The Wrap QBL Round 15 Round 15 | Page 7

coaches view SBL Women v Sunshine Coast Phoenix by Michael Kearney SBL capitals women who proudly support the Young Pink Sisters Charity travelled down the motorway to Gold Coast for an important last home and away game of the season. With personnel changes to our team we were expecting a tight tussle as they had one of the highest scoring player in the SBL competition. Switching around our team defences and denying their sharpshooters were a couple of our defence goals whilst in offence finding the open player and recognising Gold Coast’s press and trapping game . Our passing across the game was poor which lead to 17 passing turnovers giving the Rollers 34 easy open points this was where the game was lost. We were holding our own in the half-court offence and their gun shooters were getting frustrated with our team defensive effort. At one stage in the 4th quarter with some great team offence and defence Caps narrowed the gap to 6 points then fouls and taking chances in the last 4 minutes lead to the gap blowing out. In the end Rollers executed better, picked off 17 passes and their bench players stepped up to replace their normal team scorers . Overall it’s been a very good home and away season now a new one begins as the young Capitals play semi-finals this week. QBL Women Brisbane Capitals v Southern Districts by Sue Jarvis The Capitals started strongly establishing an early lead by scoring some nice baskets, and their strong defence meant Mackay had to earn their points from the free throw line. As the quarter continued both Teams scored from the 3 point line with Mackay having a slight edge. The score at the end of the quarter was 21 – 17 to Mackay. The tight battle continued into the second quarter, but Mackay started to edge ahead scoring more freely, and the Capitals girls were dealing with a rising foul count. The positives in the quarter for the Capitals was that 8 players scored, and the team had just 4 turnovers. At half time Mackay lead by 10 points, 40 – 30. Mackay came out stronger in the third quarter, finding easy Baskets and running the Court. The Capitals girls worked hard to stem the flow, but Mackay established a 19 point lead by the end of the quarter. With nothing to lose Coach Marshall injected 3 younger players, Audrey Fuller, Karissa Grigg & Georgia Woolley into the game with positive results, bringing the Capitals back to within 9 points at one stage. Fuller capitalised on her speed to score 6 quick points, while Grigg was strong on the boards pulling down 7 rebounds and scoring 4 points. Woolley was everywhere in defence, and supported her teammates with 2 rebounds. The end of the game saw Mackay win by 81 – 67. The Capitals headed to Rockhampton for the second road game feeling positive after their performance against Mackay. After a tough game in Mackay the previous night the Wesley Hospital Brisbane Capitals came out with a renewed determination and intensity against a second placed Rockhampton Cyclones. The first quarter saw a number of lead changes in a tough, grinding half-court game with the Capitals going in to the first break with a 3 point lead. The second quarter saw Madie Woodford continue the herculean task of defending Rockhampton’s blue chip import, Jessica Thomas. Thomas scored 36 points the previous week and Woodford was given the responsibility of controlling and containing this dominant player. Brisbane’s offence was poised and effective in the second quarter as they pushed the lead out to 13 at the half time break. Rockhampton struggled to find options other than Thomas and were held to 7 points in the quarter. Issy Parker’s aggression on the offensive rebounds over the entire weekend was at times the under the radar statistic that enabled the Capitals to stay in the game and stay in plays for second change opportunities. The game was a home coming of sorts for Bean Dowdell who played in Rockhampton for a number of years. Dowdell, Francis Donders and Georgia Fagan combined for 7, 3 pointers in the game. The third quarter saw Rockhampton find other scoring options with Blair and Lorraway combining for 6, 3 pointers. Brisbane found offence through Dowdell in the keyway where the Cyclones double team was becoming easier to read and less effective. Brisbane went in to the final quarter with a 5 point lead. The Wesley Hospital Brisbane Capitals maintained their 5 point lead and with 5 minutes to go they were still ahead by 5. Clearly bothered by Woodford’s defence, Thomas 7