George’s Wings secure WNBA playoffs spot

CAIRNS’ Cayla George is set for a WNBA playoffs campaign as the Dallas Wings secured the last finals spot.

A 107-102 victory over Las Vegas Aces ended the Wings’ nine-game losing streak to finish eighth, putting them into a first-round elimination game against the No.5 seeded team when the playoffs start tomorrow.

The long losing streak resulted in the sacking of coach Fred Williams.

The win over the Aces – who were also fighting for the playoffs spot – was the first under interim coach Taj McWilliamsFranklin and improved the Wings’ win-loss record to 15-18.

George’s Dallas play the No.1 seeded Seattle Storm in their final regular season game before the playoffs.

■ FORMER Cairns Taipan Anthony Stewart’s Hobart proved all season long it had the offensive firepower to win the SEABL championship but it was a defensive stranglehold that returned the 2018 title to Tasmania on Saturday night.

The Chargers ended a decade-long drought by out grinding Nunawading 72-58 at the State Basketball Centre, capping the year on a 10-match winning streak to secure its first league championship since 2008.

“I looked at the score and think how the hell do we win that, I would have said that is a Nunawading score, not a Hobart Chargers score,” coach Stewart said.

“Credit to these guys. The defence tonight was by far the best I have seen all year.”

■ CAIRNS Saints junior Riley Clarke will be keen to force his way back into the Bendigo Pioneers side for their final home and away game of the TAC Cup season against Western Jets.

He has played four games for the Pioneers in 2018, the latest against Sandringham Dragons in late July.

He booted two majors against Dandenong Stingrays and Greater Western Victoria Rebels earlier this year.