The second-placed Tactix and fifth-ranked Magic competed in Round nine on Monday night, with the home side taking a 68-57 win in their penultimate game of the ANZ Premiership.
Both teams had everything to play for, with the Tactix wanting maximum winning points to keep a chance of hosting a grand final while the Magic utilised their two-point accuracy landing seven long range shots, to stay within arm’s reach of a win throughout the second half.
When the teams last met in Round 3 the Tactix defeated the Magic 48-44 in Hamilton, and Sunday night’s showdown proved the pressure was on both sides, with each side utilising their strengths in attack and defence.
The Magic worked hard to upset the Tactix flow in the early minutes of the game, with the home side losing the ball to turnovers, giving the visitors an early, but not sustained lead.
Goal attack and Tactix player of the day Te Paea Selby-Rickit led from the goal circle, feeding the ball successfully down the court to Ellie Bird, or using the circle to inch her way in closer to optimal shooting position throughout the game.
Bird maintained over 90% shooting rate, while Selby-Rickit sat at over 80% but with over 20 goal assists and feeds.
The Tactix edged out in front from late in the first quarter, taking advantage of defensive power-duo Jane Watson and Karin Burger who overturned the ball, and forced errors in the Magic’s goal third.
Watson and Burger worked hard to block out Magic shooter Saviour Tui, with the rival holding top spot as the highest two-point shooter in the competition, giving the Magic limited chances to make mistakes, with the pair fighting for every rebound.
In a sturdier second quarter, the Tactix found their groove - mid courters Erikana Pedersen, Holly Mather and Paris Lokotui nailing long range passes, with Pedersen providing 23 feeds with absolute precision into Ellie Bird in the goal circle.
The Magic called the first timeout but could not slow the Tactix who advanced to a 10 point lead by the half, but into the third quarter the rivals found momentum taking 13 points on the Tactix to close the gap - leading coach Donna Wilkins to call a timeout, urging her side to try something different to escape the Magic’s grip on the game.
Wilkins made a strategic change for the final quarter, retiring Lokotui and injecting a burst of energy as Parris Petera entered the court at wing attack, moving Pedersen to centre and Holly Mather to wing defence. From there, the Tactix held on for the win, ensuring they remained in second place on the leaderboard.
The Tactix’s final game is against the Mystics in Auckland on Sunday, which will decide their fate - if they land a home grand final, or elimination final to determine second or third place.
