North Spotlight | Woods triple double lifts Flames over Phoenix

It took an impressive Courtney Woods triple double and a 15-0 fourth quarter run from the Townsville Flames for them to secure the Friday night NBL1 North road win 82-78 against the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

The Phoenix were back home at Maroochydore Stadium looking to back up a win over the Gold Coat Rollers while the Flames arrived trying to bounce back from losing to the Cairns Dolphins for a second time already in 2026.

There was never more than nine points between the two teams all evening in a fascinating contest, but that was in favour of Townville late in the piece to cap off a remarkable final quarter.

After the Flames were up one at three quarter-time, Sunshine Coast went on a 12-0 run early in the fourth to go up six before Townville responded with 15 points in-a-row which set them on the way to the eventual four-point victory.

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The win improves Townsville to 2-2 on the season with Sunshine Coast now 2-3 with the Flames ending up going 14/37 from three-point territory opposed to 8/25 which helped them overcome the Pheonix shooting better overall, and pulling down 19 offensive rebounds.

Courtney Woods delivered a massive triple double for Townsville in the win made up of 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists with 11/12 shooting from the foul line while only going 6/19 from the field.

Chailee Ward also finished with 14 points with 4/9 three-point shooting for the Flames with Kate Searle contributing nine points and two rebounds, Mia Murray eight points, seven boards and two steals, and Ella Tofaeono seven points and four rebounds.

Sunshine Coast couldn’t quite make it consecutive wins despite all five starters scoring in double figures with Isabel Palmer leading the way with 17 points, six rebounds and two steals with 4/8 three-point shooting.

Kayla Mathews also had 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds, Maya Price 13 points, seven boards and two assists, Erin Bollmann 13 points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds, and Amy Browne 11 points and six boards.

There was precious little that separated the two teams all evening and that started in the opening quarter with Townsville managing a five-point lead, but by quarter-time they were just on top 23-22.

Townsville had the lead on the back of going 5/14 from three-point range to 2/7 from Sunshine Coast for them to make up fro the three fewer shot attempts.

Sunshine Coast did manage to work on top in the second quarter with 23 points to only 15 from Townsville and that saw the Phoenix leading 45-38 by the half-time break.

They had improved their shooting up to 43 per cent to just 38 from Townsville while also forcing the Flames into 11 turnovers which helped them to get up an extra eight shot attempts as well heading into half-time.

Things tightened up again in the third period and Townsville even worked back on top to lead by as much as six, and to still be narrowly on top 60-59 by three quarter-time on the back of 22 points to 14 in the term.

That set up a big finish and there were some wild swings in the last term with Sunshine Coast going on a 12-0 run to lead by six only for the Flames to answer with 15 straight points themselves.

They were up seven before winning by four when Isabel Palmer hit a triple on the buzzer for Sunshine Coast.

The Phoenix now don't play again until next Sunday when they host the Ipswich Force while Townsville have the short turnaround on Saturday also on the road to the Northside Wizards.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 5

SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX 78 (Palmer 17, Mathews 14, Bollmann 13, Price 13)

TOWNSVILLE FLAMES 82 (Woods 23, Ward 14, Searle 9)