For a team at death's door just a few days ago, WNBL battlers SEQ Stars are in remarkably ruddy health.
The Stars (13-8, 4th) were placed into liquidation last Wednesday and it was only late on Thursday a deal was secured for them to complete their schedule.
They caught an early-morning flight on Friday for a game later that night in Adelaide (8-13, 7th) that they won 89-81.
The Stars dramatic week continued the following night with a notable 87-71 away victory over Perth (14-7, 3rd), which knocked Lynx off top spot.
By the end of the round SEQ had moved into the top four at Bendigo's expense after the Spirit (12-9, 5th) lost 75-63 at home to new ladder leader Townsville (15-6, 1st) on Sunday.
Adding to the drama surrounding the Stars, Shane Heal wasn't part of their set-up going forward, claiming that a condition of the deal was that he not continue as coach.
Basketball Australia refused to confirm that was the case or reveal specifics of the rescue package that will enable SEQ to play out the season.
Heal's assistant Megan Thompson, who coached the team over the weekend with help from BA Centre of Excellence coach Paul Goriss, praised her players for the way they had responded to the turbulence of the previous few days.
"For the girls it was a stark reality that we potentially would not be playing," Thompson told AAP on Sunday.
"It was ultimate devastation, especially at this stage of the season, when we are looking at making our way back up the ladder and heading to finals.
"It's been a whirlwind and for me personally I'm still processing it.
"But the girls are incredibly resilient and they just really took it in their stride stayed focused and got the job done."
Import Jordan Hooper top-scored with 31 against Adelaide and contributed 17 against Perth, for who Carley Mijovic piled up 34.
Thompson said she had been in contact with Heal.
"I have made contact with Shane, he did respond to me and it was positive," Thompson said.
Townsville and Dandenong (15-7, 2nd) each leapfrogged Perth after notching a road double.
The Fire raged through Victoria, following up an 84-60 pummelling of Melbourne (7-15, 8th) with the win at Bendigo.
"We knew the importance of getting two wins over the weekend and cementing our spot," Fire assistant coach Claudia Brassard said.
Dandenong virtually ended Sydney's finals hopes with a 77-73 win at the Flames (12-10, 6th) who surrendered a 12-point second quarter lead and have lost five straight.
Less than 24 hours later the Rangers made it seven wins from their last eight starts with a 73-69 conquest of Canberra (0-21, 9th), whose coach Carrie Graf revealed during the week she was standing down after 15 seasons.
"We've been really hitting our straps and I think this is the perfect time to be peaking," Rangers captain Steph Cumming said.
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