U18 State Basketball: Waves lose star but ready for semi-finals action

The Gold Coast Waves are refusing to give up on their state titles hopes despite losing their captain to a gruesome on-court injury today.

ON Friday they lost their captain to a dislocated shoulder, but the Gold Coast Waves are refusing to give up on their state titles hopes.

The Waves won four of their five division one qualifying games at the Under 18 State Basketball Championships during the week to finish second in their pool as they prepare to take on the Southern District Spartans in their semi-final tomorrow (12:30pm at Carrara).

Although they will be without captain Reuben Nicholas who dislocated his shoulder behind the play on Friday when his arm got caught in the armpit of an opponent.

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Reuben Nicholas of the GC Waves in their game against the Brisbane Capitals during the QLD basketball championships on the Gold Coast. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“He’s a big guy for us and we don’t have many so we’ll have to change up our team strategy a bit leading into the Spartans who have a few state players,” said Waves coach Steve Kerr.

Despite losing Nicholas, Kerr is confident his side will have what it takes to match it with the Spartans after completing a remarkable near win against the club during the Waves regular season.

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“We were down by 24 odd points and rallied to send them into overtime where we lost by two points,” Kerr said.

“It was our stand out game of the regular season and even though we lost, it gave the boys a lot of belief.”

The Gold Coast Waves female division one side have also qualified for finals and will take on the Logan Thunder tomorrow morning (9:30am at Carrara) after defeating Townsville on Friday and finishing on top of their qualifying pool.

Action from the QLD basketball championships on the Gold Coast. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“We knew we were going to have a tough finals game whether we finished first or second but Logan are a lot different to Townsville so we’ve got to adapt quickly,” coach Cassie Dover said.

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“I think any team in the semi-finals can win it but I believe the girls can win if we follow our plan and keep playing like we have been as a team and a unit.”