Basketball On The Internet.

RIGHT from the opening jump tonight launching the WNBL's preseason Townsville Tip-Off, it was obvious any conclusions to be drawn from this series likely would be erroneous, given the number of key personnel missing from the various lineups. Of course, there still was room for slick performances.

In what was billed as a rematch of last season's grand finalists, Abbey Ellis turned in a one-woman show by leading Townsville in a 101-73 rout of Perth, both the Fire and Lynx suiting who was available, which was a long way short of their full teams.

Naturally that also means the Townsville Tip-Off will not suit anyone - Aussie or import - who plays WNBA because that's back to action from its FIBA World Cup recess.

So no Georgia Amoore in the Lynx for a blatant example. No Han Xu coming up when Geelong plays. No Steph Talbot at Adelaide. You get the picture.

But Ellis still enjoyed a career-evening, knocking down 34 points in 21:53 of action, including 7-of-11 threes.

Courtney Woods added 13 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting, plus eight rebounds and eight assists in 23:41.

Townsville Fire 101 (Ellis 34, Woods 13, Froling 12, Jensen 10; Woods 8 rebs; Woods 8 assts) d Perth Lynx 73 (Ciabattoni 12, Malone 11, Morrell 10; Peters, Gale 6 rebs; Ciabattoni, Weir 3 assts). Qtr-By-Qtr: 31-19, 28-10, 23-27, 19-17. Pts: Townsville 6, Perth 1.

Tomorrow: Adelaide v Tasmania; Southide v Perth