Townsville's Top End Trip

TOWNSVILLE’S Top End trip proved a successful one after the Heat and Flames took down the Darwin Salties in NBL1 North action over the weekend.

First year club Darwin had a rowdy crowd of over 1000 in for the double header but Townsville silenced them with the Heat running out 98-74 winners while the Flames claimed a 79-60 triumph.

Local product Richard Peachey was the star of the show for the Heat, with the second-year guard going off for 24 points on 4/6 shooting from three to help Townsville run down the Salties and streak away in the final quarter.

Heat coach Mark Wrobel was full of praise for the athletic young swingman, who has repaid the faith shown in him by his local club in the off-season.

“I had a chat to him in the pre-season when we were looking at what kind of players to recruit, and basically I threw the challenge out to him that I wanted him to be in our starting five and asked if he was ready for that,” Wrobel said.

“He told me that’s what he wanted and he’s certainly proven that in the first two weeks.

“He’s full of energy, a long, athletic guard, who has the shot the ball really well to start the season and he’s continuously improving on the defensive end as well.

“If he continues this form that he’s in this season then I’d be stunned if American college programs or NBL teams looking for development players don’t snap him up.”

All five of Townsville’s starters finished with double figure scoring, with American big men DeAndre Daniels (21 points, 12 rebounds) and veteran centre Matty Rees (13 points, 10 rebounds, 7 blocks) particularly effective.

The Flames were again led by Townsville Fire guard Courtney Woods, with the sharp-shooting 25-year-old lighting up the Salties for 35 points.

Woods is averaging 31.5 points across the Flames opening two wins and she was simply unstoppable at times in her side’s comfortable 19-point win.

The former Northern Illinois college star received great backup from point guard and Fire teammate  Steph Reid, who stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, 8 rebounds and six assists.

Townsville’s NBL1 teams return home this week for Friday night games against South West Metro before backing up on Saturday night to play the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence team in the NBL1 wildcard challenge.

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Rohan O'Neil