Cocks to fan Flames
WNBL star says Townsville can have second winning side
VETERAN Townsville Fire point guard Micaela Cocks is hoping to bring a second basketball championship to the city this year after signing on to play for the Flames in the QBL.
Cocks has lifted the WNBL championship trophy three times in the last four seasons with the Fire and the former grand final MVP shapes as a key figure in the Flames hunt for a state league title.
The Kiwi combo guard will link with Fire teammate and 2017 Flames standout Darcee Garbin in Townsville’s line- up this season and she has no doubt in Townsville’s ability to go all the way.
“I definitely think we can be QBL champions,” she said.
“We’ve got the best forward in the league with Darcee so I’m very excited to be able to play alongside her.
“The juniors in Townsville coming through are also really strong so it will be great to see what Haylee ( Andrews), Majella ( Carey) and the young ones can do.”
Townsville Basketball general manager Greg Vanderjagt was delighted to welcome a player of Cocks’ calibre on board this season to run the team from the point guard position. “Following the recent pregnancy of Rachael McCully we were in the market for a point guard so with our need and Mic’s obvious talents at that position it made sense,” he said.
“One of her big strengths is her ability to shoot the ball and we probably lacked a little punch from the three- point line last year. She can also be a real mentor for the young athletes in our program.
“Teams are going to recruit heavily in the back- court and Micaela is the type of player that is so wellconditioned and so professional that she’ll step up to the plate and handle those match- ups.
“We are really excited to have an international quality player and an even better person as part of our program this year.”
Cocks will also use her time with the Flames to tune up for the New Zealand national team’s tilt at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, with pool games for the women’s competition to be played in Townsville and Cairns.
“I always love playing for my country, we’ve got a great group and I’m really excited for it,” she said.
The Flames and Townsville Heat will get their QBL campaigns underway when they host Mackay on Friday, May 4.