Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic confirmed a place in the ANZ Championship play-offs for the third successive year with a rousing 53-44 win over Adelaide Thunderbirds in Rotorua yesterday.
A month of poor form was put behind them as the Magic rediscovered something approaching their best.
Lastyear's beaten semifinalists had lost three of their last four matches, leaving them needing to beat the second-placed Thunderbirds.
The odds are that the Magic will be the only New Zealand team in the play-offs, with Southern Steel probably needing to beat the unbeaten NSW Swifts in Sydney tomorrow to stay alive.
A loss will leave them vulnerable, as the fifth-placed Queensland Firebirds are favoured to beat West Coast Fever today and draw level with Steel on 16 points. The Firebirds presently have a commanding advantage in points differential.
The Magic were a team on a mission, with defender Casey Williams particularly staunch and centre Laura Langman in workaholic mood as they turned in a storming effort in the second quarter.
They were the better team in the opening period to earn a 14-11 advantage then blew Adelaide away to lead 29-19 at the main break.
The Australians hit back in the third quarter, but the Magic still led 40-33 entering the final period.
Captain Langman admitted there was an element of desperation to the Magic's play.
"We had our backs to the wall. To come out and put on a performance like that was just brilliant."
