Rollers split double, stay on top
Emma Greenwood | June 26th, 2011
THE Gold Coast Rollers remain on top of the Queensland Basketball League ladder despite splitting their North Queensland road double at the weekend.
The Rollers lost the first leg of their trip to the Cairns Marlins 72-64 on Friday night before bouncing back to beat the heavyweight Townsville Heat 77-61 last night.
The trip started disastrously for the understrength Rollers, who lost point guard Tim Smith to a hamstring tear early in the Cairns clash.
After travelling north with just nine players -- and one of those a back-up in case they ran into foul trouble -- the Rollers were stretched for the rest of the weekend.
The loss to the Marlins was the Rollers first this season and spurred the team into action.
The Rollers' focus could not prevent the Heat from getting on a roll early but they hit back in the second term with five consecutive buckets to take a 10-point lead to halftime.
Veterans Scott McGregor and Jason Aucoin were again outstanding, McGregor finishing the weekend with an amazing haul of 57 points and 27 rebounds from the two games.
Aucoin notched a double-double in Cairns and while he finished with just three points in Townsville, the 11 boards he grabbed were crucial in helping the Rollers to the win.
The Rollers face another double-header this week, with games against South West Metro at home and Ipswich on the road.
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