Unwanted competition first looms for the Southern Steel
The Steel has one final outing this Sunday against the Magic in Invercargill to ensure it does not become the first team in the ANZ Premiership to go through a season winless.
The Southern Steel has one chance remaining to avoid an unwanted first in New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership competition.
The Steel dropped its 14th straight game on Monday night when it was beaten 58-47 by the Stars at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill.
It means the Steel has one final outing this Sunday against the Magic in Invercargill to ensure it does not become the first team in the ANZ Premiership to go through a season winless.
Again, the Steel showed some encouraging signs against the Stars. At one point during the second quarter, it trailed by just one, and even at four down at halftime there was the feeling that it was game on.
But the Stars quickly pushed it out to eight early in the second half when the Steel went close to three minutes without scoring a goal.
The Steel was never in the contest from that point, although did finish well to win the final quarter.
All eyes will now be on Stadium Southland on Sunday in the Steel’s final against the Magic.
Steel captain Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit told Sky Sport they were eager to finish with a performance they can be proud of.
“We’ve had some really good battles against the Magic so we are really looking forward to it”.
Shooting Stats - Steel:
Saviour Tui 35/41 (85.4%)
Georgia Heffernan 12/16 (75%)
Shooting Stats - Stars:
Maia Wilson 42/43 (97.7%)
Amorangi Malesala 13/20 (65%)
Jamie Hume 3/5 (60%)
MVP: Mila Reuelu-Buchanan (Stars)