FIRE FINISHES SEASON ON A HIGH

The Fire finished fifth on the WNBL ladder after splitting a difficult double header against Perth in the final round of the season.  After losing on Friday night, they bounced back in spectacular fashion, finishing a tough season on a high.

Both encounters at the Entertainment Centre were close contests. On Friday the hosts led the first by the narrowest of margins at the main break but the Lynx lifted in the second half to secure 75-68 win. Courtney Woods led Townsville’s scoring and rebounding stats with 19 and 11 respectively. The guard’s double double earning her the team’s top player honour for a fourth consecutive game. She only just edged out Steph Reid though, with the point guard dropping 18 points and a mammoth nine assists.

There’d be no doubt who would be the Fire’s MVP in Sunday’s showdown, with the latter leading the underdogs to a stunning victory. Reid’s remarkable fourth quarter surge, in which she scored eight of her 23 points, saw Townsville triumph 76-69, having trailed heading into the last period. The pocket rocket praised her side’s solidarity and guts.

“We know we’ve definitely not been our best in the last few games, but to bring it together at the end, up against one of the best teams in the comp, I mean that’s a really big effort and we’re so excited and it’s a great to end.”

Reid thanked a passionate crowd for given the injury hit hosts extra energy. Not knowing whether a couple of club legends will play on or not, also inspired the Fire.

“It’s so loud, I don’t even know if you can hear me. We wanted to do it for our teammates and I think everyone just wanted to play hard for each other, I mean you don’t know what the team’s going to be next year, no team is ever the same so we’re excited to get a good win at the end. “

Reid will be in the mix to take home a few awards at the Fire’s end of season presentation night, at The Ville on Thursday.