Playing in front of a hostile crowd at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the Firebirds just fell short of a memorable win in captain Kim Ravaillion’s 150th National League appearance, going down 63-62.
Donnell Wallam twice had a chance to a sink a match-winning Suncorp Super Shot in the dying seconds of the match but both attempts just missed dropping into the net.
Wallam and Tippah Dwan – in her first appearance back in purple after two years with the Thunderbirds – showed their attacking pairing has plenty of potential.
The pair played the full game, Wallam scoring 39 points including four Suncorp Super Shots, while Dwan hit five two-pointers as she shot 18 goals from 20 attempts.
Their efforts were despite a world-class display by Jamaican defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey for the hosts, the goalkeeper picking up 10 gains, six intercepts and eight deflections in an epic battle with the Firebirds goalers.
Firebirds goalkeeper Remi Kamo was just as impressive at the defensive end however, with five gains and six deflections in a titanic tussle with former Firebirds legend Romelda Aiken-George.
Ravaillion capped a remarkable recovery from off-season back surgery when she came off the bench in the third quarter.
The 30-year-old’s impact was immediate as the Firebirds cut a six-goal margin to be down by just one at the final change.
From there both teams traded goals with neither able to get a defining edge before the ball fell to Wallam with just seconds on the clock.
The Diamonds shooter missed her first two-point effort but the ball found its way back to her hands, but her follow-up shot hit the rim and bounced out to deny the Firebirds a famous win.
The Firebirds play their first home game of the season at Nissan Arena against Giants Netball on Saturday, 20 April from 5pm AEST.
All Firebirds home games for the 2024 season are now on sale via Ticketek and every Firebirds match is also live and on demand on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
