NSW Swifts debutant Sophie Garbin has headlined an extraordinary comeback in a thrilling 54-53 Super Netball win over Queensland Firebirds in Sydney.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Garbin nailed the decisive tie-breaking goal with seven seconds to go on Sunday after a crucial intercept by captain and wing defence Abbey McCulloch.
Swifts lost several close games last year and the players celebrated by piling on top of each other as if they'd won a title.
"Abby (McCulloch) did say that we were taking every game like it's a grand final," Garbin said.
"We won, so we might as well celebrate like it's a grand final. It's good to celebrate wins like that because it makes you want to do it again."
Swifts lost the first two quarters by three points and trailed by eight in the third.
Down by six points early in the last, they hit the front with a burst of seven-straight goals.
Firebirds twice led by one, but the 21-year-old Garbin nailed three more shots and missed just one of her 19 attempts.
She prospered despite the defensive attentions of former Diamonds captain Laura Geitz.
"It's pretty amazing, like a few years ago, watching these girls on TV in a grand final. Now I'm out on court playing against them," she said,
Garbin was one of several halftime changes made by Briony Akle, with both her and Firebirds' counterpart Roselee Jencke citing the use of bench players as a crucial factor in the result.
"I think the changes we made injected some energy and some belief," Akle said.
Jencke felt the Firebirds didn't adjust well to the changes.
"We needed to contest the ball a little bit more. I think we probably sat back on it a little bit and we just needed to go harder," Jencke said.
"We came out really well with good intensity and I think that probably dropped off in the second half."
West Australian Garbin scored the Swifts' last nine goals, replacing an out-of-sorts Samantha Wallace, who shot 12 of 19.
Australian 21-and-under representative Garbin last year set a record for most goals in an ANL season. She is the younger sister of basketballer Darcee Garbin, who recently won a WNBL title with Townsville.
"Obviously, a lot of weight on my shoulders now that I have to come through - otherwise, I might not be the favourite child!" Garbin joked.
English Commonwealth Games heroine Helen Housby made 24 of 31 shots for the Swifts, who picked up six points, while the Firebirds tallied two.
Romelda Aiken landed 45 of 51 for the Firebirds and Gretel Tippett eight from 11.
Australian Associated Press
