Over moon about Dover

Passion helps coach land gig at resurgent Rollers

AFTER winning only three games across two QBL seasons, the Gold Coast Basketball board had an important decision to make.

The Rollers women were struggling and in need of a new coach who would have to lead an emerging side into what was set to be a highly competitive 2019 QBL season.

Now 10 rounds in, the lady Rollers boast an 8-4 record and Gold Coast Basketball president Jimmy Williams said the club couldn’t be happier with first-year coach Cassie Dover.

That’s despite Williams revealing the board had slight doubts over her qualifications.

“Cassie Dover has done a great job,” he said.

“She probably wasn’t the most experienced person we interviewed but she had the most passion.

“She’s repaid the faith the board put in her and she’s been such a huge asset to us.”

Despite some strong recruiting ahead of the season, including the acquisitions of Susannah Walmsley, Ariana Moorer and Jacqueline LunaCastro, Williams said the women’s rise was a shock.

“We’re really proud of how our women have responded from the start of the year and how they’ve been playing,” he said. “With the men’s list we have, they have probably performed as expected but the women have exceeded expectations.

“We expect the (secondplaced) men to win the next six games and guarantee a toptwo finish and a home final.”

Despite winning both legs of a double-header last weekend without Anthony Petrie, Williams revealed the Rollers would be without the former Boomer and NBL star for at least another fortnight.

“It’s important that the players step up without Petrie in the team but his basketball knowledge and IQ will be a big loss,” he said.

After three weekends on the road, Williams said that the players were excited to finally return to Carrara Indoor Stadium as the Rollers chase a first home final in nearly a decade.

“We haven’t hosted one (a home final) in eight years,” he said. “We’ve got the biggest association in Queensland now so we’re hoping people come down and support our guys and girls because it gives them a huge lift.”

The women play tonight against USC Rip City (6.30pm) followed by the men (8.30pm).

TOMORROW’S BULLETIN