Winter Update | Garbin named Flames’ MVP

JCU Townsville Fire star Darcee Garbin has continued her golden haul by being named the Townsville Flames’ MVP to start this week’s Winter Update.

Having captured gold at the World University Games in Taipei, Garbin, who led Australia with a team-high 16.8 points and 11.8 rebounds across the tournament, was the standout player for the Flames during the QBL season.

Over the course of the season, Garbin averaged 23.5 points – third in the competition – along with 10.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Fire teammate Mia Murray was named the Players’ Player, championship-winning captain Rachael McCully the defensive player of the year and development guard, Haylee Andrews, the under-23 player of the year.

As a result, Garbin was also named in the QBL All*Star Five.

In the SEABL Grand Final, Kelly Wilson flirted with a triple double after registering 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Bendigo, but the Lady Braves came up short against Geelong.

Leading by 14 at half-time, the Lady Braves came out cold from the main change as the Supercats cut the margin to one at three-quarter-time.

They then overran Bendigo in the final term to clinch a 76-67 victory.

In the WNBA, a final round win from Phoenix has secured the Mercury and Cayla George the fifth seed in the play-offs.

The Mercury will host Seattle in an elimination final on Thursday, with the winner advancing to the next round.

Sydney Wiese and the LA Sparks completed the regular season with a 26-8 record and have automatically qualified for the best-of-five semi-finals.

Should the Mercury defeat the Storm and then Cincinnati, they will face the Sparks in the semi-finals.

Finally, the Fire commenced pre-season training at the weekend, with Micaela Cocks and Mia Murray the standout performers during fitness testing.