier head knock, and the Swifts turned to Abbey McCulloch to rally the troops.
They remained in touch, shooting goal for goal through most of the quarter, until they brought on rookie midcourter Stephanie Wood with minutes to go in the third spell – and her fearless precision feeding helped the Swifts put on a burst and claw back to within three 46-43.
As Swifts keeper Sharni Layton began to disrupt Bassett’s tempo, and the goals came easier to Thwaites and Susan Pettitt, who was celebrating her 31st birthday, the Swifts were within a whisper of the lead for the first time in the match 47-48. Their never-say-die attitude saw them finally hit the front with exactly five minutes remaining.
And as the battle between Layton and Bassett intensified, the two teams were again rattling off sequential goals like machine guns, thrilling the Swifts crowd.
Although the home side won the final quarter by three, it was a trademark Bassett goal in the final second – her 51st of the match – that ensured a draw.