Seahawks find belief after first league win
GOLD Coast Seahawks coach Adam Tyrus feels his team has turned a corner after their maiden Queensland Basketball League win last week.
Former player Tyrus celebrated his first game in charge of the club with a derby win against the Gold Coast Rollers last week.
But taking on Rockhampton tonight is a bigger challenge even though the Seahawks now realise what is expected at the QBL level.
“It was very pleasing and in the my first game as coach, even more so,” Tyrus said.
“I played the first eight games but I was struggling with my body, so decided to get involved in an assistant coaching role and then Frank (Goldfinch) stepped aside with a few health issues.
“It was the obvious step up for me. I was always planning on (coaching) in the near future but not this soon.
“But I really enjoy it and to be honest, I’m enjoying it more than I was playing.
“I think the boys have really turned a corner now and we’re on the way up.”
They face a tough task against Rockhampton though, who sit seventh on the QBL ladder and need to continue to win to seal a playoff spot.
“They’re playing a triple header, so they’ll be hoping to blow us out of the water early and rest their players for the next game,” Tyrus said.
“Our job is to hang in as long as possible and hopefully come out with the win.”
The opportunity to give local players the chance to compete at a higher level was driving the Seahawks quest.
“If we get a few wins along the way, it’s a bonus but we’re definitely aiming for the future with these guys.”
While the Seahawks men remain anchored to the bottom of the ladder, the women are in sixth place and can all but seal their playoff place with a win against Rockhampton.
After winning five of their past six games, the Seahawks women are in a strong position to make the eight in their first season in the QBL.
In other Round 11 games, the Gold Coast Rollers – stung by their derby loss to the Seahawks – head to Sippy Downs to take on the University of Sunshine Coast tonight.