Blaze future yet to be decided

Updated July 16, 2012 14:32:31

Basketball Australia is still assessing the financial viability of National Basketball League (NBL) club the Gold Coast Blaze.

The Blaze has no players and no staff but remains on the NBL competition schedule that is due to start in October.

The Gold Coast club has emerged from the voluntary administration it entered in May but is still seeking a major investor.

The Gold Coast Basketball Association (GCBA) is willing to share resources and staff.

GCBA chief executive Allan Hilzinger was on a telephone hook-up with the Blaze owners and Basketball Australia representatives this morning.

"They need to provide the evidence that the cash is available and then they do also have to provide a budget - a detailed budget - showing that is available as well," he said.

Basketball Australia says it expects the Blaze to provide more details about its plans today.

Tags: sport, basketball, nbl, southport-4215, qld

First posted July 16, 2012 14:23:29

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Blaze to put community plan to NBL

Updated July 12, 2012 09:34:18

The future of NBL club the Gold Coast Blaze should soon be clearer.

Owner Owen Tomlinson is travelling to Sydney to meet with NBL officials today as the club tries to come up with financial guarantees to continue in the competition.

He is being accompanied by Gold Coast Basketball chief executive Allan Hilzinger who will present plans for a community-based operation.

Mr Hilzinger says he is hoping the club can secure the necessary funds to survive.

"There's still plenty of steps that have to be moved forward before we can reach that point," he said.

"But if the money is found - and the community model we're discussing is implemented - I really believe that the NBL team on the Gold Coast could be around for many years," he said.

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, southport-4215, qld

First posted July 12, 2012 09:33:00

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Clock ticks down on Blaze survival bid

Updated July 13, 2012 08:59:17

The Gold Coast Blaze may be out of the National Basketball League (NBL) by the end of the day.

Blaze owner Owen Tomlinson is in Sydney desperate to secure the future of the club.

It went into voluntary administration in May with debts of more than $12 million but has since been returned to the control of its owners.

Mr Tomlinson says he has to find $500,000 and a bank guarantee by 5:00pm (AEST) to satisfy the NBL that the club can continue.

He worries about the alternative.

"It would be almost catastrophic to me because it would [end] everything we've tried to achieve over the last five or six years," Mr Tomlinson said.

Mr Tomlinson says there are two potential Blaze investors and he will meet with one later this morning.

"If it comes down to five o'clock and no one's that interested to try and help the Blaze that's it - in a nutshell," he said.

If Mr Tomlinson is successful the club is likely to restructure and share resources with a community group.

Tags: basketball, nbl, southport-4215, qld

First posted July 13, 2012 08:57:55

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Blaze hopes of NBL future extinguished

Updated July 18, 2012 12:09:16

The Gold Coast has lost another national sporting club with National Basketball League (NBL) team the Blaze folding overnight.

The owners of the financially-troubled Gold Coast team have abandoned hopes of remaining in the NBL.

Basketball Australia yesterday gave it until the end of the month to provide a $1 million bank guarantee.

The Gold Coast Basketball Association (GCBA) had offered to share staff and resources with the Blaze.

GCBA chief executive Allan Hilzinger says it is a big loss to the sport.

"The Blaze have been fantastic for the NBL," Hilzinger said.

"They have been one of the big drivers and part of the reason for the NBL's growth.

"I mean the south east corridor is enormous - particularly at the grass roots."

Chris Golding was among players who had clung to hopes that the Blaze would survive.

He says he is disappointed with the way the situation has been handled.

"There's been some mixed messages come across from Basketball Australia to the Blaze and to the players and back and forth," Goulding said.

"Miscommunication I think has been a big part in this when people's livelihoods and careers are on the line.

"I don't think that can really be afforded to happen."

Hilzinger says the $1 million guarantee was too steep for team owners, Owen and Katie Tomlinson.

"I think they also felt that they didn't get the response that the NBL or the support from the NBL from their point of view that they wanted," he said.

"I think they felt they had put in so much time, energy and money that a little bit of trust had to be there as well."

The Blaze had also been asked to confirm major funding sources and working capital for next season, and to show that it can pay what it owes BA by the end of next month.

BA says the departure of the Blaze is disappointing.

BA spokesman Scott Derwin says the Blaze had advised they had a $500,000 capital investment from a mystery supporter but were unable to provide any further detail.

Mr Derwin says a mystery funding source is not adequate.

He says given the club's recent financial uncertainty, solid and detailed financial modelling was required.

Tags: sport, basketball, nbl, southport-4215, qld

First posted July 18, 2012 08:03:36

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Creditors meeting to decide Blaze future

Updated June 14, 2012 08:18:21

The future of the Gold Coast's financially-troubled National Basketball League (NBL) team is expected to be decided at a meeting today.

A deed of company arrangement will be put to creditors of the Gold Coast Blaze.

Administrator Roland Robson says it could provide funds for club employees and return around seven cents in the dollar to unsecured creditors.

"It would keep it alive - keep it functioning," Mr Robson said.

