Another stellar shooting exhibition from Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard assisted West Coast Fever to another clinical performance in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League, as they toppled Melbourne Mavericks 76-57 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 11,841 at RAC Arena, in Perth, on Saturday.

While the 19-goal victory didn’t push the Fevers to the top of the standing as they had hoped, it did ensure they ended the regular season on a high heading into the finals. They provisionally sit second on the standings on 44 points, same as leaders Melbourne Vixens, who were 62-52 winners over Queensland Firebirds.

However, reigning champions Adelaide Thunderbirds (40 points), could overtake both to finish regular season as minor premiers, with a win over Sunshine Coast Lightning on Sunday.

Still, Fowler-Nembhard, who shot 69 from 69, including a solitary Supershot worth two goals, and her team have much to celebrate as they have regained some semblance of rhythm when it matters most. Alice Teague-Neeld (five goals from six attempts) and another Jamaican Shanice Beckford (two goals from three attempts) supported the top-rated shooter.

Meanwhile, another Jamaican Shimona Jok led the Mavericks with 30 goals from 34 attempts, with support from Eleanor Cardwell (21 goals from 24 attempts) and Gabrielle Sinclair (six goals from eight attempts), but it was not enough for them to make the finals in their inaugural SSN season.

Both teams started the game strongly, with the Jamaican shooters as Fowler-Nembhard and Jok exchanging goal-for-goal at opposite ends of the court. However, Fever gradually asserted some authority on the contest and opened up a five-goal lead to end the first quarter at 20-15.

The second quarter was a stark contrast to the first as both teams struggled to maintain possession due to some unforced errors, before the Mavericks regained their composure and scored a few unanswered goals to reduce the deficit.

That shift in momentum forced Fever’s Head coach Dan Ryan to move Sunday Aryang into goal defence, while Jess Anstiss took the wing defence bib, and Kelsey Browne entered the game in centre. Those changes had immediate impact, as Aryang picked up a rebound off a missed effort from Jok.

From there, Fever ensured they remained on top at 34-30 at the half-time interval, though they were outscored 14-15 in what was a strong second quarter for the Mavericks.

Like they did in the first, the two teams traded goals for most of the third quarter until Aryang picked up an incredible intercept for the Fever. That, along with a few missed efforts on the Mavericks’ part, allowed Fever to widen the gap to a 13-goal lead at 56-43 heading into the final quarter.

In chase of a 24-goal winning margin to secure top spot, the Fever threw it all on the line in the final quarter, as they applied consistent pressure to the Mavericks, who never really had a response, but did well enough to deny the host a wider margin of victory.

Jamaica’s Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, Latanya Wilson and Romelda Aiken-George continued winning ways with Adelaide Thunderbirds, as they produced a blistering second half display to secure a 67-41 win over Melbourne Mavericks at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, on Saturday.

The 26-goal victory –Thunderbirds’ widest margin so far this season –propelled them into second position on 32 points, same as West Coast Fever, but with a better goal difference of 93 goals greater than their conceded total. Melbourne Vixens (36 points) remain in pole position.

Aiken-George again led Thunderbirds from the front with 39 goals from 43 attempts, supported by Lauren Frew, who scored 13 goals from 15 attempts. Lucy Austin had nine goals from 11 attempts, and Georgie Horjus ended with six from six.

Another Jamaican Shimona Jok led Mavericks’ efforts with 25 goals from 28 attempts, as Eleanor Cardwell (10 goals from 13 attempts) and Gabrielle Sinclair (four goals from seven attempts) offered support.

Horjus was on top of her game across all four quarters, finishing with 116 Nissan Net Points, while Sterling-Humphrey (106 NNP), who was briefly sidelined after taking a knock to the face, and Wilson (77.5 NNP) delivered standout individual performances.

Adelaide Thunderbirds celebrate their win.

