Flames will tackle finals on home turf
THE Townsville Flames have secured home court advantage for the QBL final series after wrapping up the women’s minor premiership at the Murray Basketball Stadium last night.
Micaela Cocks ( 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) and Darcee Garbin ( 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) led the way as the Flames claimed an 87- 75 win over the Sunshine Coast Phoenix to finish the regular season in first place.
The Phoenix started well for the early lead, but the Flames soon took control with a 19- 3 scoring run which helped them go into the first break up 28- 19.
Cocks was on target from long range as the Flames hit five triples in the second term on their way to a 57- 33 halftime advantage.
Sunshine Coast made up some ground with a 23- 14 third quarter as WNBL star Abby Bishop ( 29 points, 16 rebounds) brought up her doubledouble for a 15- point margin at the final break.
The visitors kept chipping away to again win the fourth quarter 19- 16, but it wasn’t enough as the Flames sealed their 16th win of the season.
Coach Mike St- Maurice said it was a strong team performance heading into the playoffs as they limited the influence of Phoenix stars Bishop and Nat Hurst ( 20 points, 7 assists).
“Coming up against such a good team like Phoenix and to have an incredible first half was a credit to the girls,” St- Maurice said.
“They worked hard, they executed on offence, and they really did a good job on Hurst and Bishop and trying to limit some of the other players as well.
“We were rotating players against Hurst and it’s a really tough ask against a former Opal to be guarding her in the full court and denying and everyone chipped in.”
The Flames will now host a quarter- final against a yet to be determined opponent next weekend, which St- Maurice said would be a massive advantage after being forced to travel to Gladstone at the same stage last season where they lost in overtime.
Townsville will be without Garbin, who will be at an Opals training camp during the first week of the finals, but St- Maurice was confident the rest of the team would step up in her absence.
“I guess that’s what we’ve been about this year. As people come in and go out on representative duties, other people have stepped up so hopefully it puts us in a good position,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Townsville Heat maintained their winning momentum heading into finals after securing a thrilling 99- 97 victory over the Phoenix in the later men’s game.
Josh Wilcher top- scored for the Heat with 31 points, and Josh Baker also starred with 24 points.