Flames to face heat in first away game

FAR from a do- or- die situation, Queensland Basketball League leaders Townsville Flames are perched on top of the ladder.

But tonight Flames’ coach Mike St- Maurice expects a close first away game against the Cairns Dolphins.

The unbeaten Flames will be without guard Miela Goodchild who suffered a wrist injury last week and Harriet Carey who is away on schoolgirls basketball duty.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us because we’ve been so good at home,” St- Maurice said.

“Cairns recently signed new import N’Dea Bryant. She’s legit, she played for the University of North Carolina.

“We’re expecting a close game.”

Bryant played her first game for the Dolphins last week and scored 34 points and 10 re- very bounds against Coast Seahawks.

St- Maurice said the absence of Goodchild and Carey would give Alexandra Fowler ( 54 points and 10 rebounds from three games) her first QBL start.

Tonight’s away game comes before next week’s triple header against Toowoomba Mountaineers, unbeaten South West Metro Pirates and Gold Coast Rollers.

St- Maurice said North the Gold close confines of the Cairns stadium could fire his side up.

“The stadium in Cairns is so echoey, every voice counts for two or three,” he said.

Meanwhile, Townsville Heat coach Rodney Anderson said his men would have to step up their defence if they are to get the better of old rivals Cairns Marlins.

“They play fast, in- your- face basketball,” Anderson said.

“We have to make sure we keep them out the paint. It’s the Cairns- Townsville rivalry we all get up for. The rivalry has been around for years.”

Townsville got a taste of Cairns’ playing style after they drew 1- 1 in a pre- season series.

Heat sit fourth on the ladder with a 2- 1 record followed by the Marlins in fifth ( 6- 4).

Townsville Flames versus Cairns Dolphins tips off tonight 6.30pm at Cairns’ Early Settler Stadium followed by the Heat versus Marlins game at 8.30pm.