Fired up for Flyers contest
Townsville ready for the Cambage challenge
IT is only three days but Fire forward Nadeen Payne said the break between games will be invaluable for the team.
The Townsville outfit today hits the training court for the first time in weeks in order to fine tune for a Southside showdown in Cairns on Saturday.
The Fire has been on a three-game winning run since the last time it played the WNBL heavyweights, including a 58-point rout of Bendigo on Tuesday, but Payne said the team would need to find another level to get over the Flyers.
“I think (the momentum is building) but we just take it one game at a time,” she said.
“We have Southside on Saturday and that is another big game for us.
“We need to carry that momentum and stay locked in.
“I think (the short break) is good; we have had a pretty big chunk of games leading up to this. But we will still go and train – we won’t take a back seat on the court.”
The Fire was almost unstoppable against Bendigo. Five players hit double figures on the scoresheet and the front court of Payne and centre Megan Mckay topped the stats sheet in points (18) and rebounds (8).
Payne did her best work from the corner, shooting at 75 per cent from beyond the arc, but she said it was at the other end of the court that the home side did its best work.
“I haven’t looked at any stats, but I was really happy about our defence.
“We locked down two of their main players which was our goal, so I think our defence was key tonight.
“I think I wouldn’t be able to get the shots I get if my teammates weren’t able to create the opportunities they do.
“It was just one of those nights.
“Everyone on our team can score so we will be really hard to guard.”
Defence will be the one thing coach Shannon Seebohm is focused on at training as the Fire searches for a way to shut down Flyers superstar forward Liz Cambage.
“(Training) will be light but it is a chance to get on the floor and get through a few things we would like to tidy up against Southside,” Seebohm said.
“Some post defence and some different strategies around that and our defensive transition. But also just being a little sharper in our execution on offence.
“I think a defensively.
“(Southside) had a lot of transition points in the first half (the last time we played) and Liz had a lot of easy points just running the floor. We need to tidy that up.” lot better focus