By Charlie McKay
Tartanya Karntu have defeated the Melbourne Mavericks 60–49 in a fierce First Nations Round clash at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
The defending premiers delivered a patchy performance across the 60 minutes but held their nerve when it mattered to secure the win.
The result sets up a do or die showdown with Sunshine Coast Lightning next week, with a finals spot on the line.
It was 755 days between SSN matches for Lauren Parkinson (née Moore), but tonight marked both her long-awaited return to netball and her Mavericks debut. An inaugural signing for the club, Parkinson has sat on the sideline for almost two seasons after rupturing her ACL early last year.
The introduction saw Jessie Grenvold dropped from the side, despite a standout performance in the Mavs’ win over the Swifts.
The Tartanya Karntu attack looked disjointed following the early loss of Georgie Horjus, who left the court within five minutes after sustaining a wrist injury.
But Latanya Wilson stepped up in defence, proving a ball magnet against her Jamaican teammate and Mavericks MVP Shimona Jok. Wilson notched up a record-levelling 9 intercepts and 9 deflections in a dominant performance.
Despite a scrappy start, the home side took control early and claimed the first term 17-12.
The Mavericks won't play finals in 2025Horjus returned in the second term, helping Tartanya Karntu find their rhythm and push ahead on the scoreboard.
Wilson continued to dominate at the other end, stifling the Mavericks’ attempts to build any momentum.
The visitors had no answers in a dismal second quarter, managing just seven goals as Tartanya Karntu surged to a 33–19 lead at half-time. Struggling with low gains and a high general play turnover count, the Mavs couldn’t find a way to stem the tide.
But the Mavericks reset after the break, returning with renewed grit and determination.
They wrestled back momentum and caught Tartanya Karntu off guard, steadily chipping away at the deficit.
A clutch super shot from Sasha Glasgow brought the margin back to just eight goals, reigniting the contest.
The final term was tightly contested, but the defending premiers held firm, denying the Mavericks any chance of a comeback and sealing a 60–49 victory.
Tartanya Karntu now face the Lightning in a finals-deciding clash next week, while the Mavericks will round out their season against the GIANTS.
