Tough test looms in red- hot Rollers
TOWNSVILLE Heat coach Rodney Anderson knows his side won’t have an easy path to another QBL title as they prepare to host the in- form Gold Coast Rollers in Saturday night’s quarterfinal at the Murray Basketball Stadium.
The Rollers have peaked at the right time with coach Mick Conlon labelling them the “hottest team in the league” after they sealed their finals spot with a four- game winning streak.
Townsville beat Gold Coast 94- 64 back in June as they rounded out a perfect road triple- header, but the Rollers have since bolstered their squad with the signing of veteran NBL guard Rhys Martin.
The Heat were given an almighty scare in their final round clash with the Sunshine Coast Phoenix last weekend, forced to fight back from 13 points down in the final quarter to grind out a 99- 97 win.
Anderson had mixed feelings about that performance, but he was adamant the defending champions couldn’t be complacent in their sudden- death clash with the Rollers.
“It was probably me as well just looking a little bit too far ahead and thinking that was a game we were going to walk through,” Anderson said. “It was disappointing to start out the game like that, but on the other hand we showed a lot of character coming back and making the adjustments that really got the job done.
“The Rollers are a much different team than when we played them down on the Gold Coast and we can’t go in thinking it’s just going to be a 30- point win like that.
“We still think we’ve got a high level of talent that should get us over the line, but it’s not going to come easy – that’s for sure.”
Heat import Jordair Jett made a tentative return from a hamstring in- jury against the Phoenix, and Anderson expected the dreadlocked combo guard would be better for the run.
“He didn’t have his best game. I think he’s still a bit tentative on his hamstring, but any game he’s back out there is better for us just to get him back in the mix,” the coach said.
The Townsville Flames will also be in action on Saturday night with a home quarter- final against the North Gold Coast Seahawks after taking out the minor premiership.
Star forward Darcee Garbin will miss the game for an Opals training camp, but teenage sensation Alex Fowler said she felt confident taking on a bigger role after her recent success at international level.
“I’m a bit nervous, but hopefully I can stand up and help support the team a bit more now,” Fowler said. “I don’t really think I can take Darcee’s spot, but just stepping in and play more defensively and getting more offensive rebounds and just try and help the team out a bit more like that.”
The women’s game tips off at 6pm on Saturday followed by the men’s game at 8pm.