SOUTHSIDE Melbourne Flyers have turned a middling WNBL season around, having won three of their past four games after slumping to six losses in seven games prior to that. The most recent success came last night at Qudos Bank Arena as part of a double-header with the NBL Kings-Bullets match where the Flyers won a high-scoring shootout against the Sydney Flames, 113-94.

Southside Melbourne Flyers (113) def. Sydney Flames (94)

Switched on from the opening tip-off, the Flyers’ offence was a thing of beauty, piling on 26 points in the first term, and by half-time they had hit the 60 mark, leading by 17. The second half was far more even as the intensity came out of the match, but it allowed for some free-flowing shooting from both sides and a total of 104 points which pleased the more-than 4500 in the building.

The 19-point result was a justified one as the Flyers notched up their highest score of the season, and had a whopping 32 assists and only 10 turnover which showed just how clean they were in the front half, while the Flames had half the assists (16) but one more turnover (11). The visitors also shot at a mind-boggling 76 per cent from inside the arc and 42.9 per cent outside ir, while the Flames landed 55.3 and 36.4 per cent from those ranges respectively.

Able to rotate players effectively given the huge lead for the most part, it was co-captains Maddison Rocci (20 points, nine assists and five rebounds) and Cayla George (23 points, five assists, five rebounds and two blocks) who lead from the front. Haley Peters (21 points, five rebounds) provided a consistent third shooter with eight of 10 from inside the arc, while Isabelle Bourne (15 points, five rebounds) and off the bench, Akiene-Tera Reed (15 points, seven rebounds) also put up great numbers.

Unique Thompson had a busy day for the Flames with seven rebounds to accompany 18 points and two steals. Skipper Lauren Nicholson (21 points, two rebounds and two assists) top scored, as she and Keely Froling (16 points, six rebounds and five assists) both nailed three triples. Agnes Emma-Nnopu (15 points, eight rebounds) was huge off the boards.

Southside Melbourne Flyers next step out on court on January 3, hosting Geelong Venom at the State Basketball Centre, while Sydney Flames welcome Bendigo Spirit to Qudos Bank Arena on January 5. The Flyers are only percentage out of fourth spot, while the race for finals is a true uphill battle for the Flames, sitting back in seventh.