The Townsville Flames have set up a fascinating NBL1 North semi-final match up with the Rockhampton Cyclones with a Grand Final spot up for grabs after Ella Tofaeono came up huge in 97-73 quarter-final win over the South West Metro Pirates.
RECAP NBL1 NORTH | ROUND 14 SATURDAY
WOMEN
Townsville Flames (97) defeated South West Metro Pirates (73)
The Townsville Flames have booked in a tantalising semi-final match up with the Rockhampton Cyclones after a dominant 97-73 home quarter-final victory against the South West Metro Pirates.
It was only a loss to the Rockhampton Cyclones back on the opening weekend of the season that cost the Flames a top two finish at the end of the regular season, finishing third at 14-3 just behind Rockhampton.
As a result the Flames had to earn their way into the semi finals the hard way with a quarter-final match up at StarFM Stadium against a Pirates team who finished in sixth spot at the end of the regular season at 10-7 having won seven of the last nine games.
That meant both teams were in impressive form coming into the quarter-final contest but on their home floor Townsville started well to open up a 10-point lead in the first quarter.
The Flames were still leading 28-21 by quarter-time before then turning that into a 17-0 scoring streak to open up a 19-point lead on the way to going into the half-time break on top 47-30.
Townsville went on with the job in the second half with the lead growing to as much as 29 points before settling on the 24-point victory.
The win advances the Flames into a semi-final match up against last year's runner's up Rockhampton.
Townsville geared up for that clash with the Cyclones in style with shooting 55.1 per cent from the field for the game and pulling down 50 rebounds to only 21.
Ella Tofaeono produced a monster performance in the win for the Flames ending the night with 25 points, 20 rebounds and six assists on the back of shooting 10/15 from the floor and 5/6 at the free-throw line.
All First Team member Alex Fowler had a standout evening too with 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists on 8/13 shooting from the field and 7/9 from the charity stripe with Kate Gaze contributing 18 points, nine assists and three boards.
Shaylee Browning also produced 13 points, two rebounds and two steals with 3/5 shooting from downtown while Indiah Bowyer put up seven points, five boards and three assists, and Lauren Andrews six points and three rebounds.
It was a tremendous performance in the second half of the season from South West Metro just to reach the playoffs after an early five-match losing streak under coach Jon Newlee.
Taya Hanson finished with 24 points and two assists on 6/10 three-point shooting for the Pirates with All Second Team member Leah Scott adding 15 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Charli Bliss added eight points, six rebounds and two assists, Bronte Corke seven points, Atawhai Pepene-Davis five points, two rebounds and two assists, and Alana Fraser five points, two boards and two assists.
TOWNSVILLE FLAMES 97 (Tofaeono 25, Fowler 23, Gaze 18)
SOUTH WEST METRO PIRATES 73 (Hanson 24, Scott 15, Bliss 8)
