Minor premiers are getting 'Fired' up for Finals series

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Five-time WNBL Coach of the Year Shannon Seebohm revealed the Townsville Fire hadn't even started to think about its semi-final clash against Southside Melbourne Flyers before beating defending champions Bendigo Spirit 84-66 to seal the WNBL26 minor premiership in the last game of the regular season on Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Townsville.

The Fire host Southside Flyers in Game 1 of their semi-final on February 15 while Perth Lynx host Bendigo Spirit on February 14.

"Zero, to be honest," Seebohm said about how much he had thought about Southside.

"If you’re thinking ahead and not taking it one game at a time, you’re going to get beaten. We focused on playing well and getting a good win against Bendigo.

"Now we’ll turn our attention to finals. We’ve played Southside four times this year. They’ve done things that troubled us, then when we adjusted they did something else. We’ve got some things to work out this week. I’ll enjoy today, then get into it tomorrow, and we’ll start practice on Tuesday.

"The girls have the awards thing tomorrow, so I’ll have a look at what we need to do after that. One of my assistants has already been doing some scouting in the background.

"It’s about balancing preparation with keeping the players fresh so that when we hit the floor next Sunday we’ve got the energy we need. Southside are a really good team. Kristi (Harrower) is a great coach. We’ve had some tough battles with them this season. They’re big and physical, so we’re going to need to be ready to play well if we want to beat them."

Bendigo head coach Kennedy Kereama revealed captain Kelsey Griffin didn't travel because she was "battling a bit of a cold so it made sense not to put her on a plane and play tonight."

"If there’s anyone who’s going to be highly motivated for what comes next, it’s KG," Kereama added.

"She’ll certainly be available and she’ll certainly be playing. She’s been battling a bit of a cold as well, so it made sense not to put her on a plane and play tonight.

"That’s no disrespect to Townsville. We gave them our absolute best, and I’d be respectful of the lineup. We believe in whatever lineup we put on the floor. We’ve done that all season. Some people wrote us off without Tolo, and we know how that played out for those teams. She’ll be available, and you’ll definitely see KG."

With Griffin out, it meant more minutes for MVP candidate Isobel Borlase.

"We came in with some very different focuses that weren’t necessarily outcome-based for us," Kereama said.

"We’ll always play to try and win. We’re elite teams and professionals, and that’s what you do at this level.

"For us tonight, it was about finding other ways to win and identifying things we can work on that are going to help us with the next game, which is more important. As you can see, there aren’t many games where Izzy plays 26 minutes, so there was clearly an intent to manage some loads and keep people fresh. That didn’t mean we didn’t try to win.

"Townsville were really good and shot the ball really well to start the game. I thought after that first timeout we made a great run back at them. They pulled away towards the end of the first quarter, and the second quarter was obviously theirs.

"I thought defensively in the second half we were really good, and we made some adjustments that we think are going to be great for us come the semi-finals against Perth.

"It was good for us to be able to practise some of those things in a game. There’s no better chance to do that than in the final game of the season."

Townsville Fire and Australian Opals guard Miela Sowah led all scorers with 23 points, going 4-from-7 from deep. The minor premiership means Townsville has home court advantage in the Finals.

"Feeling good," Seebohm said.

"It was a good game. Obviously, this last round’s been weird with people sitting players out and all that sort of stuff. They didn’t have Kelsey Griffin, and we all know how much of a difference she makes for Bendigo.

"But I’m really happy. I thought we played really well in the first half and we looked pretty sharp.

"We played them here on New Year’s Eve, and the way they defend us, we really struggled. We’ve talked a lot about that in the back part of this season, dealing with the super-helping stuff and everything. I think we finally started to figure out how to play against that and still generate good shots.

"It was really good to be able to get a win to finish the season and go into finals with some momentum."

MVP candidate Courtney Woods dropped 18 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Fire.

"From start to finish, we had good intent," Woods said.

"It was a strange game. Bendigo didn’t have Kelsey Griffin, so they were shaped a bit differently. But from the start to the finish we were really trying to execute our stuff and prepare for finals. I thought we did a really good job of having a positive and beneficial game.

"I’m feeling really good physically, and mentally I feel a lot different to last year. Last year was kind of the first finals series I played in, apart from when we won the championship when I had a very different role.

"I feel a lot more prepared for the mental toll finals take, and for the physicality that comes with it. I’m a lot more prepared and excited for the group.

"The last couple of rounds especially. We had a really tough win in Southside and a really tough win on the road in Perth. Games like that prepare you for finals.

"Earlier in the year we were blowing teams out, but in the last couple of weeks we’ve learned to win in a multitude of ways. We faced super-helping tonight and I didn’t really notice it, which usually means we’re doing the right thing. We’re prepared to win against lots of different defences."

Key Details

• Result: Townsville Fire 84 def. Bendigo Spirit 66
• When: Sunday, 8th February 2026
• Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Miela Sowah (Townsville Fire) starred with 23 points, three assists and two steals in 30 minutes.
• Isobel Borlase (Bendigo Spirit) scored 19 points, and had five rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes.

What Happened

The Fire established early control and never relinquished their advantage, leading for 39 minutes of the contest. Townsville's balanced offensive attack proved too much for Bendigo, with four players reaching double figures in a commanding full team effort that showcased their depth and versatility.

Miela Sowah was on fire throughout the contest, shooting an outstanding 4-from-6 from two-point range and connecting on four triples from seven attempts beyond the arc. Her efficient 57% shooting from downtown set the tone for Townsville's offensive explosion. Captain Courtney Woods provided stellar support with 18 points, six boards and five dimes, demonstrating the leadership that makes her such a crucial component of the Fire's success.

The Fire's superior shooting efficiency proved decisive in securing the victory. Townsville shot a solid 50% from the field compared to Bendigo's disappointing 43%, while their three-point shooting was particularly impressive despite a modest 29% clip from downtown. The Fire's ability to convert from the charity stripe was exceptional, connecting on 17-from-18 free throws for an outstanding 94% success rate.

Defensively, Townsville's rim protection and perimeter pressure disrupted Bendigo's offensive rhythm throughout the contest. The Fire forced 17 turnovers while committing just 11 themselves, showcasing their ability to control the ball and create additional scoring opportunities. Alicia Froling dominated the glass with 11 rebounds, including eight offensive boards that provided crucial second-chance opportunities.

For Bendigo Spirit, Isobel Borlase provided a bright spot with an efficient 19-point performance, shooting perfectly 4-from-4 from beyond the arc. However, the Spirit struggled to match Townsville's offensive firepower, with only two players reaching double figures.