NBL1 Heat wins first game

BY VELMA GARA

Townsville Heat opened its NBL1 North season with a convincing win against the Cairns Marlins –99 to 70 – last weekend.

Experienced guard, Michael Cedar, said he couldn’t wait to play.

“After being around the competition since 2002 where I suited up for my first game as a teenager, this could be the most excited I have been for a opening game to a season,” he said.

“Townsville is home, and I love being back home.”

Cedar said he was particularly excited about playing in front of his wife and two daughters at the stadium where he had spend a majority of his junior years learning how to play the game.

Heat team was filled with young local products, a couple older veterans and an import who Cedar thought would be amazing to share the court with.

Although he didn’t feature as a top scorer for the Heat, Cedar’s experience and presence on the floor was important.

Guard, Curt Ah Wang, played hard and showed experience for the Marlins.

The Cairns team will travel to Darwin to play the Salties on Saturday 1 April.

Townsville will be on a road trip to play against Mackay on Friday 31 March followed by Rockhampton on Saturday 1 April.

Meantime, Salties guard, Deba George, had 14 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 11.44 minutes of court time.

He shot 4 from 6 three pointers but unfortunately got fouled out in the third quarter in the game against the Southern District Spartans. Salties got the win at home with a high score of 102 – 89.

Dynamic centre and former NBA player, Nathan Jawai, didn’t suit up to play in this game.

Gold Coast Rollers –Tidjane Diop

North Gold Coast Seahawks – Biwali Bayles

Northside Wizards –Deshawn Ross-Paiwan

USC Rip City – Verle Williams

South West Pirates – Alana Fraser, Christopher Cedar Southern Districts Spartans – Hayley

McDowell-White, Kobe McDowell-White

Superstar

Australian point guard William McDowell-White, All-NBL Second Team Member and two-time Most Improved Player winner Keanu Pinder, are all out of contract and expected to be highly soughtafter in this year’s list of free agents. The star-studded list of free agents will be up for grabs from today when free agency opens in the Hungry Jack’s NBL.

Teams will still have three imports next season, with 11 contracted players per roster. NBL Next Stars will not count towards the 11 contracted players.