The Melbourne Mavericks concluded their Team Girls Cup campaign on a strong note, but despite their efforts, they fell just short against the NSW Swifts, securing a fourth-place finish overall.
Final: Mavs vs NSW Swifts
Amy Parmenter was on fire once again, securing an intercept early in the first quarter, and showcasing strong ball movement with pinpoint, accurate feeds into the shooters. The NSW Swifts found Grace Nweke with ease, forcing the Mavericks to quickly adapt to shut down their flow. Liv Lewis stepped up with an exceptional intercept, while Sasha Glasgow nailed two super shots, propelling the Mavs into a 14-12 lead at the quarter-time break.
Maisie Nankivell was dominant in the second quarter at wing defense, with slick ball movement from Tayla and Amy feeding Shimona Jok, helping the Mavs maintain their lead. They finished the quarter strong, ahead 29-26.
The third quarter saw Jessie Grenvold enter as the only substitution the Mavericks made, and Sasha Glasgow made it clear she was back. The growing connection between her and Shimona Jok was evident, while Kim Brown continued to impress with her relentless efforts and consistent pressure. The Mavs ended the quarter with a narrow two-point lead, 39-37.
It was a nail-biting finish, but in the end, the Mavs fell short, losing 49-51.
Head Coach Tracey Neville shared her thoughts on the tournament:
“The tournament provided valuable exposure to the teams we’ll be facing throughout the season and set a clear standard for the expectations we need to meet. There’s still plenty for us to learn before Round One, but it was an excellent opportunity to put a large portion of our contracted players into high-pressure situations, which will be crucial as we move into the season.”
Catch the Mavs in action in their next match against New Zealand’s Northern Mystics at MSAC on March 27, with centre pass at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased below.
https://www.intix.com.au/event/melbourne-mavericks-vs-northern-mystics-pr
