Fire's hot start torches Flyers to take series opener

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The Townsville Fire have sent an ominous warning to the rest of the WNBL after leading by as much as 33 points to take game one of their semi-finals series against the Southside Melbourne Flyers 88-60 at the Townsville Entertainment Centre.

Last year's runners-up couldn't have enjoyed a better start, tipping-off their finals campaign with a 17-0 run and leading 39-6 at the end of the first quarter on their way to the 28-point victory.

Fire skipper Alex Fowler said her team still had plenty to learn heading into game two on Wednesday despite the convincing result.

"It's a whole new game, Southside are a great team, they're going to go home, they're going to watch film and fix things just like us," Fowler said post-game.

"I think we need to go into that game 0-0 again like its a whole new game, they're going to come out firing, they're probably going to hit more shots than they did tonight because they're a great team.

"We've just got to reset and see what we did well againsty them and we've still got a lot to learn as well."

Fowler also praised the atmosphere the Townsville fans created at the entertainment centre as the Fire look to go one better than WNBL25.

"I think its a lot of fun especially when it comes around to finals. You get so many people coming out to support us and for us to put on a show like that its a lot of fun.," she said.

"You can barely hear yourself talk to teammates, they're amazing its great for us."

Game 2 is on Wednesday, February 18 at 7pm at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne.

Key Details

• Result: Townsville Fire 88 def. Southside Melbourne Flyers 60
• When: Saturday, 15th February 2026
• Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville
• Standings: Standings

By the Numbers

• Abbey Ellis (Townsville Fire) starred with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes.
• Isabelle Bourne (Southside Melbourne Flyers) scored 14 points and had nine rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The Fire established their dominance from the opening tip, racing to a 23-6 first quarter lead that set the tone for the entire contest. Townsville's balanced offensive attack and stifling defence left the Flyers scrambling throughout the period, as they managed just six points in a dismal opening frame.

The second quarter saw little improvement for the visitors, as Townsville extended their advantage to 43-19 by half-time. The Fire's superior ball movement and efficient shooting continued to plague the Flyers, who struggled to find any offensive rhythm against the home side's pressure defence.

Abbey Ellis was outstanding for the Fire, shooting an exceptional 7-from-10 from the field, including an impressive 4-from-6 from downtown. Her 20-point haul was complemented by stellar performances from Alicia Froling, who contributed 17 points on efficient 6-from-9 shooting, and Alexandra Fowler, who added 16 points while connecting on 4-from-7 triples.

Townsville's superior shooting ability was the difference maker in this comprehensive victory. The Fire shot a solid 56.76% from the field compared to the Flyers' poor 47.73%, while their three-point shooting was equally impressive at 37.93% against Southside's disappointing 20%. The hosts also dominated the boards 42-32, with Alicia Froling cleaning the glass effectively with eight rebounds.

For the Flyers, Isabelle Bourne put forth a valiant effort with 14 points and nine boards, while captain Cayla George managed 12 points and 10 rebounds in the losing cause. However, their struggles from beyond the arc and inability to slow down Townsville's offensive flow proved costly in what became a 28-point rout.