The Fire turn back time
The JCU Townsville Fire turned back time tonight as they secured an 83-71 victory over Dandenong.
Having suffered two heavy losses to the Rangers on the road, the Fire, who were celebrating Retro Round, turned to their championship stars in a throwback to their recent past and they delivered in spades.
Suzy Batkovic (25 points and seven rebounds), Cayla George (17 points and eight rebounds) and Darcee Garbin (eight points) all stood tall – the trio pivotal in the Fire’s 2015/16 championship – while Mia Murray (12 points) was back to sniping from the wings which led her to the 2014/15 Rachael Sporn Medal.
Suzy Batkovic rolls to the basket – she has 16 points – as the Fire lead 46-32! #FireUpTownsville pic.twitter.com/D5zbwR3AQs
— Townsville Fire (@TownsvilleFire) December 16, 2017
While the championship-winning quartet were all pivotal in the win, point guards Kelly Wilson (nine points and five assists), Mikhaela Donnelly (five points) and Micaela Cocks (five points) also played important cameos.
“It was good to be able to finally secure a win against them,” a relieved Fire coach Claudia Brassard said.
“We certainly owed them one for the losses we have enjoyed down there, but I thought we did a much better job tonight.
“They made a run at the start, which had proven lethal in our first two games, but we hung in there and ultimately fought back.”
Trailing by as many as seven early in the first quarter, Batkovic proved the difference as she scored nine of the Fire’s first 12 points.
Garbin’s injection into the game was just as telling as she rattled off a quick-fire eight, while George was also proving a handful.
A two-point lead at the first change was extended well into double figures in the second quarter as the Fire went on a 15-0 run.
Batkovic and George continued to do as they pleased, while Murray was landing blows from the outside.
Splash! Mia Murray with the dagger as the Fire go on a 15-0 run to lead 42-30 with 3.31 left in Q2! #FireUpTownsville pic.twitter.com/zJd2TUgV32
— Townsville Fire (@TownsvilleFire) December 16, 2017
Up 19 midway through the third quarter, the Rangers rallied as they tried to keep their own finals’ hopes alive.
The Fire’s outside shooters shut the door in the final term, however, as George, Wilson and Cocks struck daggers from the outside to secure a 12-point win.
The JCU Townsville Fire have clinched a 12-point win over the Rangers on the back of a @SuzyBatkovic & @CaylaGeorge23 masterclass. Check out all the key stats! #FireUpTownsville pic.twitter.com/qiLHeXq9Ph
— Townsville Fire (@TownsvilleFire) December 16, 2017
With two rounds of the season remaining, the Fire remain in contention for a top-two finish and will now turn their attention to the Capitals in Canberra on Thursday night before hosting Bendigo at Townsville Stadium on Saturday.
Click here to see full box scores from the Fire and the Rangers.