Its all Greek to me.... QBL women recap
The Good
Toowoomba women’s program is finally back in the winner’s circle , after a 79-72 win at South West. This is the first time since 2014 that the Mountaineers have won a game. What makes it all the more impressive is that they were without 3 key players (Beatriz Royo Torres, Meg Essex and Chelsea Orbell) Spanish import Estela Royo Torres was in ominous form with 44 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. She display scoring prowess and defensive tenacity that will make Toowoomba into a respectable team again.
Logan had a dominant display over Bundaberg Bears 92-68 in the league’s season opener. Kate Gaze was the team top score with 27 points, but i was particularly impressive with Sarah Ambrose, achieving a double-double (19 points and 11 rebounds). Solid performances from Skye Rees and Mikhaela Donnelly. Definitely have improved but the real test will come on the weekend in the road trip against defending champions Rockhampton Cyclones and Mackay Meteors.
SC Phoenix-Clippers got the upper hand in QBL newest rivalry game against debutants SC Rip 80-55. Kierra Mallard showed he pedigree with a massive double-double (24 points and 17 rebounds) while Phoenix other import Katarina Flasarova showed some promise (13 points, 5 assists, 4 steals). for a team that has only a total of 8 wins in the past 6 seasons, its a good start to their 2016 campaign.
The Bad
For a team that has aspirations for a 6-10 win season, SC Rip should have taken care of the Phoenix-Clippers. Former SEABL player Kirsten Langhorn was their only bright spot (22 points, 7 rebounds). What is concerning is outside of their top 3, the rest of the team really struggled offensively (2/22 from the field). Scoring 25% from the field isn't going to cut it in this league, they face Brisbane in their first home game on Saturday.
While the Cyclones were without their two imports (Chandrea Jones and Shanavia Dowdell), they would be definitely disappointed losing to the grand final rematch to Gladstone 67-74. Haynes and Norwood got into foul trouble early and they were limited offensively. Alice Kunek was good in her cameo appearance for the Cyclones. They are facing in form Logan team in week 2.
The Ugly
The overall situation with the imports. With the majority of the teams heavily dependent on imports that play in Europe during the offseason, the early start of the league screws the plans for several teams. Toowoomba, South West, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Ipswich and Cairns were with one or two imports because they playing in Europe while Bundaberg import Melissa Quirk wasn’t cleared in time. While you could argue about it's only the first game of the season, it's still a short season (17 games) and i feel for some of the teams that week 1 loss could end up biting them in the backside.
Round 1 Results
Friday, April 29
Logan Thunder 92 (Kate Gaze 27, Sarah Ambrose 19, Mikhaela Donnelly 16) def. Bundaberg Bears 68 (Carly Boag 33, Kelli Page 10, Christina Boag 9)
Saturday, April 30
Ipswich Force 62 (Bree Farley 15, Ash Heal 14, Shyla Heal 13) def by Gold Coast Rollers 68 (Nadeen Payne 32, Kate Rose 14, Brianna Moyes 12)
South West Metro Pirates 72 (Telesia Manumaleuga 24, Sidney Parsons 22, Emma Glenn 8, Jerica Lacey 8) def by. Toowoomba Mountaineers 77 (Estela Royo Torres 44, Kirby Lennan 10, Emily Derksen 6)
Sunshine Coast Phoenix Clippers 80 (Kierra Mallard 24, Katarina Flasarova 13, Emma Menzie 12) def. by Sunshine Coast Rip 55 (Kristen Langhorn 22, Francis Donders 17, Ondrea Beasley 11)
Mackay Meteorettes 58 (Tami Wiley 19, Jillian Haugton 11, Jacqui Zelenka 11) def. by Cairns Dolphins (Kristina Baltic 17, Teyla Evans 17, Rachel Pryor 14)
Rockhampton Cyclones 67 (Alice Kunek 21, Alex Brady 15, Katrina Clifford 11) def. by Gladstone Port City Power 74 (Charmaine Mellars 21, Markel Walker 20, Maddy Willey 12)
Brisbane Capitals 61 (Emma McKenzie 14, Heidi Freeburn 11, Ashton Eaton 9) def. by Bundaberg Bears 74 (Carly Boag 25, Kellie Page 17, Stephanie Rehbein 11)
Sunday, May 1
Townsville Flames 79 (Cayla George 16, Natalie Novosel 16, Chevannah Paalvast 10, Tiarna Wood 10) def. Cairns Dolphins 73 (Rachel Pryor 26, Myra Donkin 16, Teyla Evans 14)
