Worthington hopeful this clash isn’t his last
MARK Worthington is hoping it is not the end but tonight could well be his last basketball appearance in the Far North if his Cairns Dolphins do not reverse their late-season losing skid.
Cairns Basketball is preparing for life without the dual Olympian and NBL legend following the 2017 QBL season with Worthington looking to further his coaching ambitions overseas.
With the Dolphins unlikely to host a QBL final, tonight’s Round 14 game against Logan looks set to be the retired Taipan’s swansong in Cairns.
Anyone involved with the Dolphins program is quick to point out that the 34-year-old has completely turned around the club’s culture in his two seasons in the job.
“If it is the last time, I am very grateful for what the Cairns fans have given me throughout my career,” Worthington said.
“It is funny, the hatred they used to have for me helped me as well. But, when you join the team, they love you because they understand and appreciate how you play.
“They have been very supportive of me as a coach of the Dolphins as well.
“I have loved doing what I do here and hopefully it is not the last one.”
The Dolphins have slipped from fifth to ninth in the past two weeks, with a home final unlikely.
But they still could finish in the top eight for the first time in a decade.
Worthington believes a “brutally honest video session” this week and the potential inclusion of forward Jade Kennedy could do the trick against second-placed Thunder.
Gladstone import Tabatha Richardson-Smith dominated the Dolphins last Saturday night and Worthington is focused on not letting Kate Gaze do the same tonight.
“When you get torched for 44 points by their import on the weekend, you might need to change your attitude a little bit,” Worthington said.
“I guess some of the girls thought they were doing a good job on the weekend, the video can show things in a very different light.
“Their actions on the court after seeing the video were very different, just in terms of their sense of urgency.”
In the later game tonight, the Marlins will regain championship-winning point guard Anthony Fisher but look set to be without starting back-court mate Jarrad Weeks. Fisher missed the last two games with a hip flexor injury while Weeks did not complete training on Tuesday and will have a fitness test today.
Second-year Logan coach Derek Rucker said his team would be ready if Weeks did suit up.
“We are starting to play well now,” Rucker said.
“The group has got more comfortable with each other and we are shooting the ball well now, which is helping us on the defensive end.
“We started slow but we have made a few adjustments and they have responded well, they are playing with the right energy and enthusiasm that is required to win games.”