Mi Mi recorded a game-high 22 assists as the Firebirds Futures bounced back from Wednesday’s loss to Victorian Fury to defeat the Swifts 62-54 at the Morayfield Sports and Events Centre on Thursday.
The win over the previously undefeated Swifts has created a logjam in Pool B with four teams – the West Coast Fever Reserves, Swifts, Fury and Firebirds Futures – all on four points with two wins and one loss from three matches.
The Firebirds seized the initiative from the outset with head coach Jess Whitfort opting to start the experienced Abigail Meafou at goal shooter with Rylee Burns at goal attack.
Burns hit the first two goals of the match before Meafou got on the scoreboard as the Firebirds raced to a 3-0 lead inside the opening two minutes.
Another three-goal run five minutes into the opening term extended that margin to five points before the Firebirds went on to win the first quarter 19-15.
That lead had extended to seven at halftime before a 14-13 third quarter had the Firebirds Futures in control of the contest heading into the final quarter, which was split 12-12.
Meafou ended the game with 39 goals from 45 attempts while Burns had 22 from 27.
Unlike Wednesday’s game with the Fury where all 12 players were used, the Firebirds Futures only made two changes against the Swifts with Elsa Sif Sandholt and Isabelle Shearer getting brief spells off the bench.
Mi Mi’s all-action display included 35 feeds and 20 centre pass receives while Jessie Laga’aia was a good foil for her captain in the midcourt, recording 20 goal assists and 27 feeds in a 60-minute effort.
In defence, Maddi Ridley had three gains and two intercepts at wing defence while goalkeeper Ashlee Barnett was again solid with two gains, three deflections and a rebound against the strong Swifts shooting pair of Alison Miller and Sophie Fawns.
The Firebirds Futures face the Territory Storm on Friday from 1pm ahead of Saturday’s semi-finals.
Firebirds Futures training partner Jess Milne again featured heavily in the Capital Darters’ 65-52 loss to Collingwood Magpies, the injury replacement player clocking 57 minutes and picking up six gains, four deflections and two intercepts.
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