Rolling out NBL1 tears

Coast disappointed but accepting as league cut

HEARTBREAK and tear emojis is how the Gold Coast Rollers reacted to finding out they would have to wait another year to exact grand final revenge following the cancellation of the NBL1 North season.

The decision follows the indefinite closure of indoor sports centres because of COVID-19 and was made in conjunction with Basketball Queensland.

The Rollers men’s and women’s teams made the QBL grand final last year and were preparing to challenge again in the newly formed NBL1 competition but will now be forced to rebuild ahead of 2021.

“It’s disappointing because we were really keen and eager with the group we had but everyone is in the same boat and we’re no more disadvantaged than anyone else,” coach

Mick Conlon said. “We lost a lot of experience from last year but we had a very young but very eager team.

“We were looking forward to having a crack with a younger squad. Whatever task you set them at training was never too much but they understand what they’re doing is just a game.

“The mental and physical health of everyone is more important than winning a game.”

Conlon believes the NBL1 North competition will return next year but he feared for its quality and the fate of fellow Queensland basketball associations who may go broke over the decision to shut down all basketball activity.

“The league has gotten better every year in the past 14 years so it would be sad to see it regress,” he said.

Rollers women’s coach Cassie

Dover said she understood the decision but was devastated for her playing roster who she felt had the ability to go one better in 2020.

“It is devastating that we won’t have the opportunity to do that (return to playoffs) and build on what we achieved last year considering we got pretty much everyone back,” she said.

“In that regard, yes it’s hard but on the other hand, we’re not the only team missing out and everyone was preparing to win it.”

NBL chief operating officer Andy Crook said the decision to cancel all three NBL1 conferences, including South Australia and Victoria, hadn’t been taken lightly.

The newly formed Queensland State League remains a chance of going ahead and local associations are working with Basketball Queensland as the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold.