Fire fight to the end

A never-say-die JCU Townsville Fire outfit has failed in their bid to secure the comeback of the season after falling narrowly to Melbourne.

Trailing by as many as 19 in the second half, the Fire came roaring home to level the scores with just 38 seconds before the Boomers held on to register a 79-75 win.

Micaela Cocks was simply brilliant for the Fire – mimicking her 2015/16 Rachael Sporn Medal winning form – as she posted a team-high 19 points to go along with four assists.

Ally Malott (14 points and four rebounds), Suzy Batkovic (12 points and 14 rebounds) and Tess Madgen (12 points and four rebounds) all finished in double figures.

The Boomers looked poise to do a number on the Fire as they led by 13 at half-time courtesy of a Lindsay Allen triple as the clock expired and continued to eek away in the third.

Two technical fouls on the Fire to start the final quarter – they had three for the game – did not help their cause Cocks and Malott sparked a harrowing run.

Driving hard to the rim, Cocks was able to slash the margin to single digits before Malott connected on a huge triple.

Sensing the momentum had well and truly shifted, Laurin Mincy was able to make a timely put back before Batkovic weaved her magic and made an incredible fadeaway to cut the margin to 73-75 with two minutes remaining.

A sweet dish from Cocks to Malott levelled the scores inside the final minute before the Boomers were able to make the go-ahead basket off the resulting inbound.

When a Malott triple rimmed out, the Fire were forced to foul and Maddie Garrick coolly slotted both attempts from the line.

The Fire return to Townsville tonight before travelling to Bendigo next week for the Fox Sports Game of the Week on Saturday.

Click here to see full box scores between the Fire and the Spirit.