Badu Islander Bowie a derby standout

ALTHOUGH Broadbeach’s maiden QAFL grand final ended in heartbreak, they did enjoy one win over the Lions with the reserves claiming the first of the Gold Coast derby grand finals by 47 points.

They were led by spearhead Daniel Seri, who booted a game-high five goals. Suns academy player and Badu Island product Timakoi Bowie, who was dropped from the senior side to make way for returning players, starred in the 12.11 (83) to 5.6 (36) win.

The Western Magpies gave PBC a tough start to the day when they clinched the Colts’ premiership by 23 points. ■ CAIRNS’ Cayla George and Australia have opened their Women’s basketball World Cup campaign with a 86-68 victory over Nigeria.

Opals Centre Liz Cambage showed why she’s been touted as one of the stars of the tournament with a dominant display under the basket as she tallied 34 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.

George handed out six assists, grabbed four rebounds and scored four points in just over 24 minutes. ■ THE Apunipima Australian Indigenous Basketball All Stars scored a 102-88 victory against the Logan Thunder on Sunday night.

The team now travels to New Zealand to play the Maori national squad.

Cairns’ Deba George paced the All Stars with 21 points, while Chris Cedar added 17. ■ THE coaching merry-goround is heating up ahead of next season.

Centrals Trinity Beach are chasing a big fish to take over in 2019 while North Cairns should be close to naming a coach, with one of their local hopefuls no longer in the race.

The Cairns Saints job also seems to be up in the air, despite their super results over the last 12 months.

If the Bulldogs can land their big fish, that would certainly fire up the interest in next season.

The chances of the prospective coach landing at Crathern Park appears slim, but crazier things have happened before.