How the Marlins made NBL1 North championship series
A stunning second term powered by some of the great names of Cairns basketball has sent the Marlins to the first NBL1 North grand final series.
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A STUNNING second term powered by some of the great names of Cairns basketball has sent the Marlins to the first NBL1 North grand final series.
The Marlins entered their semi-final with Logan Thunder as the underdogs by virtue of their sixth-placed finish, but nobody told the competition’s northernmost team that Logan started as the favourite.
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Rather than the Thunder – which lost once in the regular season – wiping the floor with Cairns, it was the veterans of the Marlins in Deba George, Curt Ahwang and Alex Loughton who combined with loyal clubman Anthony Fisher and James Mitchell to earn the win.
Coach Kerry Williams was that confident in his team he was rarely stressed as he sat, stood and strolled courtside, as the Marlins kept experienced Logan pair Jeremy Kendle and Shaun Bruce quiet on their way to a 96-67 win to set up a championship series with Mackay.
“We stuck to our plan,” Williams said. “We had the plan to defend Bruce and Kendle – they’re two guys with a lot of experience, and we knew they would score some shots.
“But the boys weren’t worried. We knew they couldn’t make all of them, and they did some great work to build that pressure.”
Loughton topscored with 25 points, while George scored 24 and Ahwang finished with 18 points – all of which came from long range at 66.67 per cent.
Add in Fisher’s 14 points and nine rebounds and Mitchell’s sensational stat line of 11 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and a steal, and it is clear this Marlins outfit came to play.
After a tight first term, Cairns outscored the Thunder 30-15 in the second to put the contest to bed. A similar margin in the fourth quarter sealed the result.
Cairns Basketball general manager Mike Scott said earlier this season he had a team that could win the championship, and the experience in this line-up – not to mention the titles they have won – has made a big difference.
The Marlins rolled Townsville then Logan in their finals to date, and while Mackay finished second with a similar record to the Thunder, Williams is confident his team will get the job done.
“That’s the way we wanted play, we wanted to keep the ball moving,” Williams said.
“We allow the players to make the reads in each situation. Their experience ... it makes it extremely easy as a coach because I’m not stressed at all. I don’t feel it; I trust the guys to play through it and together.
“We know teams will make the shots, but these guys know what they’re doing.”
The 29-point thumping sends the Marlins through to a championship series at Mackay against the Meteors, who defeated Rip City 106-91.
Jerron Jamerson has proven tough to contain, while Chris Cedar and Emmanuel Malou were at their devastating best as Mackay turned a two-point deficit in the final break into a 15-point win against USC. Games will be played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au
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Originally published as How the Marlins made NBL1 North championship series
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