Fire’s defence routs Rangers

TOWNSVILLE Fire coach Claudia Brassard has praised her team’s defensive intensity as they claimed an 81-68 win over Dandenong in their last road game of the season yesterday.

The Fire trailed by as many as eight points late in the second quarter before they dominated the third term 23-12 to snap a two-game losing run against the Rangers.

Darcee Garbin had a teamhigh 20 points while rising talent Zitina Aokuso posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Mikhaela Donnelly came up with five steals.

The Fire kept Dandenong to just 22 points in the second half and Brassard felt that pressure on the defensive end had been the difference between the two sides.

“Offensively we just spoke about being more patient and moving the ball, but I think it all came down to that defensive end and just stepping up the intensity,” Brassard said.

“Right before the half, Donnelly got us going defensively with a full-court steal and then Tess (Madgen) got in the lane and then demanded that from the starters in the third quarter.

“I hardly ever win in this stadium so I’m very happy.

“We badly wanted to beat this team after they beat us on our home floor twice so it’s nice to get the job on them once.”

The Fire made a brilliant start with a 7-0 run led by Micaela Cocks (17 points), but Bec Cole (20 points) and Tessa Lavey (10 points) were quick to respond as the Rangers took the lead at 19-18.

The two sides traded the advantage heading into quartertime, but they couldn’t be separated as a triple from Cole made it 26-26 at the first break.

Dandenong were on target from beyond the arc as Carley Mijovic (13 points) hit a pair of threes early in the second term to help her side reclaim the lead.

The Rangers were starting to pull away as the margin blew out to eight points before a late 7-0 flourish from the Fire kept them to within 46-43 at halftime.

A triple from Garbin to start the third quarter had the Fire back level before Stella Beck (7 points) sparked a 14-0 run as they hit the front again at 57-46.

Mijovic got the Rangers on the board after more than five minutes without scoring before Cole hit eight straight points, but the Fire were still up 66-58 at the final break.

Laurin Mincy (11 points) then led the way in the fourth quarter as the Fire outscored Dandenong 15-10 to close out an impressive victory.

The Fire take on Sydney Uni Flames this Saturday in their final game of the season.

WE BADLY WANTED TO BEAT THIS TEAM AFTER THEY BEAT US ON OUR HOME FLOOR TWICE SO IT’S NICE TO GET THE JOB ON THEM ONCE CLAUDIA BRASSARD