Sunshine Girls trio combine to inspire narrow Thunderbirds win

ADELAIDE, Australia (CMC):

The Sunshine Girls trio of Romelda Aiken-George, Shamera Sterling-Humphey and Latanya Wilson played key roles on either end of the court as Adelaide Thunderbirds launched the defence of their Australia Super Netball title with a narrow 63-62 win over Queensland Firebirds on Saturday.

On the offensive end, the 35-year-old Aiken-George scored 48 goals from 57 attempts as goalkeeper Sterling-Humphrey, 28, and the 23-year-old Wilson at wing defence proved immense on the defensive end, to help Thunderbirds outlast the persistent Firebirds at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Sterling-Humphrey and Wilson combined for 17 deflections and nine intercepts and came up with key plays in a dramatic final quarter tied 11-all, to haul their side over the line.

"I've got to turn up when my team needs me, and that's what I did," Sterling-Humphrey said afterwards.

"Myself, Latanya and Matilda (Garrett) bring experience in our defence and we have an awesome midcourt."

The hosts were up four after the first quarter, 18-14, but found stalled in an even second quarter to be ahead 37-33 at half-time.

Thunderbirds were then outscored 18-15 in the third to lead by a single goal, 52-51, at the start of the final quarter, and the two teams were unable to be separated down the stretch.

Firebirds were led by Donnell Wallam who scored 31 from 36 but missed two crucial super shots in the dying moments of the contest.

Also on Saturday at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, veteran Sunshine Girls goal shoot Jhaniele Fowler buried a perfect 64-from-64 as West Coast Fever crushed Giants Netball 84-65 in their opener.

The 34-year-old Fowler dominated the game for Fever who raced to a 26-21 lead after the first quarter and a 45-34 advantage at the break.

They outscored the Giants 22-16 to enter the final quarter with a comfortable 67-50 lead.

Another Jamaican Shanice Beckford netted 12 from 16 at goal attack for Fever, which also featured Jamaican defender Kadie Ann Dehaney.

Giants were led by Jo Harten who shot 24 from 26 attempts.

Yesterday at the University of the Sunshine Coast Arena, Trinidadian Samantha Wallace-Joseph scored 23 from 24 attempts but her New South Wales Swifts crashed to a 79-63 defeat to Sunshine Coast Lightning.

The contest was still a close one at the start of the final quarter with Lightning trailing 56-52 but they were blown away down the stretch, 23-11, 28-year-old Cara Koenen ending with a terrific 50 from 53 attempts for the winners.

In the Melbourne derby at the John Cain Arena also yesterday, Vixens completed a 68-61 win over Mavericks, who were featuring for the first time in the competition after replacing the now defunct Collingwood Magpies.