In a pulsating start to Round Two of the Suncorp Super Netball season, the Firebirds took it to their Queensland rivals at UniSC Arena but a last-gasp Donnell Wallam Suncorp Super Shot proved the difference as the Lightning claimed a 63-62 win.
The result was a gut punch for a Firebirds team who had battled hard through all four quarters but just found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreline when the final siren sounded.
Midcourt duo Macy Gardner and Lara Dunkley stepped up in the injury-enforced absence of Silver Ferns star Maddy Gordon, with Dunkley delivering 15 goal assists in bruising tussle with Lightning trio Ava Black, Karin Burger and Mahalia Cassidy - who all donned the WD bib to try to nullify the Firebirds' vice-captain.
Gardner meanwhile was non-stop in centre, playing the full 60 minutes in a tireless display that included plenty of turnover wins with two gains, an intercept and four deflections.
There was also encouraging efforts from Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who scored 13 goals and 16 goal assists in an impressive goal attack performance while fellow Kiwi Kelly Jackson had a whopping five gains in defence before having to come off the court in the fourth quarter after being left with blood streaming from her nose following a contest for the ball.
The opening quarter set the tone for what would be a tight affair throughout, with the Firebirds taking the first edge on the scoreboard midway through the quarter before ending the term leading 17-13.
The hosts lifted in the second quarter and immediately began eating into the Firebirds' advantage with a run of four unanswered points from Cara Koenen getting the Lightning within one.
The Firebirds rallied to go into the sheds holding a two-point lead at halftime.
Within seconds of the second half starting that lead had disappeared however as the Lightning flexed their muscles, eventually hitting the front for the first time in the game and winning the third quarter 18-13 to hold a three-goal lead at the final turn.
Again the Firebirds came back to get their noses in front, neither team getting a decisive edge in a nail-biter of a fourth quarter before Wallam's two-pointer with just seconds to play left the visitors proud but shattered.
"While I'm really gutted that we didn't take that one because, man, we could have had those points and we're our seasons away - it definitely is an improvement on last week in terms of the structure and the intent," Head Coach Kiri Wills said.
"I'm really, really happy with this team in terms of, you know, everyone talks about Maddy being out, but we've got a resilient team. We've got a resilient roster, like Kelly went down, Gizzy (Isabelle Shearer) still in there. We're still competitive.
"I'm happy with my squad and we're happy with improving, but we're not happy with losing."
The Firebirds return home next week to host the Adelaide Thunderbirds in another big test for Wills' team with the action starting from 1pm on Sunday, March 29 at Nissan Arena.
