QLD Teams- A National Threat!
The Townsville Flames and Cairns Marlins were both crowned 2007 Defence Jobs QABL State Champions on Saturday night, after wrapping up a best-of-three game series 2-0, in their respective women’s and men’s competitions. Both teams have been the clear stand-outs throughout the year and will now represent the QABL at the ABA National Finals over the next two weekends. The Rockhampton Rockets will assume the Wildcard position available in the men’s competition, after Gold Coast went down in the Grand Final. The following National Quarter Finals will be played this coming weekend:
- Townsville (QABL Women's Champion) will play the Hornsby Spiders in NSW this Saturday night at 7pm.
- Cairns (QABL Men's Champion) will play the Sydney Comets in Cairns this Friday night at 7:30pm; and
- Rockhampton (QABL Men's Wildcard) will play the Sutherland Sharks in NSW at 6pm on Saturday night.
Should the QLD teams be successful, they will then travel to Melbourne the following weekend (Aug 25/26) for the National Semi and Grand Finals.
QABL ‘All League Teams’ Announced
QABL ‘All League Teams’ were announced on Saturday night, based on votes from Head Coaches within the League. They are as follows:
- Jenny Whittle – Rockhampton Cyclones
- Renae Read – Mackay Meteorettes
- Megan Michael – Logan Thunder
- Rohanee Cox – Townsville Flames
- Julie Stringer – Maroochydore Clippers
- Cameron Tragardh – Rockhampton Rockets
- John Fitzgerald – Maroochydore Clippers
- Ben Thompson – Rockhampton Rockets
- Aaron Grabau – Cairns Marlins
- Toby Zaremba - Gold Coast Goannas
Statistical Awards winners were also recognised based on individual efforts from the 18 games in the competition. Winners are as follows:
- Women Leading Scorer - Rohanee Cox, Rockhampton – 25ppg
- Women Leading Rebounder - Ezria Parsons, Toowoomba – 17.1rpg
- Women Steals Leader - Kirsty Dallas, Maroochydore – 4.9spg
- Women Assists Leader - Rachel Flannagan, Townsville - 5.9apg
- Women Leading Shot Blocker - Jenny Whittle, Rockhampton – 2.4bpg
- Women Leading Field Goal % - Rohanee Cox, Townsville – 57.7%
- Women Leading Free Throw % - Rachel Flannagan, Townsville – 77%
- Women Leading 3 Point % - Rohanee Cox, Townsville – 52%
- Men Leading Scorer - John Fitzgerald, Maroochydore – 37ppg
- Men Leading Rebounder - Colin Oriard, Bundaberg – 16.9rpg
- Men Steals Leader - Drew Williamson, Mackay – 3.9spg
- Men Assists Leader - Glenn Reimann, Toowoomba – 7.1apg
- Men Leading Shot Blocker - Steven Broom, Logan – 2.6bpg
- Men Leading Field Goal % - Peter Bullock, Rockhampton – 59.9%
- Men Leading Free Throw % - Adam Darragh, Gold Coast – 88.5%
- Men Leading 3 Point % - Aaron Grabau, Cairns – 48.5%
- Grand Final MVP - Rachel Flannagan (Townsville)
- Grand Final MVP - Aaron Grabau (Cairns)
Game Preview : Round 14
Mackay Basketball Stadium, Mackay. 6:15pm
Mackay Basketball Stadium, Mackay. 8:00pm
Meteorettes: Here’s a red hot Round 14 game. The Meteorettes have just scraped though their recent games collecting very small margin wins. Team 2 on the ladder v Team 4, in a clash that will gauge the difference in playing levels of top teams within the state. Both teams are confirmed for a finals berth with this a chance to find a level that will carry the best team onto the Grand Final. McGrath bagged 28pts last week, with the combined firepower of Read, Willey and Simpson a roster not to mess with. The Clippers only just getting the Suns last week (63-56) maybe starting to taper???
Meteors: Based on recent form, this game could swing either way. The Meteors dropped their game against Bundy last week (91-110) with the team built around George and Williamson. If they are not on their game then the Clippers could grab the points here. Maroochy are also coming off a loss (114-142 to Logan in Round 13), with the return of Meehl a key to the team bouncing back. Fitzgerald will be good for 35pts with a test for the Metoers defence to reduce his firing power. Clippers will have to save energy and their key players, as they face the Rockets on Sunday.
Game Preview : Round 13
Mackay Basketball Stadium, Mackay. 6:15pm
Mackay Basketball Stadium, Mackay. 8:00pm
Meteors: The Meteors will rejoice at a home game in Round 13 after a long string of games last week in Brisbane. They were only able to collect a single win (100-85 over the Goannas) with a shot at the finals now very far in the distance. Williamson and George continue as the stand-outs in the team, with Newnham not hitting the levels that were expected in ’07. The Bulls are sitting on the same average of 6 and 8 for the year so this game will be a real fight for status on the ladder. Oriard continues to push hard.
Meteorettes: The Meteorettes just scraped through their triple-header last week, with both the Pirates and Wizards pushing them to the limit. Player of the Week, Maree Simpson, is building in preparation for the finals, as Read and McGrath know that a quarter final against the Cyclones is nothing short of dangerous. The Bears will relish in the hope that the Wizards (who are next to them on the ladder) nearly spoilt the party for the Meteorettes last week (56-63). If they can do it, why can’t we???? Bundy take on Rocky on Fri night, so look for the girls to tire in the final quarter.
Game Preview : Round 11
Mackay Basketball Stadium, Mackay. 6:15pm
Mackay Basketball Stadium, Mackay. 8:00pm
Meteors: The Meteors collected a 5-point win over the Capitals last week (115-110) as Williamson, Springall and George deciding that the team doesn’t belong in their current 11th position on the ladder. George and Williamson occupy 2 of the top 10 positions on the leading point scorers across the League, at 25ppg, with the Suns having to stop these two in their tracks if they want to be smiling on their trip home. They play Rocky on Friday and will arrive here tired but ready to get moving.
Meteorettes: The Meteorettes played well in Round 10, defeating the Capitals by 13 (73-60). McGrath with 20pts in this one, with Read and Willey at 19ppg for the season. The Suns have another big ask here, after their clash with Rocky on Friday night. They can’t afford to drop too many in their 8 remaining games, but this one may be out of their control. They need to dig deep and find some of that early season form that has pushed them to 5 and 5. Leading into this weekend they are carrying 3 losses- not a confident sign.
