Heat fighting to save season in First Nations round

Veteran Townsville Heat guard Chris Cedar said his team are hard at work on the training track as they look to save their season against long-time rivals the Mackay on Friday night.

The Heat and Flames host Mackay’s Meteors and Meteorettes at Carmichael Ford Stadium this round, with the men’s team desperate to snap a three-game losing run and reignite their finals hopes.

Final quarter fadeouts hurt them in last week’s pair of losses down south and three-time NBL1 North champion Cedar said it’s something his team are working hard to address.

“Finding a way to finish off games and play through the whole fourth quarter is probably the most important thing for us right now,” Cedar said.

“We always seem to put ourselves in positions to win, but performing in that last little bit is where it's the most important to win games.

“Johnny's (Heat coach john O’Farrell) has done a good job this week by adding that into our trainings, practicing being up on the scoreboard with a few minutes left and holding those leads. So we're practicing that and we've just got to put it into the game.”

This round is First Nations round across all NBL1 competitions, which holds special significance for Cedar, who along with his brother Michael, are two of Townsivlle basketball’s finest Indigenous products.

Both brothers enjoyed great NBL careers playing for the Townville Crocodiles and Mick will be in the crowd on Friday night to see the Heat’s specially designed Indigenous jersey, and cheer on his little brother and former Heat teammates. 

“Mick and I, growing up in Townsville, we never really got to celebrate this until probably five years ago, when the NBL1 jumped on board with the NBL,” he said.

“I’ve played for a few different teams so I’ve worn some nice Indigenous design jerseys, but I'm looking forward to this one the most being back home.

“Mick is here for a Basketball Queensland board meeting and it will be great to have him up in the stands and have his support.”

The Flames sit one spot outside the top six in the women’s competition, and a win over third-placed Mackay would be huge for them and their post-season aspirations. 

“It was a close game when we went down to them in Round 2, it came down to the last minute, and they’ve added two players since then so it’s going to be a tough challenge,” Flames coach Claudia Brassard said.

“We need to make sure we’re winning the possession game, slowing them down and if anything, making the basketball game a bit ugly.”

The Flames host the Meteorettes on Friday night from 6.30pm before the Heta play the Meteors at 8.30pm.