ROLLERS HAPPY WITH ROAD TRIP
LONG TRAVEL BUT FINALS HOPES ALIVE
A LOSS in Townsville has seen the Gold Coast Rollers drop from second to fourth on the QBL ladder though Rollers leader and former Boomer Anthony Petrie believes the club’s trip north was a success.
After going down to the Townsville Heat 111-96 on Friday night, Petrie revealed the Rollers then had to drive four hours to arrive in Cairns in the early hours of Saturday ahead of an 82-77 win against the Marlins that night.
“It was pretty disappointing on Friday night to go down the way we did,” he said.
“We weren’t good enough defensively but we had a good chat after the game as a group and the deficiencies that we needed to work on.
“We got out of there and drove to Cairns so for us to come out the way we did in a crucial game will be a defining game for us.”
Despite dropping a few spots down the QBL ladder, Petrie said the Rollers still had their sights firmly set on a top-four finish.
“It was a pretty crucial trip when you keep in mind that top-four finish at the end of the year,” he said.
“That’s what we’re aiming for because it’s such a big advantage.”
Petrie was quick to draw comparisons between the Rollers’ loss to Townsville, to their loss to Brisbane earlier this year, their only other defeat so far in 2019.
Though while the Brisbane
loss saw the Capitals out-want the Rollers, Petrie admitted the “northern nightmare” double header had its additional challenges.
“They’re tough teams as it is but when you add in all those other factors it makes it a bit harder,” he said.
“Part of it is managing it, like I went from work to travelling then landing and playing.
“That’s probably what I’m most proud of, the fact we regrouped after Friday night.”
The Rollers women’s weekend unfolded much like the men’s, going down to Townsville 73-58 on Friday night before defeating Cairns 95-61.
The loss saw the Rollers drop from sixth to seventh on the QBL standings as US star import, Jacqueline LunaCastro top scored in both games.
The Rollers now face a double header against Ipswich and Sunshine Coast Phoenix starting Friday night.