Basketball On The Internet.

DEFENDING WNBL champion and league-leading Townsville was on fire in Round 10 as it saw off Perth's challenge at home, then hit the road to stifle the spirit out of Bendigo and stake its claim for our Team of the Week accolade. Sadly, it just wasn't quite enough. 

There were some fine "one offs" too, with Lightning again proving giant-killers by taking down Sydney Flames.

But losing to the Lynx closed the door on any Adelaide nomination, Canberra again right in the mix after beating the highly-fancied Southside Flyers in Melbourne.

But the team with the most at stake, its season teetering, was Melbourne. It came into Round 10 with its meritorious road win over Townsville cancelled by its home loss to lowly Bendigo.

And prior to that, the Boomers were given an 86-58 home hammering by Sydney.

Round 10 presented nothing but angst for Boomers fans with their team facing two playoff prospects in Southside Flyers and Sydney Flames, the latter on the road.

With Australian women's basketball icon Michele Timms honoured at the game for her contribution to the Boomers dating back to its Bulleen days, Melbourne not only staved off Southside, clinched the Timms Trophy, but also wrapped up its season-series over the Flyers with a 2-0 lead.

Outscored 20-9 in the second quarter after an even first, the Boomers were in all sorts of trouble but shot their way out of it in a dramatic 25-11 third quarter.

Melbourne then contained the fabulous Flyers' high-flying offence to nine points in the last quarter to clinch an important win.

The memory of their 28-point home battering by the Flames still very vivid, the Boomers hit Qudos Bank Arena knowing Opals captain and former Melbourne star Tess Madgen also now would be back in Sydney's lineup.

It presented another huge challenge which Melbourne again mastered, grinding out an ugly-but-effective 62-55 road win during which neither side managed even a paltry 20 point return in any quarter!

Melbourne got closest, scoring 18 in the second period but pulled off the win AND the season-series 2-1, having also previously lowered the Flames' colours at Qudos Bank Arena.

Winning pretty is never more important than simply winning, and by clinching that robust double, Melbourne returns to favour as our WNBL Team of the Week.

BASKETBALL ON THE INTERNET WNBL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Round 10 Melbourne Boomers
Round 9   Sydney Flames
Round 8   Uni of Canberra Capitals
Round 7   Townsville Fire
Round 6   Melbourne Boomers
Round 5   Perth Lynx
Round 4   Townsville Fire
Round 3   Adelaide Lightning
Round 2   Melbourne Boomers
Round 1   Perth Lynx

TOMORROW: NBL Team of the Week