The Fireballs edged out the Bloemfontein-based side 50-45 in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash at the Superbowl, remaining the only unbeaten team in the competition.

The much-anticipated showdown between the Crinums and the Fireballs certainly lived up to expectations, with sparks flying both on court and on the sidelines. Crinums coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm and her Fireballs counterpart, Elsje Jordaan – both seasoned tacticians – brought intensity and strategy in equal measure. 

Karla Pretorius. Photo supplied

With former Proteas stars Bongi Msomi (Fireballs) and Karla Pretorius (Crinums) serving as assistant coaches, it was always going to be a high stakes encounter where tactics would play a decisive role. The first quarter ended all square at 11-11, but the Fireballs turned up the heat in the second.

They pulled ahead to lead 28-22 at half-time and managed to hold onto their advantage in a tense third quarter, going into the final stretch 38-35 up.Ultimately, it was the Fireballs’ consistency in the closing stages that secured them a hard-fought victory. Their ability to maintain intensity and outscore the Crinums when it mattered most proved the difference.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars pulled off a nail-biting 52-50 comeback win over the Southern Stings in another tightly contested TNL fixture. After a slow start, the Gauteng outfit found their rhythm and turned the tide in the third quarter with a dominant defensive display.

Xandri Fourie. Photo supplied

Defenders Jamie van Wyk, Zané Bodenstein, and Lungile Mthembu stepped up when it counted, forcing crucial turnovers. At the other end, Goal Shooter Ine-Marì Venter was clinical, netting at an impressive 89% shooting accuracy. In earlier matches, Tshukudu continued their red–hot form with a commanding 70-36 victory over the Northern Cape Diamonds.

It was their third consecutive win under new head coach Vivian Foko – a dream start to their campaign. The Free State’s Sonoblomo edged Limpopo Lilies 46-44 in a tense affair that went right down to the wire, while the Sunbirds were ruthless in their 57-30 demolition of the Eastern Cape Comets – a one-sided encounter that left no doubt about their intent this season.

Jaguars vs Stings. Photo supplied.

Wednesday Results

•     Northwest Tshukudu 70-36 Northern Cape Diamonds
•     Zambezi Eagles 49-47 Eastern Cape Aloes
•     The Free State’ Sonoblomo 46-44 Limpopo Lilies
•     Eastern Cape Comets 30-57 Mpumalanga Sunbirds
•     Gauteng Jaguars 52-50 Southern Stings
•     Kingdom Stars 46-37 Western Cape Tornados
•     Baby Proteas 62-51 Zambezi Eagles
•     Northwest Flames 64-38 Limpopo Baobabs
•     Northwest Tshukudu 53-37 Kingdom Queens
•     The Free State Crinums 45-50 Golden Fireballs

Thursday Fixtures

•     07:00 – Mpumalanga Sunbirds vs Limpopo Lilies
•     08:00 – Southern Stings vs Baby Proteas
•     09:00 – Gauteng Jaguars vs Zambezi Eagles
•     10:00 – Western Cape Tornados vs Free State Sonoblomo
•     11:00 – Northern Cape Diamonds vs Eastern Cape Comets
•     12:00 – Northwest Flames vs Free State Crinums
•     14:00 – Eastern Cape Aloes vs Golden Fireballs
•     16:00 – Kingdom Stars vs North West Tshukudu
•     16:00 – Southern Stings vs Zambezi Eagles
•     18:00 – Kingdom Queens vs Mpumalanga Sunbirds
•     18:00 – Gauteng Jaguars vs Limpopo Baobabs

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport lh