Swifts survive extra-time thriller

By Charlie McKay

The NSW Swifts will carry momentum into finals after edging the Queensland Firebirds 79–75 in a gripping extra-time showdown at Nissan Arena.

Pride was on the line as the Firebirds looked to secure just their third win of the season in what has been a challenging rebuilding year for the club.

While they finish with the wooden spoon, the Firebirds can take heart from a spirited showing against one of the competition’s heavyweights – especially after blooding two debutants in Elsa Sif Sandholt and Danielle Taylor.

It was a tightly contested opening term, until Helen Housby came alive in the Power Five.

The Swifts sharpshooter drained three super shots in quick succession to hand her side a healthy 22–17 lead at the first break.

Firebirds head coach Kiri Wills injected Ashlee Barnett into goal keeper to limit the influence of Grace Nweke, a change that proved disruptive.

The second term descended into chaos, as ramped-up defensive pressure at both ends sparked a back-and-forth flurry of errors and turnovers.

Fuelled by an electric Brisbane crowd, the Firebirds rallied to claw back the deficit. They treasured possession and capitalised on defensive gains in a full-court surge that pushed them into a two-goal lead.

But as she’s done all season, Housby impacted yet again in the Power Five, steadying the ship with a clutch super shot to help the Swifts reclaim the lead.

The visitors headed into half-time with a 34-30 advantage.

Verity Simmons voiced her frustration with the umpiring in a half-time interview, suggesting the Swifts weren’t getting the rub of the green.

The intensity ramped up in the premiership quarter.

The Firebirds regrouped once again, drawing strength from the raucous crowd to chip away at the margin.  

English import Imogen Allison copped a knock to the head and was helped from the court, but the home side lifted in her absence.

Emily Moore ignited the arena with back-to-back super shots to level the scores.

But the Swifts held their nerve, clinging to a narrow 51–50 lead heading into the final break.

The Swifts surged ahead in the final term, building a match-high six-goal buffer as the Firebirds began to tire.

But the home side refused to lie down, launching a late comeback in the Power Five. With Moore double-tagged, it was Mary Cholhok who stepped up with a clutch super shot to keep the dream alive.

Moore then delivered back-to-back two-pointers to give the Firebirds a narrow lead in the dying seconds.

The Swifts remained composed under pressure, and Nweke coolly slotted the equaliser to send the match into extra time.

The opening break in overtime came via a Housby offensive contact, handing the Firebirds a golden opportunity.

They edged ahead, but an untimely unforced error let the Swifts back in, and they capitalised to take a 75–74 lead into the changeover.

Elsa Sif Sandholt was re-injected in place of Cholhok for the second half of extra time, but the pressure proved too great for the debutant.

In the end, it was the Swifts’ experience that shone through, as they held their nerve to close out a nail-biting contest.