Only way up for Rollers
Steep climb ahead but team willing
THE men might be shooting for the sky in the Queensland Basketball League but an elevator from the cellar will do just fine for the Rollers women.
An influx of talent has the Gold Coast club’s male squad talking tough and looking even tougher when the state league season tips off this weekend.
Yet while top four is the minimum KPI for the men, Michael Van Dongen’s women’s team is chasing small wins this season.
In fact, a win at all would do. Last season they finished last (0-17) on the QBL ladder, a blemish Van Dongen plans to rewrite.
“Obviously the goal is to not finish at the bottom of the table,” said Van Dongen, who coached Sunshine Coast last season.
“We have fairly modest expectations and No.1 is to be a little bit more competitive.
“When Sunshine Coast played the Rollers last year we only won by about nine points so there is certainly more talent there than what it appeared.
“I think they were actually a lot more competitive than some other teams.”
The Rollers’ rebuild bid has been hurt before it even begins.
Young gun Sophie Johnston’s looming switch to Nebraska University is a tick for her talent but crosses her off the Rollers list.
In her place comes a handful of new faces.
“We didn’t have a great season last year and so there’s been a fair bit of rebuilding,” Van Dongen said. “Sophie would have been our captain and probably the best local player we had in the group.
“But it gives a few other players a bit more of an opportunity to play. I think we’ve seen improvements already.”
The Rollers women start their QBL season at The Southport School on Sunday at 2pm against the Brisbane Capitals, with the men’s game at 4pm.
Crosstown rivals North Gold Coast Seahawks travel to USC Rip City on Saturday.