Cyclones coach in a spin over form

ITis a well-used cliche, a coach saying his team is ‘playing for pride’, but when the Hog’s Breath Cafe Cyclones take to the court tomorrow afternoon that will certainly be the case.

Coach Matt Neason could not disguise his disappointment with the Cyclones’ road trip last weekend when the girls needed two wins to keep any hopes of playing in the finals alive.

They returned with two losses against Brisbane and Ipswich, both teams the Cyclones would have been expected to beat.

“We didn’t have the energy and focus we had at the start of the season,” coach Neason said.

Against Brisbane, the Cyclones started the match badly, allowing the home side to shut them out.

“Every time we made a run they went up another level,” he said.

The 25-point loss is an indication of how superior the Brisbane side was on the night and even though the Cyclones did improve sightly for the game against Ipswich Force, they still lost by six points.

“Now it will be a really good test to bounce back,” Neason said.

“Training has been good and that suggests we are focused.

“We are all fit and ready to go.”

However, this is the time of year when coaches of teams outside the top four consider trialling players who have gained little court time with a view to the following season.

“It might be a chance to give the young girls an opportunity to play,” he suggested.

Once again, the team will rely heavily on the point-scoring prowess of Daphanie Kennedy who has been shooting well throughout the season and top-scored against both Brisbane and Ipswich.

The Cyclones’ opponent tomorrow is the Gold Coast Gliders who sit in 10th spot, three places below the Cyclones.

The team finishes its 2010 program next week against the champion Gladstone team, which is again at the top of the ladder, at Hegvold Stadium.

STATE OF PLAY

Round 14 games in the QBL (men and Women)

Today: Toowoomba v Townsville

Bundaberg v Caboolture

Mackay v Gold Coast

South West v Ipswich

Maroochydore v Gladstone

Sunday: Northside v Townsville

Rockhampton v Gold Coast

Caboolture v Gladstone