Heat find finals mindset on road
ANDREW ALOIA | August 8th, 2011 | The Townsville Bulletin
HEAT star Todd Blanchfield has warned the last teams standing in the Queensland Basketball League play-offs that Townsville have honed their killer instinct.
The Heat earned the right to host their first home semi-final since 2003 with a 104-75 flogging of Toowoomba at QN Stadium on Saturday. Blanchfield, who led the demolition with a team-high 22 points at a staggering 64 per cent from the field, said the Mountaineers copped an early dose of what the Heat has in store for Rockhampton this Sunday.
"This game brought that play-off mentality out of us, it changed our approach," Blanchfield said.
"We have to focus on staying that way for Rocky now."
Kelvin Robertson produced his finest performance since making his return this season, hitting 17 points at 58 per cent, with inconsistent centre Ben Allen chipping in by shooting at nearly 54 per cent for his 15 points. Coach Liam Flynn had plenty to be happy about at the end of the regular season with one of the most efficient showings of the campaign, complemented by 24 team assists.
"It just showed how good our execution and ball movement can be," Flynn said.
Blanchfield was more direct about the meaning of the performance.
"That shows what happens when we all play well together, we win by 30 points," he said.
Meanwhile, Flames swing player Kelsie Rutland torched Toowoomba with 16 points in little over 18 minutes to ensure Townsville finished its Women's QBL season on a high.
Rutland combined with centre Rebecca Vanderjagt, 10 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two assists, to wrap up the 64-56 win on Saturday.
TOWNSVILLE HEAT 104 (T Blanchfield 22 pts 7 rbds, K Robertson 17 pts 8 rbds 3 asst 2 stl, B Allen 15 pts 6 rbds C Cedar 13 pts 6 asst) d TOOWOOMBA 75 (J Legan 25 pts 8 rbds, S Kluck 17 pts 6 rbds).
TOWNSVILLE FLAMES 64 (K Rutland 16 pts, R Vanderjagt 10 pts 5 rbds 2 blk 2 asst, V Horne 9 pts) d TOOWOOMBA 56 (J Chard 20 pts 9 rbds 5 asst, A Gerhardt 7 pts 5 rbds, S Mylonas 7 pts 3 rbds).
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