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ASTUTE WNBL coaches jumped on the Townsville championship bandwagon and for a while in Grand Final Game 1 in Bendigo, it looked as if they had it right. Then Veronica Burton and the veterans said "that's enough" and put out the Fire in one withering quarter last night. 

The revival of one of the league's most exciting rivalries - Bendigo and Townsville decided the championship in memorable Grand Final stoushes in 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Spirit winning back-to-back before the Fire prevented a hat-trick and won the first of their own back-to-backs - promised much more than it delivered in Game 1.

Bendigo shot the ball at 36 per cent, Townsville at 35. The Spirit hit 6-of-19 threeballs, the Fire 5-of-22.

One of Townsville's glaring problems as the match wore on was how much import centre Lauren Cox fell in love with the 3-pointer. Considering she made 1-of-6 from her 4-of-14 return, it was very much a one-sided love affair.

Her immediate opponent, Marianna Tolo clearly won the night with a 15-point, 9-rebound double, with zero carpark heaves.

The Fire also were dealt a poor offensive card by Nia Coffey who had five points on 2-of-7 shooting across a whopping 35 minutes.

It was the relentless work of Abbey Ellis, Courtney Woods and Alex Fowler - and to a lesser extent, Saffron Shiels - who drove the Fire out to an 11-point lead as Bendigo at times looked decidedly its age.

Tolo and Kelsey Griffin were plodding up and down the floor, Sami Whitcomb was having her hands full with Coffey's defensive work and Burton missed 10 points worth of relatively easy shots around the basket. 

But once Bendigo grafted it back to 41-41 with one quarter left, the die was cast for the Fire.

Forgetting their ages and remembering their superior experience, the Spirit stars shone brightest when the spotlight was at its most harsh - in that final quarter.

It started with 41-year-old Kelly Wilson swishing a corner three to break the deadlock and give Bendigo a 44-41 lead.

A pair of tough baskets to Ellis put Townsville ahead and then it was Griffin's turn to restore the lead.

Bendigo never trailed again as it compiled a 29-19 final quarter, Burton swishing confident and big 3-point buckets.

The star import finished on a game-high 24 points with 4-of-6 threes, five rebounds, six assists and three steals to stake an early claim on the Rachael Sporn Grand Final MVP medal.

Whitcomb worked hard for her 12 points, but her eight rebounds, three assists and equal-game-high four steals - with Fire's Fowler - were every bit as important.

Game 2 on Sunday in Townsville is likely to be a vastly different prospect though in front of their own rabid supporter base, several players capable of raising their overall performances.

WNBL CYGNETT GRAND FINAL SERIES (Best-of-3 Grand Finals)

Game 1 - Bendigo Spirit  70 (Burton 24, Tolo 15, Whitcomb 12; Griffin, Tolo 9 rebs; Burton 6 assts) d Townsville Fire 60 (Ellis 17, Woods 13, Cox 9; Cox, Woods 7 rebs; Froling, Cox 2 assts) at Red Energy Centre, Bendigo. Crowd: 2,086 Bendigo leads Championship Series 1-0

Game 2 - Sunday, March 9, Townsville Entertainment Centre, 2pm

Game 3 (if required) - Wednesday, March 12, Red Energy Centre, Bendigo, 7pm