QBL teams in reach of finals hope

FINALS basketball is still a possibility for both of Townsville’s QBL teams after the Heat and Flames scored much- needed wins over Cairns on Friday night.

The Flames were able to turn the tables on the Dolphins team that had soundly beaten them in Cairns the week before, with their 89- 68 victory moving them to a 7- 5 record.

With runaway ladder leaders Gladstone assured one of the three playoff spots for northern pool teams in the finals, the Flames will be left to battle for the final two post season places with Cairns ( 7- 4) and a well- placed Mackay ( 9- 4).

With just four games left in the season, the Flames must continue their winning ways to have any chance of playing finals basketball, starting this Friday when they host the Mackay Meteorettes.

The same goes for the Heat, who are still have a mathematical chance of playing in the post season after they toppled Cairns 78- 60. Townsville’s 5- 6 record sees them sit at eighth on the standings and they will need to win out the year to steal the final playoff spot for the northern division.

Heat coach Rodney Anderson wasn’t looking too far ahead and was more impressed with how his team bounced back after a poor showing in Cairns last round.

“We haven’t really talked about the playoffs and we don’t want to judge our season as being good or bad depending on playoffs,” he said.

“It’s about having pride in our defence, stopping the guy in front of you and we feel like we were embarrassed in Cairns last week so it was good to make it difficult for them.”