Townsville Fire coach Shannon Seebohm has expressed his satisfaction in serving to ship the North Queensland franchise their fourth WNBL championship following their 2-0 grand-final collection sweep over Southside Flyers.
Seebohm took the top teaching function at Townsville in 2020 and made an instantaneous affect, guiding the Fire to a grand last berth whereas successful the league’s Coach of the Year award for the second time.
But a 17-point loss to Southside within the title decider on Wednesday meant the Fire must wait earlier than including one other trophy to go alongside the three nationwide league championships claimed between 2015 and 2018 through the period of membership stalwart and six-time league MVP Suzy Batkovic.
After lacking the finals within the 2021/22 marketing campaign, Townsville’s reconstructed roster got here to life by successful their final 12 video games of the common season earlier than sweeping Perth Lynx and Southside within the finals.
“We are so proud to have finally got over the line It’s been a couple of years, a bit of a grind. I can’t be happier for the team to have finally done it,” Seebohm mentioned following Townsville’s 82-69 victory in recreation two at Melbourne’s State Basketball Centre.
Seebohm introduced in loads of worldwide expertise through the low season by including WNBA champion Tianna Hawkins, fellow American Mikaela Ruef and Great Britain nationwide staff member Karlie Samuelson to a Townsville squad boasting Australian guards Lauren Nicholson and Steph Reid.
After an inconsistent begin to the season, Townsville got here alive as soon as their star-studded line-up constructed some continuity and the late-season addition of Opals guard Shyla Heal helped bolster their bench scoring.
A scorching end to the common season resulted in honours for Hawkins (All-WNBL First Team), Nicholson (All-WNBL Second Team) and Reid (Golden Hands) on the league’s awards evening, whereas Seebohm claimed his third Coach of the Year gong.
But now the 34-year-old coach can add a nationwide league title to his listing of accomplishments after the minor premiers’ profitable post-season run.
After scoring 20 factors in Townsville’s record-setting 31-point dwelling victory in recreation one of many collection, Hawkins sat for many of the first half of recreation two on account of foul hassle however got here up huge within the fourth quarter to assist the Fire overcome a five-point deficit and safe grand last MVP honours.
An emotional Hawkins devoted the victory to her seven-year-old son who returned dwelling to America in December.
“I can’t wait to get home and see him but this is for him,” the 32-year-old centre as she collected her MVP award.
“It has not been easy but (Townsville) made it easy every single day so thank you and I cannot wait to get home.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
