Time is now for Betts to Heat up
TOWNSVILLE Heat coach Rodney Anderson has declared the team is Ethan Betts’s for as long as he wants it on the back of a star performance against Mackay.
At just 22, the guard has displayed maturity beyond his years since entering the senior ranks, and in his side’s 87-84 NBL1 North triumph he was in the thick of everything.
With 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists to his credit, Betts showcased he had the tools to guide a team blended with promising youth and tried and true veterans to close out a close contest.
Anderson believes it has been Betts’s ability to turn adversity into an asset that has transformed him into such an impressive leader.
Deprived of some successes in the junior ranks — missing out on state teams and other representative opportunities — Betts only worked harder to attain the milestones he is now reaching.
It has meant each chance he has received he has taken with both hands, including captaining the Heat in last year’s inaugural Top of the North Challenge against Cairns.
So impressive was he against the Meteors, Anderson said the Heat was the team for him to lead for however long he chose to remain in Townsville. “I love that kid, he’s been waiting his time to get an opportunity to run the team and he just took the team on his back there for a while,” he said.
“Because of the way he plays — with such power, speed and force — it kind of gets the team playing that way as well.
“It’s funny, I talk about all these young guys but I don’t
mention Bettsy because he’s been around our system since he was 17.
“He’s won a couple of championships with us, he’s learnt off all the guys ahead of him before and this is his year to shine and lead and have the team of his own.
“This is his team for as long as he wants to play now.”
With Friday night’s clash going down to the wire, Anderson said the experience of Peter Crawford and Keegan Tudehope proved pivotal in guiding the Townsville young guns home.
However the long-time mentor saw enough in the likes of debutants Richard Peachey and Luca Yates to suggest there was plenty for Townsville basketball pundits to be excited about.
While Anderson admitted the pair appeared nervous heading on to the court, they soon found their feet.
Both contributed to the Heat’s 19 total assists – a promising sign for Anderson and the game plan he is striving to employ.
“Luca and Richard were the first two called out with introducing the team and it was such an amazing moment,” Anderson said.
“For number one and two to go out and they’re kids I’ve coached since they were 10 years old, it was almost a proud dad moment.”