The Melbourne Mavericks' dream of a fairytale Super Netball finals appearance in their debut season remains alive after they beat Sunshine Coast Lightning 72-71 in heart-stopping fashion in Hobart. The Lightning would have all but locked away a finals berth with victory at MyState Bank Arena on Saturday night, but captain Steph Fretwell's missed two-pointer on the fulltime bell has left the door ajar for the Melbourne Vixens to sneak into the four. The result sees both teams sitting on identical 5-7 win-loss records, with the Lightning sitting inside the four due to their superior percentage.
The Mavs trailed at every change and by five midway through the fourth quarter but they never stopped coming. Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. Midcourter Tayla Fraser played the finest game of her career, while the sharp shooting of Shimona Jok and Eleanor Cardwell kept the Mavericks in the hunt before Gabrielle Sinclair coolly buried two clutch Super Shots in the last 40 seconds.
"I'm actually a bit shocked," Fraser said. "How good was Gabby Sinclair with those two-pointers at the end. "At the start (of the season) we were a little slow - that's what happens when you've only been together for six months.
"I think it's really starting to come together." Diamonds captain Liz Watson was in everything early for the Lightning, who led 20-18 at the end of a high-tempo first term, before Fretwell's Super Shot on the stroke of halftime gave S.
