IN a showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, Redlands product Miela Sowah delivered a moment of sheer brilliance, sinking a deep three-pointer in the dying seconds of regulation to send Game 2 of the WNBL Finals into overtime.
The Townsville Fire went on to win in extra time 108-105 victory over the Perth Lynx, securing their fifth title.
Sowah, a former Moreton Bay College student, finished with 18 points and two rebounds, becoming a two-time WNBL champion.
Her clutch shot, however, was the defining moment of the night – proof of her growing stature in Australian women’s basketball.
Townsville’s early momentum was driven by captain Courtney Woods, whose sharp drives to the basket and steady free-throw shooting kept the Fire within striking distance whenever Perth surged ahead.
Woods’ all-around brilliance – 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists – earned her MVP honours.
Alicia Froling was equally influential, scoring 25 points and controlling the glass with key defensive plays and rebounds.
The Fire bench also stepped up, with Lucy Olsen contributing 15 points, including two clutch free throws in overtime that helped maintain Townsville’s slim lead.
Perth remained gritty, throwing everything at Townsville, with Anneli Maley dominating the paint, finishing with 27 points and 19 rebounds.
The overtime period was a tense battle, with both sides trading baskets and defensive stops.
In the end, Townsville’s composure and experience proved decisive.
Coach Shannon Seebohm showcased his strategic basketball IQ throughout, orchestrating plays with precision – a performance that signals him as a future contender for the Opals head coaching role.
But the night will belong to Sowah with that clutch three-pointer.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Fire were crowned champions – but for Redlands, the story was Miela Sowah: the guard whose shot will live on as a moment of WNBL history.
