West Coast Fever's hot streak is over after the Adelaide Thunderbirds scored a 64-63 Super Netball boilover at Brisbane's Nissan Arena on Saturday.
The Thunderbirds' thrilling comeback from eight goals down early in the final term ended the third-placed Fever's chances of qualifying for next weekend's major semi-final and brought bittersweet tears from outgoing Adelaide captain Chelsea Pitman.
Pitman has not been offered a contract with the club for next season but that did not stop her from coming off the bench to play a key role in the upset.
"I'm going to get emotional just thinking about it. It's been a big week for me," a teary Pitman said after her 17 assists and 32 feeds performance.
"I've made it known I don't want to be leaving ... sport sometimes doesn't give you the dream ending and I'm not saying that's my retirement.
"I want to keep playing so I think that's where the emotion comes from. It's bittersweet."
The Fever looked set to extend their unbeaten sequence to eight games when Jhaniele Fowler (54 goals) helped them to a commanding final-term lead.
Then up stepped youngster Georgie Horjus (18 goals) who let fly with four two-point super goals to wrench the contest out of the Fever's hands.
The outcome means Sunshine Coast Lightning can not be knocked out of second place and will tackle minor premiers the Melbourne Vixens in next Saturday's grand final qualifier at USC Stadium on the Sunshine Coast.
West Coast will meet the NSW Swifts in the elimination minor semi-final.
"We've got to draw a line in the sand and leave it. The finals are a new kind of game," Fever captain Courtney Bruce said.
The Thunderbirds were on the back foot early and turned to their Plan B after Horjus failed to provide the penetration they needed at wing attack.
They looked a more balanced side after quarter time when Horjus, switched to goal attack, combined more effectively with captain Pitman.
It was defence, however, that was the major point of difference between the sides.
The Fever, through Bruce, had little trouble winning possession when the team needed a lift.
Adelaide had to work diligently and wait for every little scrap.
Goalkeeper Shamera Sterling gave everything in her battle with Fever scoring machine Fowler but at three-quarter time she had just one intercept to her name as West Coast clung to a two-goal lead.
In the end, that advantage was not quite enough to deny Thunderbirds on the night, although it is the Fever whose season goes on.
