Borrego and T-Birds too hot for Fever

Adelaide Thunderbirds overcame a rare weak performance from Jamaican shooter Carla Borrego to fortify their hold on second place in the ANZ Championship with a 54-45 victory over West Coast Fever yesterday at ETSA Park.

Borrego, netted 42 goals from 57 attempts, but the T-birds used a dominant fourth-quarter showing to dismiss the Fever.

For the first three quarters, there was little to separate the two teams, with the T-birds leading 14-13 after the first period, before the score tied 25-25 at half-time, and 36-36 after the third quarter.

Natalie von Bertouch took control of the centre court, and T-birds lifted the intensity with a withering finish, and the gallant Fever lost their grip as the Thunderbirds roared into overdrive, snuffing out any chance of an upset in the process.

Both teams were out of the blocks quickly in an entertaining first quarter, but the Thunderbirds failed to break free, as the visitors persistence kept them in touch.

In the second period, the T-birds blew a five-goal buffer, with a number of unforced errors, and the plucky Fever chipped into the deficit with some fine court movement.

Three changes

The T-birds made three changes for the second half, but still could not find their usual spark on attack as the Fever continued to block the spaces and contest every ball, which set up the prospect of a thrilling finish.

It never materialised, as the home team got back to basics, and snuffed out any chance of an upset in the process.

In today's two matches, goal shooter Aiken and the Queensland Firebirds host the Canterbury Tactix in Brisbane, and goalkeeper Althea Byfield and the Northern Mystics face South Steel in a New Zealand derby in Auckland.