Brassard back on court for Flames
THE Townsville Flames will bring WNBL head coach Claudia Brassard out of retirement for tomorrow’s top of the table women’s QBL encounter against the Mackay Meteorettes.
Brassard will play some minutes to help cover the loss of young players Haylee Andrews, Majella Carey and Anna Mackay because of representative duties, and Flames coach Mike St- Maurice said another couple of surprise inclusions could be made.
But he is staying tight- lipped on who the other additions might be.
Brassard, head coach of WNBL side the Townsville Fire, will play against Fire contracted star Micaela Cocks, along with other Fire fan favourites Chevennah Paalvast, Jacqui Zelenka, Nadeen Payne and Jillian Haughton.
Payne, who last played for the Fire in 2012, and Haughton – also a former Fire player – join off contract Fire players Zelenka and Paalvast in a Meteorettes team that is expected to give the Flames their first major test of the QBL seasons.
St- Maurice – who is married to Brassard – said there would be no shortage of entertainment, in particular between Brassard and her Fire charges.
“She’s agreed to suit up as a 10th player, so she’ll be good for us just to have on the bench,” he said.
“She probably won’t get too many minutes, but she’s just familiar with everyone’s games and she’s got such a good basketball handy for us.”
On whether Brassard’s young Fire players would pay her special attention, St- Maurice chuckled: “To the extent if they want another contract we’ll see how far they want to take it.”
The Flames will retain their big names including Rachael Flanagan, Mia Murray and Darcee Garbin for tomorrow’s game, which follows on from the Flames blistering start to the season featuring dominant wins against Cairns Marlins ( 95- 67) and South West Pirates ( 99- 52).
“We’re as ready as we can be,” StMaurice said.
“If we turn the ball over it will be automatic points for them.
“Micaela’s a speedy player and so is Jill, but if they pick our pocket it will be two points down the other end.”
The Heat also face a huge chal- brain that will be lenge in the men’s QBL clash against the Mackay Meteors.
Hitting their groove last weekend to beat the Pirates 98- 79 following the season’s first loss to Cairns, the Heat play a Meteors team filled with NBL quality including former Adelaide 36ers forward Lucas Walker, former Townsville Crocs big man Cameron Tragardh and Brisbane Bullets guard Shaun Bruce.
“They’re probably pre- season favourites with the roster they’ve put together,” Heat coach Rodney Anderson said.
“Their starting five is legit but we think our roster is pretty good as well, so I’m really excited about the matchup and testing ourselves against the pre- season favourites.
“We can put our season on the back of this if we get the result in Mackay.”