Ward the star as Flames defend crown
TOWNSVILLE under-18 girls basketball coach Paul Foster has lauded his team’s relentless will to win and believes the squad has the ability to dominate in future years after they defended their state championship title on the Gold Coast yesterday.
Guard Chailee Ward, one of six 16year-olds in the team, nailed six threepointers in her 26 points to guide the Flames to an 84-57 thrashing of Logan in the final.
The win ensured Townsville went through the competition unbeaten and Foster said the potential was there for the side to shoot for a third straight title next year.
“To have six bottom age girls in this group, and three top age players who played their last junior championships is pretty special,” Foster said.
“It looks like there’s some strength coming through for next year as well, the chances of us doing it again next year is there.
“But you still have to put in the work, it’s not a given.”
Ward is one of five players in the squad in Townsville’s Fire’s development program.
Foster said he was targeting a top four finish at minimum, but said his squad’s steely mentality meant anything other than gold wasn’t an option.
“This group of girls have got some DNA in them where they don’t want to lose,” Foster said.
Shantey Kaigey (17 points), Kaitlin Plahn (11) and Bree Stephens (11) also scored in double figures for the Flames.
Townsville’s girls also claimed the division two title with a 55-42 victory over Toowoomba in yesterday’s final.
The Townsville boys division two side also walked away with some silverware after accounting for South-west Metro Pirates 73-57 in the bronze medal playoff. Meanwhile, the Townsville Heat boys claimed division one silver.