Gold Coast rivals face-off in Basketball Qld QSL1 Round 2 game of the week

We’ve live-streamed one of the biggest rivalries in Queensland basketball, as the Gold Coast Rollers hosted the North Gold Coast Seahawks in the QSL1 game of the week. SEE REPLAYS

It was a night of mixed fortunes in the QSL1 game of the week, as arch rivals Gold Coast Rollers hosted the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

In the men’s game the Rollers upset the Seahawks 79-77, while in women’s the Seahawks kept their undefeated start to the season rolling with an emphatic 70-43 victory.

The North Gold Coast men, who are filled with stars including former NBL veteran Rhys Martin, started the match on fire holding a nine-point victory over their local rivals.

But the Rollers came storming back in the third quarter with a 26-15 period to go into the final quarter with a slender two-point lead.

Gold Coast were able to hold off the Seahawks down the stretch with a clutch defensive play on the last possession of the game sealing the win.

Kallum Marks was dominant for the Rollers with 29 points, including five three-pointers, while David Gurney topscored with 25 for the Seahawks.

The balanced attack of the Seahawks was too much for the Rollers in the QSL1 women as three players scored in double figures to record a 27-point win.

Charli Reece was impressive for North Gold Coast with 25 points and eight rebounds while Lauren Jansen had 16 points and 18 rebounds and Courtney Willemse also had 16.

WATCH THE REPLAYS ABOVE AND BELOW

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Fierce rivals are set to go head-to-head once again as the Gold Coast Rollers host the North Gold Coast Seahawks in the Basketball Queensland QSL1 game of the week.

The rivalry is one of the most heated in the state and that will continue in the second-tier competition on Saturday at Carrara Stadium.

Both teams come into the second round of the season undefeated with both Rollers teams earning wins over the Southern Districts Spartans in the opening round while both Seahawks teams beat the Brisbane Capitals and Logan Thunder in a double header.

Former Gold Coast Roller now Seahawks guard Rhys Martin. Picture: Richard Gosling

It will be a tough task for both Rollers teams with the women having to contain the likes of former Washington State University star Krystle McKenzie, Lauren Jansen and while the men will have to deal with the likes of former NBL veteran Rhys Martin and David Gurney.

All the action will be livestreamed in this story.

Gold Coast women’s coach Sarah Glazebrook said they would have to be at their best for four quarters to beat a tough North Gold Coast team.

“Our team is very young and a lot of them haven’t played together before so I’ve been impressed with how quickly we have come together as a team and the culture within the team has been great,” she said.

Lauren Jansen in action for the Seahawks. Picture: Fan Fair

“The key to victory this week will definitely be keeping some of Seahawks key players down defensively.

“We are quite a small team but hoping to apply a lot of defensive pressure to force them out of their offence as much as possible, offensively we just need to get out and run the floor.

“We have a lot of depth off the bench and are a very young team so hopefully this plays to our advantage and can pull away late in the game when Seahawks get tired.

“There’s always a big rivalry between the two Gold Coast clubs so it should be a great match up.”

Seahawks women’s coach Bradley Kann said he was happy with the way his team was progressing ahead of the local derby.

“We are developing each week. Both the staff and players all know that we are in a good position with results but still need to continue to get better each practice,” he said.

“We have by no means peaked or are at our limit.

“We need to keep pushing to fulfil our potential as a group. This weekend will be another opportunity to chip away with this process.”

Kann said the keys to victory were taking Gold Coast out of transition, limiting turnovers and winning the rebound count.

Tip-off for the women is at 5.30pm followed by the men at 7.30pm.