LEBRON PUTS CAVS UP IN SERIES
Import may be Fire key WES FLYING HIGH FOR ANZAC DUEL
THE Townsville Fire’s bid for back- to- back WNBL tiles received a monumental boost yesterday when the club announced it had recruited WNBA guard Briana Butler for the 2015/ 16 season.
Butler is starring in Belgium for Belfius Namur- Capitale and the former Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun player was signed to cover the loss of last season’s starting guards Rachael McCully and Steph Cumming.
Over the course of the Belgian season, the former University of Southern California standout has recorded impressive averages of 14.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals and the 24- year- old shooting guard/ small forward will link with the WNBL champions after another campaign in the WNBA.
The 185cm Texas native has built a solid reputation thanks to her impressive defensive work ethic and blinding speed.
“Townsville is a team that has a history of success and has set the bar high for the WNBL, and I am excited about coming in to help continue to build on that strong foundation,” she said. “I have had some time to get to know ( head coach) Chris Lucas and it is hard to not be excited to play for a coach who is so passionate about AS an American who has lived in New Zealand and Australia, Wes Monts will carry plenty of feelings into the Anzac Day Lacrosse competition.
The 28- year- old Townsville Bulletin photographer grew up playing the sport at high school and at college at West Kentucky University and is happy to be able to represent the country in which he has been living for the past five years in the sport he loves. LEBRON James scored 20 points in his first playoff game with Cleveland in five years as the Cavaliers opened a run toward an NBA title with a 113100 home victory over the Boston Celtics.
Point guard Kyrie Irving scored 30 points in his playoff debut, including five three- pointers and fellow star Kevin Love, another post- season rookie, had 19 points and 12 rebounds at Quicken Loans Arena. the wellbeing of his players and team chemistry.”
Her impressive resume includes 30 games as a starter for the Phoenix in 2013 and the former Pac- 10 Defensive Player of the Year came highly recommended from the Mercury’s Australian coach, former WNBL and Opals star Sandy Brondello.
Fire assistant coach Claudia Brassard said she was confident Butler would be a great fit.
He’s in the process of becoming an Australian citizen and has been selected in the Australian commemorative team to face the Kiwis in Auckland on Saturday. It will be the second year running the two nations have played in the sport, which reprises a match between the two nations cancelled in 1914 due to the start of World War I.
Monts responded to an advertisement for players and is excited to pull on the green and gold in the city where he lived for three years.
It was the Eastern Conference second- seeded Cleveland’s first home playoff game since May 11, 2010, when the Celtics won Game Five and James ( pictured) left the floor to some boos from Cavaliers fans.
In Atlanta, Kyle Korver scored 21 points, including five three- pointers, as the Eastern Conference top seeds held off the Brooklyn Nets 99- 92 in Game One of their playoff series.
“Briana came with great accolades ... a hardworking, defensively minded player,” she said. “She’s the best import we have recruited, as far as I can remember.”
Brassard’s sentiments were echoed by Lucas, who pointed to Butler’s versatility.
“She’s a high quality defensive guard who can play through the one to the three on offence, but can defend the one through the four on defence,” Lucas said.
“I just thought it would be something really amazing to be a part of,” Monts said.
“Yes I’m American and I had no idea what an Anzac was until I moved to New Zealand but I think because of that, and it really is centred on both countries, and because I have lived in both and am in the process of becoming an Australian it really is something I can stand behind.”
Despite being popular in North America, lacrosse is relatively un- known in Australia, meaning Monts has had little chance to practise the full- contact version of the game.
“I’m kind of worried about the physicality but in saying that I’m happy with my fitness,” Monts said.
“Training up here in the heat is going to be very different from playing in Auckland in late April.
“I think I should be fitter going from here to a colder climate.”
He is part of the newly formed lacrosse club at James Cook University, which was officially recognised this semester, and is hoping to see the sport grow in North Queensland.
“The biggest hurdle into the sport is not the physicality or mentality – because it’s the same as rugby and league – it’s the cost of the equipment,” he said. “But the team at JCU has sticks and because the team here in Townsville is mixed it’s no contact.
“Anyone here is welcome to come and have a throw and you don’t have to be a student.”