Tactix Still In Finals Hunt After Loss To Mystics
The North / South Island derby played out in Auckland on Sunday with the top-of-the-table Mystics progressing straight to a home final, while the Tactix will play the Central Pulse in the elimination final decider, on Sunday 20 July at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch.
The Tactix will still be hoping to bring a South Island presence to the grand final, making it the first time in four years that the franchise has had a chance to chase the championship, which would see them meet the Mystics for the third time in the season.
When the teams met in Round Four the Tactix won 61-50 in Rangiora, but this time, the Mystics overpowered the visitors who needed to win by six points or more.
Sunday's game saw head coach Donna Wilkins lead her team valiantly in their final effort, with the experience of Ellie Bird, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Erikana Pedersen, Karin Burger and Jane Watson shining through while Parris Petera, Holly Mather, Paris Lokotui, Charli Fidler and Martina Salmon showed grit and determination beyond their years.
The team sought consistency outside the circle - taking time to feed the ball down the court, but five general play turnovers in the first quarter provided the Mystics with an early four point lead at quarter time, which the Tactix could not recover.
As the Tactix settled into the game, they had to fight for the intercepts and to protect possession in order to claw back the points, but the cumulative pressure of the Mystics was too much for the visitors as the lead extended to eight points by half time, gaining close to 30 turnovers on the Tactix.
Watson, Lokotui and Burger fought hard to shut down Mystics' attack. Coach Donna Wilkins chose to make on-court changes to shake up the team, with Ellie Bird and Holly Mather leaving the court in favour of Martina Salmon and Parris Petera entering the game as a fresh presence.
Selby-Rickit made strides on attack, blocking her Mystics opponents from the centre pass, and was a dominant presence in the shooting circle, taking the Tactix' first two-point shot since Round 8.
Debutant Josie Seymour, daughter of ex-Silver Fern and Tactix legacy player Julie Seymour, made her first on-court appearance for the Tactix this season, having joined the team from the National Netball League for the final two games of the season.
The Tactix now prepare to take on the Pulse in the elimination final at Wolfbrook Arena, 7:30pm Sunday July 20. If the Tactix beat the Pulse in the elimination final, they will progress to playing the Mystics in the grand final at The Trust Arena in Auckland.
Elimination final tickets will be available through Ticketmaster from 2pm Thursday July 17, with tickets starting from $17.80 for youths (2-18 years) and $33.80 for adults, while family packages (two adults, two youths) will start from $83.20.
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