Woods on Fire as Townsville sink Flyers on road

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Townsville Fire controlled the game for long stretches and were rewarded with a 90–84 win over the Southside Melbourne Flyers, leaning heavily on a dominant, high-efficiency performance from Courtney Woods. The Fire captain finished with 27 points on 66.7% shooting, knocking down 3-of-5 from three and 6-of-7 at the line, while also adding four assists. Her ability to score at all three levels consistently punished Southside’s defensive coverages and anchored Townsville during every Flyers push.

Woods was well supported by a balanced Townsville backcourt effort. Abbey Ellis added 15 points, all but three coming from the perimeter or free-throw line, going 3-of-5 from deep and a perfect 6-of-6 at the stripe, while Miela Sowah chipped in 17 points with timely shooting and defensive pressure. Although Townsville shot just 46.2% on twos, their 39.3% from three and 84% from the foul line proved decisive, particularly as the Flyers struggled to match that efficiency late.

For Southside, the scoring load was spread across a productive frontcourt trio. Isabelle Bourne led the Flyers with 23 points and 10 rebounds, finishing efficiently inside and out, while Maddy Rocci was outstanding from two-point range, pouring in 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting and adding eight assists to keep Southside competitive. Cayla George also delivered a strong all-round performance with 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists across nearly 40 minutes, providing spacing and playmaking from the centre position.

Despite shooting a blistering 71.1% on two-point attempts, Southside’s inability to convert from long range (4-of-21 from three) and a 16-turnover night blunted their offensive momentum. Townsville’s extended time in the lead and an 11–0 scoring run during the middle quarters ultimately separated the sides, as the Fire’s shot-making and composure under pressure outweighed the Flyers’ interior efficiency.

Key Details

• Result: Townsville Fire 90 def. Southside Melbourne Flyers 84
• When: Sunday, 11th January 2026
• Where: State Sport Centres, Parkville
• Attendance: 1,806
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Courtney Woods (Townsville Fire) starred with 27 points, three rebounds, and four assists in 30 minutes.
• Isabelle Bourne (Southside Melbourne Flyers) scored 23 points, and had 10 rebounds and one assist in 29 minutes.

What Happened

The Fire established early control, outscoring the Flyers 26-23 in the opening quarter before extending their advantage to 50-38 at half-time. Townsville's dominance continued in the third period, where they held Southside to just 20 points while adding 18 of their own to lead 68-58 heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter proved decisive as both teams engaged in a high-scoring affair. The Fire managed 22 points in the final period, just enough to withstand the Flyers' late surge of 26 points. Despite Southside's impressive fourth-quarter rally, Townsville maintained composure to secure the six-point victory.

Courtney Woods delivered an outstanding performance for the Fire, shooting an efficient 6-from-9 from two-point range and connecting on three triples from five attempts. Her perfect 6-from-7 performance at the charity stripe proved crucial in the closing stages. Woods' leadership was evident throughout, particularly during crucial moments when the Flyers threatened to close the gap.

The contrasting shooting philosophies told the story of the match. Southside shot an impressive 71% from the field (32-from-45) but struggled mightily from beyond the arc, converting just four of their 21 three-point attempts for a disappointing 19% success rate. Conversely, Townsville shot a more modest 46% from the field (18-from-39) but found success from downtown, connecting on 11-from-28 triples at 39%.

The Fire's superior free-throw shooting proved pivotal in the final outcome. They converted 21-from-25 attempts at 84%, while the Flyers managed only 8-from-13 at 62%. Townsville's ability to draw fouls and capitalise at the foul line created the necessary buffer to withstand Southside's fourth-quarter charge.

For the Flyers, Maddy Rocci complemented Bourne's effort with 22 points and eight assists, shooting an exceptional 10-from-14 from two-point range. Cayla George contributed 18 points and seven rebounds, but their combined efforts weren't sufficient to overcome the Fire's balanced offensive attack and superior three-point shooting.

Townsville's dominance in time of possession was evident, leading for nearly 30 minutes compared to Southside's seven and a half minutes. The Fire's biggest lead reached 18 points, demonstrating their ability to control the tempo and maintain pressure throughout extended periods of the contest.