Spirit star Isobel Borlase puts on absolute show

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Isobel Borlase said she didn't expect but the box score is the box score:

• ‍Points: 42 │ Rebounds: 5 │ Assists: 6 │ Steals: 1 │ Blocks: 0 │ Turnovers: 2 │ FG: 12–18 (66.7%) │ 3PT: 6–9 (66.7%) │ FT: 12–12 (100.0%) │ Minutes: 37:30

Print it out, put it in a frame.

MVP-in-waiting Borlase detonated for career-high and season high 42 points as Bendigo Spirit had every answer for Southside Melbourne Flyers 98-88 at Selkirk Stadium in the rescheduled WNBL26 clash in Ballarat on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

She didn't need a heat check, Borlase was on-fire fro the get-go.

"I guess it was one of those nights," Borlase said.

"It’s always nice to see your first one go in, but I can’t do it without the other four girls on the court and the whole team really.

"The bigs are screening me, the guards are cutting, so it’s everyone on the team who’s helped me do this. I can’t do it alone.

"I can’t thank the coaching staff and everyone around me for putting me in positions to be successful.

"I was not expecting that at all. It was always going to be a tough matchup against Southside, like (head coach) Kennedy (Kereama) said, they’re fighting for a ladder position, so no, I was not expecting that."

Borlase said she'd only scored more than 40 in juniors.

"Maybe in under-16s or under-14s at classics or something, but yeah. I’m just more happy about the team getting the win, to be fair," she said.

"We needed that win for our team’s confidence, and it’s nice going into a double-header against Canberra with a win under our belt."

Kereama said Borlase was putting in the work to make herself better. She was drafted by the WNBA's Atlanta Dream in 2024 and Australian basketball legend Michele Timms said she is ready to take the leap.

"I’m incredibly proud," Kereama said.

"Izzy puts in so much work into her game. She’s an absolute gym rat. She’s not just necessarily working the physical parts of her game, but other parts as well, whether it’s in the gym, working with our other staff, whether it’s working on other aspects of her game.

"She’s putting a lot of time in and really trying to build and continue to work on her craft. So to see that being rewarded that way is incredible – incredible for her confidence and incredible for the team as well, to get to experience that with her.

"We just spoke about that in the locker room. She’s incredibly aware of this. We know she’s an incredible talent, but her teammates do such a great job of creating and putting her in those situations.

"That’s what we brought Izzy here to do. So if she wants to do it eight, nine more times this season, I won’t be complaining. I’ll be enjoying that."

Key Details

• Result: Bendigo Spirit 98 def. Southside Melbourne Flyers 88
• When: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
• Where: Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat
• Standings

By the Numbers

Bendigo Spirit

• Abbey Wehrung – 16 points, 4 threes
• Kelsey Rees – 10 points, 5 rebounds
• Kelsey Griffin – 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

Southside Flyers

• Cayla George – 20 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists
• Nya Lok – 19 points on perfect 4/4 from two
• Isabelle Bourne – 18 points on 7/7 from two

What Happened

The Spirit established an early advantage with a composed 20-18 first quarter performance, setting the foundation for what would become a back-and-forth contest. The Flyers responded emphatically in the second period, outscoring Bendigo 27-26 to briefly seize momentum and level the contest at halftime. The third quarter proved pivotal as Bendigo regained control with a 25-20 scoring run, creating a cushion they would protect through the final period.

Isobel Borlase delivered one of the season's most dominant individual performances, shooting an exceptional 12-from-21 from the field, including a stellar 6-from-9 from downtown. Her perfect 12-from-12 performance from the charity stripe was the exclamation point on a masterful offensive display. Abbey Wehrung provided crucial support with 16 points on outstanding shooting, going 6-from-9 overall and 4-from-7 from deep.

The Flyers mounted a valiant effort led by their veteran trio of Cayla George, Nya Lok, and Maddy Rocci. Lok was particularly efficient, shooting a perfect 4-from-4 from two-point range and connecting on three-of-four attempts from beyond the arc. George battled hard in the paint despite facing constant double-teams, while Rocci contributed across multiple categories with 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists.

Bendigo's superior three-point shooting proved decisive in the 10-point victory. The Spirit connected on 15 triples compared to the Flyers' 10, with their 53.57% accuracy from deep significantly better than Southside's 47.62%. The home side also dominated the boards, out-rebounding their opponents 37-26, including an eight-to-four advantage on the offensive glass that created crucial second-chance opportunities.

The entertaining contest featured 17 lead changes, highlighting the competitive nature throughout. Bendigo's biggest lead reached 15 points during their strongest run, while the Flyers managed to stay within striking distance for most of the evening. The Spirit's ability to maintain composure during crucial moments and execute their offensive sets consistently proved the difference in securing the victory.