The Mavericks were more spirited at the start, as Jok scored three unanswered goals, before Sterling-Humphrey raked in two gains, two intercepts and a deflection in the first term alone, to bring Thunderbirds back into the contest. Aiken-George was prolific on the scoreboard for the Thunderbirds in a tightly contested and physical quarter, which they won 15-14.

The Thunderbirds maintained the momentum in the second quarter, courtesy of brisk goals from Frew and Aiken-George inside the opening minutes.

An aerial duel between Jok and Sterling-Humphrey, forced to the latter to the bench with a suspected concussion from a hit behind the ball. She was replaced by Wilson, who also made her presence felt, as Mavericks’ penalties and turnovers proved their undoing in the quarter that ended 18-11 in favour of Thunderbirds, with the score at 33-25 at half-time.

Like the first two quarters, the Mavericks struggled to make the most of their possession in the attacking third, and that allowed Thunderbirds to maintain a stranglehold on the contest, which seemed headed for blowout. Despite a strong performance from Jok and a Super Shot from Sinclair, it wasn’t enough to claw back the Thunderbirds’ 15-goal advantage heading into the final break at 49-34. 

Still, the Mavericks fought on with four quick goals in the opening three minutes, before a deflection from Sterling-Humphrey and a couple of impressive long-range goals from Horjus widened Thunderbirds’ gap to 17 points.

And even switching Jok to goalkeeper to match Aiken-George's height, proved futile for the Mavericks, who were blew away 18-7 in the final quarter.

Sterling-Humphrey maintained her stellar performance and ended with a rebound, six intercepts, and five deflections, while Wilson was also on song with an impressive seven deflections and an intercept, as both thwarted the opponent’s attack.

Jamaica's Shanice Beckford of West Coast Fever is a picture of focus.

Meanwhile, Queensland Firebirds produced a massive upset, as they bettered West Coast Fever 78-70 in an evenly contested fixture at Nissan Arena. 

Donnell Wallam piloted the Firebirds with 66 goals from 67 attempts, with Tippah Dwan getting the other 12 goals from 17 attempts.

At the other end, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard scored 65 goals from 67 attempts for West Coast Fever, while Shanice Beckford had four goals from eight attempts, and Olivia Wilkinson, one goal from three attempts.

In a fiercely contested start, both teams showed early intensity, exchanging goals before the Fever gained an early edge, spurred on by robust defensive efforts from Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Sunday Aryang.

Fever seamlessly moved the ball to the circle edge before delivering it straight to Fowler-Nembhard under the post, as they surged into an eight-goal lead at one point. However, Wallam orchestrated a stunning comeback, sinking four two-point Super Shots during the Power Five period to level the scores at 20-20 at the first break.

It was more end-to-end action at the top of the second quarter, before Wallam, who was a powerhouse in the circle, fired on all cylinders to give her team control.

Despite the pressure, the Fever maintained their composure and executed their game plan with clinical precision, and at that point, it became evident that it would be a showdown of the shooters, as Wallam and Fowler-Nembhard took centre stage.

Jamaica's Kadie-Ann Dehaney (right) of West Coast Fever challenges for possession.

Fowler-Nembhard was outstanding for the Fever, racking up an impressive 45 Nissan Net Points for the quarter, just edging out Wallam who scored 43 in the second quarter. In fact, it took a thrilling buzzer-beating Super Shot from Wallam to put Firebirds ahead 41-39 at halftime.

After a couple wayward balls to start the third, the Firebirds had all the answers as the Fever struggled to keep pace. But the Dan Ryan-coached Fever was not to be outdone and battled bravely to ensure the contest remained close with just six goals between them at 57-51 heading into the final quarter.

The Fever fought back valiantly, as they intensified their defensive efforts and eventually found success on the scoreboard to move within two of the Firebirds score, but let the momentum slip close to the end.

