ROLLERS REVIVAL
MEN INTO QBL FINALS
ROLLERS coach Mick Conlon has boldly declared his side “the hottest team in the QBL” after snapping a five-year playoff drought.
Gold Coast yesterday crushed Toowoomba 104-79 to secure their top-eight ticket and cap a rollercoaster regular season.
After a close first half, the Rollers took the ball and ran with it, getting further in front after the main break.
Finishing seventh on the ladder, the Rollers now brace for a clash with Townsville this weekend.
Conlon, though, said the Rollers had found their groove just in time for an epic showdown with the league’s second-ranked team.
“You can beat anyone. We’ve peaked at the right time and we’re the hottest team in the league at the moment,” he said.
Despite a slow start, Conlon said he was proud of how the team had gone this season.
“They have all been united through the competition.”
At the start of the season, Conlon said the Rollers had the makings of a top-four team and although they didn’t achieve that goal he’s still happy with securing a place in the finals.
“We’re going to give it a red-hot crack in the finals,” he said.
Meanwhile, in their first season, the North Gold Coast Seahawks Women have made a mark on the competition, shooting their way to a finals berth.
The Seahawks finished eighth on the ladder at the end of the regular season and will take on top-of-the-table Townsville Flames in the first finals round.
Coach Robert Sleaford couldn’t be happier.
“I’m proud as punch of the girls,” he said. “To make the finals in their first year is a great effort.”
Sleaford said the team had come together well over the season, even with a few rough patches.
He praised the fans for getting behind the Seahawks.
“The fans have been awesome. They’re loud and make it great to play at home,” Sleaford said.
“When we go to other places, they’re lucky to get 100 fans, but we get about 300 at every game.”
Heading into the finals as the clear underdogs, Sleaford said the Seahawks would give it their best shot despite an 85-70 loss to Southern District Spartans yesterday.
“We’ve got nothing to lose and we’ll use that to our advantage,” he said.
In other games, the Men’s Seahawks ended the regular season with the wooden spoon after a narrow 90-87 loss to the Southern District Spartans and the Rollers women defeated Toowoomba Mountaineers 126-59, finishing 13th on the ladder.