WNBL: Tianna Hawkins the hero as Townsville Fire sinks Sydney Flames in last-gasp thriller
Townsville has won 10 games in a row for the first time in club history, thanks to a desperate buzzer-beater in final play. Re-live one of the Fire’s greatest ever victories here:
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A SKIPPERLESS Townsville Fire have locked in a home semi-final berth with a thrilling 73-72 buzzer-beating comeback victory over the Sydney Flames on Sunday.
Townsville junior Keely Froling quietened a thunderous Fire Pit with a lead-snatching floater with less than two seconds to play, but a perfectly executed riposte from Tianna Hawkins saw the crowd erupt as the US import nailed Townsville’s last-ditch response to snatch back the victory.
Needing a fast score, Courtney Woods threw a pinpoint pass to Hawkins who spun and banked the ball off the backboard to finish the game.
The Fire wore an army-themed strip and took no prisoners, breaking the hearts of the fast-starting Flames to secure 10 straight wins - the longest streak in the club’s 22-year history.
Fire captain Lauren Nicholson left the game in discomfort after just five minutes, walking straight up the tunnel not return to the court.
She was seen on the bench during the second half nursing her right leg with an ice pack, leaving doubt over whether she will play on Wednesday against the Bendigo Spirit.
Opal and former Fire star Tess Madgen declared Townsville was the real deal.
“Going into the finals, I think they are going to be the team to beat,” Madgen said on Channel 9.
“Especially if they finish in that top spot and get that home crowd advantage in Townsville. The fans make it a pretty hostile environment and it is a tough arena to win in.”
Courtney Woods was immense in Nicholson’s absence while Townsville junior Keely Froling was the Flames’ strongest competitor, dominating the front court with 22 points and 12 rebounds after scoring 30 on Friday night against Adelaide.
Froling had a fiery encounter with an umpire in the first half after drawing a charge foul from Tianna Hawkins.
Hawkins appeared to bounce the ball on Froling after the call which infuriated the visitor.
Shyla Heal picked up her fourth personal foul just after halftime, heaping pressure onto the already depleted squad. Fresh off signing with the LA Sparks, Karlie Samuelson continued to stake her claim as the WNBL’s sharpest shooter with another elite showing from the field.
Samuelson drained nine of her 13 shots, increasing her already impressive field goal percentage.
The Fire need to win just one of their two Round 16 matches to secure the minor premiership.
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Originally published as WNBL: Tianna Hawkins the hero as Townsville Fire sinks Sydney Flames in last-gasp thriller
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