A fast-finishing Queensland Firebirds claimed a hard-fought 72-68 win over West Coast Fever in First Nations Round at RAC Arena on Saturday night.
With scores level heading into the fourth quarter, it was the Firebirds that captured the momentum, forcing Fever to commit turnovers as they tried to bridge the gap, securing a 4-point win led by 40 goals from Gretel Bueta.
Key Moments
Verity Simmons was ruled out for the game under Covid Health and Safety Protocols, seeing Zoe Cransberg elevated from the extended squad to start at Centre. She shared duties in the middle with Chelsea Pitman and both fought hard as Fever adapted to the new-look line up.
Jhaniele Fowler scored 60 goals without a miss and Glasgow contributed four plus two Suncorp Super Shots, while Donnell Wallam had a solid return to Perth with 24 goals and plenty of local support in the stands.
Quarter By Quarter
1st – WCF 18 | QLD 15
Fever moved out to an early 8-3 lead with Courtney Bruce, Stacey Francis-Bayman and Sunday Aryang all making interceptions in the opening minutes in a great display of defensive pressure. The Firebirds settled and closed the gap to 2 goals entering the power five, with Wallam scoring 9 in her WA home-coming. Fowler scored 17 goals at the other end for Fever, seeing the home side up by 3 at the first break.
2nd – WCF 15 | QLD 18
The Firebirds came out strong in the second quarter and closed the gap to a goal in the opening minutes. Rudi Ellis entered the game at Goal Keeper midway through the quarter and Bruce moved out to GD to relieve Aryang in her first match back after missing a week under Covid Protocols. Fever continued applying scoreboard pressure with Fowler adding another 14 goals but the Firebirds won the quarter by 3 to level the scores at the main break.
3rd – WCF 20 | QLD 20
Pitman started the third term at Centre and both teams continued trading goals through to the midway point of the quarter with scores remaining level. The arm wrestle continued into the power five with neither side able to break away until Fever capitalised on a turnover and then Glasgow scored a Super Shot. Francis-Bayman left the court after landing awkwardly with two minutes remaining before a Super Shot from Firebirds shooter Mia Stower reinstated the deadlock at 53-all.
4th – WCF 15 | QLD 19
The Firebirds forced a turnover to start the fourth quarter and then went ahead by 4 in the first five minutes. Fever continued playing catch-up until midway through the quarter when they closed the gap to a goal after an intercept to Bruce. Trailing by 1 point entering the power five, Fever fought hard to bridge the gap but the Firebirds continued applying great pressure and increased their lead back to 4, with Bueta proving hard to stop with 16 goals for the quarter. A Glasgow Super Shot gave Fever a glimmer of hope in the dying minutes, but the Firebirds held on to run out with the win.
Final – WCF 68 | QLD 72
By the Numbers
Goals: Fowler 60 | Bueta 40
Super Shots: Glasgow 2 | Stower 2
Goal Assists: Teague-Neeld 20 | Mi Mi 19
Feeds: Teague-Neeld 29 | Ravaillion 40
Centre Pass Receives: Teague-Neeld 16 | Bueta 33
Deflections: Aryang & Bruce 3 | Bueta & Simpson 4
Gains: Bruce 5 | Bakewell-Doran & Simpson 3
Intercepts: Bruce 4 | Simpson 2
