Fowler loses for the first time as Jamaicans challenge

PERTH, Australia (CMC):

SUNSHINE GIRL Jhaniele Fowler produced another enterprising performance but fellow Jamaicans Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson countered with outstanding defensive displays, as leaders West Coast Fever suffered a stunning late defeat to Adelaide Thunderbirds.

In a top-of-the-table clash at RAC Arena on Sunday, Fever squandered a five-point lead at the start of the final quarter to plunge to a narrow 64-63 loss and their first of the new Australian Super Netball Championship season.

The 33-year-old maintained her usually high standards, scoring 51 goals from 53 attempts while Eleanor Cardwell answered for the winners with 33 from 34 attempts – including the late super-shot (two-goal shot) which sealed the result for the visitors.

However, it was the superb defensive work from Sterling and Wilson, especially in the third and fourth quarters, which helped thwart Fever’s bid for a sixth straight win this season.

“Everyone on the bench was yelling at me to take a [one-point shot],” Cardwell said afterwards.

“I looked at the clock and they (Fever) would have had time to go and score two, so I just thought, ‘I’ll go for a two’.”

Fever led for the majority of the contest. They were ahead 20-17 at the end of the first quarter before converting that advantage into a 35-31 lead at halftime.

The third quarter was evenly fought and with Sterling and Wilson starring, Thunderbirds levelled at 44 before a 6-1 run saw Fever pull ahead 50-45 at the break.

All bets were on the reigning champions maintaining their advantage in the final quarter but they found themselves outscored 19-13 when it mattered most.

At the John Cain Arena on Monday in Melbourne, Jamaican Shimona Nelson again proved prolific but the effort went in vain as her Collingwood Magpies were beaten 65-50 by Sunshine Coast Lightning.

The 24-year-old shot 38 from 42 attempts but Magpies trailed after each quarter – down 21-12 at the end of the first, behind 41-27 at the half and 56-39 at the end of the third.

ACADEMIC IMPORTANCE

They outscored the winners 11-9 in the final stanza but the effort was of academic importance.

Cara Koenen led Lightning with 39 goals from 40 attempts.

At the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney last Saturday, another Sunshine Girl, Romelda Aiken-George turned in a star performance with every goal needed to help New South Wales Swifts prevail 67-66 over Melbourne Vixens.

With the contest locked 30-all at the break, the game opened up in the second half. Vixens won the third quarter 22-16 to lead 52-46 at the final interval before Swifts hit back in the last quarter, to eke out the narrow win.

Swifts lie third in the standings on 14 points, four behind second-place Thunderbirds while Lightning are fourth on 12 and Vixens, also on 12 but in fifth place.