Kia Magic: NZ Conference Champions
The Kia Magic are the inaugural ANZ Championship New Zealand Conference champions after defeating the SKYCITY Mystics, 57-54, in Auckland on Monday night.The thrilling victory ensures the Kia Magic will host the NSW Swifts at Claudelands Arena next Sunday 14 June in an ANZ Championship Semi-Final – the winner progressing through to the Grand Final.
General public tickets are on sale through Ticketek from 12:00pm on Wednesday 10 June.
Little separated the Kia Magic and Mystics for most of the intense showdown, until the Kia Magic lifted their game to another level in the final stanza, driven by a full 60-minute performance from 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 Kia Magic to make a three-goal leap ahead.
Joanne Harten was in her usual glittering form, controlling the Kia Magic shooting circle barely put a foot wrong to lead 16-15, at the first break.
It was all Kia 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.
The Mystics rallied late in the quarter to draw to within two, before 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. But as was the nature of this match, the Kia Magic were not prepared to hand anything to the home team and kept in touch, rallied by Kopua.
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 Kia 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 Kia 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.
