TROPICS RE ADY FOR S TATE’S BES T
THE Townsville High Tropics are gunning for glory at the Queensland Secondary Schools basketball championships.
Townsville High’s open female team today embarks on its mission to better last year’s quarter- final finish and leading the way is Townsville Fire contracted player Haylee Andrews.
Andrews, 17, recently re- signed with the Fire after playing a breakout role in the Townsville Flames’ 2017 season, playing extended minutes in place of a couple of injured stars.
But Andrews is not the only oncourt weapon Townsville High will be relying on tomorrow.
Joining Andrews in the team are Gracie Dale, Emily Harding, Jordan Lang, Lou Foster, Lauren Andrews, Eren Goodyear, Brianna Knight, Naoibi Lound, Lailah Wales and Lilly Walker.
“It’s a huge carnival because they take it very seriously in Brisbane,” Townsville High open female head coach Trish Cockrem said.
“But we have so many special young players in this team, so who knows how far we could go this year.
“We only lost one game last year and that was by three points, but if you lose the wrong game it costs you a lot.
“So you have to play every game on its merits.”
Cockrem counts Brisbane State High School and John Paul College as among the tournament favourites and is also wary of local rival St Margaret Mary’s College, which is entering the same tournament.
“Both of us are strong in this ( open) age group,” she said.
“The competition is really tough down south, but we have plenty of representative experience in this team and there’s no reason why both Townsville schools can’t do well.”
The state championships, being held in Brisbane, start today and run until Sunday.