Brennan inspires Flames to victory
TOWNSVILLE Flames stalwart Lisa Brennan led by example to help her side claim an 87- 64 QBL quarter- final home win over the North Gold Coast Seahawks.
Brennan ( 12 points, 11 rebounds) posted a double- double as she stepped up to fill the void left by WNBL star Darcee Garbin, who is away for a training camp with the Australian Opals.
The Flames dominated early at the Murray Basketball Centre with a 7- 0 run before Casey Samuels ( 12 points, 7 rebounds) got the Seahawks into the contest and the home side went into the first break up 23- 17.
Triples to Brennan and Ainsley Walsh ( 14 points, 4 rebounds) set the tone of the second quarter as Townsville nudged ahead 40- 33 at half time.
But the Flames had too many threats across the floor, with Miela Goodchild ( 19 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) leading the charge as they closed out an impressive victory.
Coach Mike St- Maurice felt it could have been a danger game for the Flames, but he was impressed with the way every player stepped up, particularly with Brennan defending against 194cm Seahawks import Leeza Burdgess.
“She ( Burdgess) sat out that entire third quarter. I think Lisa had done such a good job that they just took her out of the game and tried to figure out something else,” St- Maurice said.
Garbin will be back on Saturday night when the Flames host the Rockhampton Cyclones in the semifinal, but they’ll lose Goodchild and Majella Carey, while Harriet Carey is also in some doubt after suffering an ankle injury against the Seahawks.
St- Maurice admitted the Flames would likely have to use some players in unfamiliar roles, but he believed the home- court advantage would be a huge positive.
“It’s a good feeling to wrap up a win here at home and know that someone else has got to do the travelling and organise all the things that it takes to get a team here,” he said.