DRINKWISE GAME PREVIEW: TOWNSVILLE FIRE V BENDIGO SPIRIT

WHEN: Sunday 9 March, 2025
TIME: 3.00pm AEDT
WHERE: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville
WATCH: Via ESPN

The Townsville Fire are in for a fight as they must win against Bendigo Spirit in Game 2 of the WNBL final series.

We saw the hosts of Game 1 – Bendigo Spiri – take home a 70-60 victory last Wednesday, continuing their winning streak over the Townsville Fire.  The regular season finished with Fire falling short to Spirt; 0-3.

To keep the final contest alive, Townsville Fire must win to send the series a third and deciding game at Bendigo on Wednesday 12 March.

With Veronica Burton having a stellar performance for the spirit in Game 1 of the final series, with 24 points, five rebounds and six assists she is going to be one to watch.  Alongside Burton, Marianna Tolo and League MVP, Sami Whitcomb, make a formidable force, as was displayed in Game 1.

Tolo finished strong with 15 points and led rebounds for the match with a total of 9, whilst Whitcomb stayed consistent with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

Guard, Abbey Ellis had a leading performance for the Fire with 17 points, 6 rebounds and an assist.  She brought Fire’s heat in Game 1 as she has done in previous matches against Bendigo.

On New Year’s Eve in Townsville, Spirit defeated Fire 76-65, the combination of Burton, Tolo and Whitcomb once again showed up.  However, on that occasion, Ellis was again strong for the Fire (18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals).  She is one the Spirit will be watching when the fight to keep the final series alive kicks in for Ellis.

This is the third time in League history the teams are contesting for the title. The two teams went back-to-back in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 series in which Spirit took home both titles.  Townsville got their own back the following season however, downing the Spirit to win the 2014/15 title.

Key Match-Ups:

Sami Whitcomb v Abbey Ellis: The battle of the former Townsville Fire player and the Fire guard having a breakout rookie season.  Ellis’ breakout season has proven herself to be a tough match up with the League MVP Whitcomb.

Veronica Burton v Nia Coffey: With Coffey only facing the Spirt in Game 1 of the Grand Final series for the first time last week, she will be exciting to watch in Game 2 when she comes up against Burton’s defence, off the back of a great performance in Game 1.

Prediction:

With a dominant season and finishing atop the ladder in the regular season, Bendigo Spirits are favourites to take the Grand Final series in two games.  However, Townsville Fire have been tough competition all season and have a talented list to take down the Spirit. Fans can anticipate a skilled and exciting game to watch.

Words by Grace Boyd