In a mouthwatering clash where speed, flair, defensive and shooting abilities were put to the test, Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Shanice Beckford, and Kadie-Ann Dehaney toppled compatriots Romelda-Aiken-George, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, and Latanya Wilson as West Coast Fever extended their unbeaten run with an epic 57-56 win over Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Saturday’s clash at the RAC Arena, was always expected to be a spicy affair, and it didn’t disappoint as the mettle of West Coast Fever was tested against their Adelaide Thunderbirds counterparts, in what was their most formidable challenge this season.

The Fever overcame a sluggish start, as their tenacious defensive pressure and remarkable athleticism ensured they stayed in the game, and they maintained composure when it mattered most to make it six from six at the top of the table.

Dehaney delivered a standout performance for the Fever, as she amassed an impressive total of 68.5 Nissan Net Points. Her dominance was particularly evident in the first and third quarters, where she showcased exceptional skill and contributed significantly with 10 deflections and two crucial intercepts.

“We were below standard, especially at the start with our work-rate. We decided at half time that this is the line; when we get back out there, we need to apply the pressure and lift the standard of work-rate,” Dehaney said in a post-match interview, after she shared a dance with her compatriots.

At the other end of the court, Fever’s ace shooter Fowler-Nembhard stood tall with 51 goals from 51 attempts, including an uncharacteristic two-point Super Shot effort. Beckford got the other six goals from 10 attempts, as she was charged with tackling the Super Shot line, but never really found rhythm

A focused Jhaniel Fowler-Nembhard.

The Thunderbirds were again led by Aiken-George, who scored 34 goals from 40 attempts, while Lauren Frew had 11 goals from 12 attempts. Lucy Austin briefly found range from the Super Shot line and ended with eight goals from six attempts, with Georgie Horjus getting the team’s other three goals from four attempts.

Thunderbirds brought the pressure, as they burst out of the gates and dominated the court and the scoreboard early. Sterling-Humphrey and Matilda Garrett showcased incredible athleticism in defence, their aerial skills on full display, while Wilson proved vital in intercepting when Fever were in transition. 

Horjus was also lively early on, as she racked up 20 Nissan Net Points, five goal assists, eight center pass receives, and seven feeds, consistently taking on Sunday Aryang, and also provided a reliable option through the middle.

Meanwhile, for the Fever, Dehaney racked up impressive stats early against Aiken-George, with her five deflections and two intercepts.

The Thunderbirds relentless effort, limited Fever’s attacking options, but the momentum gradually shifted when Beckford dropped the league leader’s first Super Shot. Fowler-Nembhard later secured a penalty goal right on the buzzer, to put Fever up 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Fever maintained the ascendancy in the second quarter, as they capitalised on their opportunities in front of goal and asserted their authority over the Thunderbirds, who struggled to maintain possession.

However, after a series of positional changes, the momentum again shifted back to the Thunderbirds, as Wilson tallied three deflections and an intercept as the ball swiftly moved from end to end. From there, Thunderbirds eked out a slim two-point lead at 28-26 at the half-time interval.

Shamera Sterling-Humphrey was again prominent for the Thunderbirds.

As the Thunderbirds pressed on in the third quarter, Fever found themselves in uncharted territory, with the unfamiliar feeling of being in a losing position for the first time this season.

Wilson's physicality on the ball proved pivotal for the Thunderbirds, as they chipped away and ramped up their defensive pressure. But in a pivotal moment for the Fever, Jordan Cransberg’s intercept at the centre pass, swiftly led to a conversion by Fowler-Nembhard, followed by a Fever centre pass.

Aiken-George then squandered a straightforward opportunity right under the post, which gifted possession to the Fever.

Fever pressed on from there, and Beckford landed her second Super Shot out of six attempts, bringing the team within two points, before Fowler-Nembhard scored consecutive efforts, the second of which was on the buzzer. Though Fever won the quarter 16-14, the teams entered the final quarter locked at 42 goals apiece.

Sensing danger, Fever, through an outstanding performance from Fowler-Nembhard quickly extended their lead to five within the opening five minutes of the decisive quarter, and though Thunderbirds battled tooth and nail to get back into it, the reigning champions came up just short at the end.