Flames scorch Dolphins

THE Townsville Flames left the Cairns Dolphins in a plume of smoke in a hard- running game and comfortably thumped the home side by 29 points to remain at the top of the women’s Queensland Basketball League ladder.

Flames outclassed the Dol- phins 100- 71 as the energetic unit led from start to finish in the North Queensland QBL clash in Cairns last night.

New Zealand star Micaela Cocks proved devastating on both ends of the floor for the Flames, running circles around the Dolphins – who failed to provide any answers on how to shut her down.

The guard proved Townsville’s top scorer with 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Flames’ coach Mike StMaurice said Cocks combined well with 18- year- old rising star Haylee Andrews ( 22 points).

“She played with a lot of intensity in defence and got a lot of the ( 10) steals,” St- Maurice said. “It was such a good combination, the two of them.

“Mic was attracting defenders and Haylee was knocking down shots.”

Andrews opened the scoring just seconds after tip- off.

Flames led 25- 15 after the first quarter, but increased this gap after every quarter.

Dolphins’ Robin Perkins proved a threat early on in the game but the Flames successfully smothered her.

Flames were more effective with their shots, making 57 per cent of their two- point attempts and 43 per cent of their three- pointers.

The Dolphins were well below par in terms of shooting and turnovers in a frustrating show. The frustration peaked when the Dolphins committed two technical fouls, leading to the automatic rejection of Cairns’ coach Kerry Williams from Early Settler Stadium in the third quarter.

In the men’s QBL game, the Townsville Heat beat Cairns 87- 74 to make it three wins on the trot.