The Launceston Tornadoes won the Madeleine Howard Memorial match in style on Saturday night against the Ballarat Miners, marching to a 91-61 victory.
An excitable Launceston crowd was in attendance for the first time in more than a year, and the deadly combination of Keely Froling and Mariah Payne gave them plenty to celebrate.
The Tornadoes made the Rush pay for every mistake early in the game, with Froling once again showing dominance off the rebound and any subsequent scoring.
Devonport's Payne got plenty of solid looks early on, as did Teyla Evans whose height allowed her to move through any would-be Rush defence.
Ballarat looked exasperated in the first quarter, with the Torns able to draw plenty of fouls to extend a substantial lead.
Payne (22 points) continued to lay on the pain in the second, including a swift lay-up around the entire opposing defence. She also helped her teammates get plenty of good looks, particularly Froling in what was a deadly showing from the duo.
The game was also a case of sibling rivalry, with Froling's sister Alicia squaring up opposite her.
Alicia (27pts) did what she could to test her sister, but the 25-year-old Canberra Capital continued to roll after dropping 42 points a week prior against Hobart.
Froling said earlier in the week that rebounds were key to wins, and she proved it on Saturday night recording 19 of them on her way to scoring 28 points.
Both she and Teyla Evans (22pts) looked nigh on unstoppable from downtown, sinking the majority of their three-point attempts.
A couple of threes from Payne and Evans managed to put a lid on the Rush's momentum, with the home team leading by 23 points at halftime.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT:
Foul trouble and poor recovery off the rebound did the Rush little favour in the third quarter, as the side kept leaking unnecessary points to an already sizeable Torns lead.
D'Asia Chambers also made her presence known on the court, looking solid in transition and even draining a spectacular final-second three to close-out the third.
Coach Sarah Veale said she was pleased that her team was able to being the season in such dominant form.
The Torns will play the Frankson Blues next Saturday in Victoria.
Harry Murtough
Born and raised in Launceston. BA of journalism from Monash University. Sports reporter covering basketball, netball and cricket.
Born and raised in Launceston. BA of journalism from Monash University. Sports reporter covering basketball, netball and cricket.