"It would provide the Gold Coast community with a sports team.

"We are quite aware a number of sports teams have come and gone over the years and I think to a degree this is a positive thing to enable the Gold Coast to have an [NBL] basketball team.

"Even Brisbane doesn't have one of those at the moment."

Mr Robson says if the deed is rejected the Blaze will go into liquidation and the team will fold.

"The assets will be sold off - the Gold Coast and Queensland will lose a sports team," he said.

"There will be no licence available from Basketball Australia.

"The result will be all assets sold and distributed in priority to secured creditors and any of the floating assets sold and made available obviously for employee creditors."

There had been suggestions a wealthy investor would come to the rescue of the Blaze but Mr Robson says no deal has been finalised.

"Discussions have been made with a number of investors," Mr Robson said.

"Those discussions unfortunately were not able to be materialised fast enough in the process in which the administration has to run.

"Unfortunately we could not get a position fast enough for the investor in that time frame."

The meeting will be held at Broadbeach.

Tags: nbl, basketball, broadbeach-4218, qld

First posted June 14, 2012 08:15:53

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Blaze gets on with business

By Charmaine Kane

Updated June 15, 2012 14:11:00

The chief executive of the Gold Coast Blaze National Basketball League team says the club is moving forward with its plans for next season.

Most creditors have voted to accept a deed of company arrangement that will allow the financially troubled club to continue operating.

Blaze CEO Paul Pamenter says the club will now address issues including sponsorship, membership and the playing roster for next season.

"We've had a number of conversations with prospective players," Mr Pamenter said.

"They've got four guys that have really been the core of our playing group now for a couple of seasons that we still have on contract for next season.

"It's really finding the right role [for] players to fit in around them next year and then finding the right couple of imports to help what we are trying to achieve on court next year.

"From a timing point of view that hasn't impacted on our ability to attract players to the Gold Coast Blaze and nor do we expect it to."

Mr Pamenter says negotiations are continuing with a potential investor.

Administrators for the Blaze say it will be some weeks before employees and unsecured creditors are paid.

Tags: nbl, basketball, broadbeach-4218

First posted June 15, 2012 14:11:00

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Blaze set to survive

Updated June 15, 2012 06:00:08

Gold Coast Blaze is a step closer to competing in next season's NBL.

The club went into voluntary administration last month, but has been saved from liquidation after an agreement with creditors on Thursday.

The majority of creditors have agreed to receive seven cents in the dollar of what they are owed.

Director and majority owner Owen Tomlinson is now expected to finalise negotiations with a new investor.

The Blaze has already been guaranteed a spot in the upcoming NBL season.

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, carrara-4211

First posted June 14, 2012 16:50:53

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Kings sign Blaze skipper Harvey

Updated May 15, 2012 21:07:33

The Sydney Kings have snapped up Gold Coast captain James Harvey for next NBL season while the embattled Blaze remain mired in voluntary administration.

Veteran sharpshooter Harvey, who captained the Blaze since their inaugural 2007-08 season, was one of four signings the Kings announced on Tuesday.

The others were Cairns Taipans big man Ian Crosswhite and Tom Garlepp, also from the Gold Coast, and the re-signing of Aaron Bruce.

Crosswhite is a ready-made replacement for star centre Julian Khazzouh who, along with Anatoly Bose, signalled his intention to chase a contract in Europe.

Sydney coach Shane Heal hailed 33-year-old shooting guard Harvey as a key acquisition, welcoming his leadership qualities as well as his scoring ability.

"The addition of Harvey to the Sydney Kings roster will help with a crucial missing link behind the arc," Heal said.

"Every team needs a leader, and I am confident James will fill the void from last season. He is one of the most passionate leaders I have played with both on the court and in the gym.

"James Harvey is a big game player who has dealt with persistent injuries over the past couple of seasons, so he will come to the Sydney Kings with something to prove."

Heal added the Kings were hopeful of unveiling further signings, this time on the import front, later in the week after deciding not to offer Jerai Grant another contract.

Harvey's signing was unveiled on the same day Basketball Australia (BA) expressed increased optimism that Gold Coast will continue in the NBL.

BA interim chief executive Scott Derwin said he could not guarantee the club's future but was encouraged by talks with the Blaze about a new investor.

"I flew to the Gold Coast last week and, on Thursday, met with the ownership of the Gold Coast Blaze as well as the players, team staff and the club's appointed administrator Roland Robson," he said.

"Those meetings have given us reason for renewed levels of optimism around the future of the club.

"The team's ownership and management are extremely confident of finalising negotiations with an additional new investor with whom they had already been in discussions.

"Clearly, we still need to allow the administrator to analyse these plans and the overall position of the club in detail before we can be certain that Gold Coast will continue to play on in the NBL.

"However, based on the information we have so far, those who have been forecasting the demise of the Blaze since Friday are certainly premature and quite possibly wrong."

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted May 15, 2012 21:07:33

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Blaze in administrators' hands

Updated May 10, 2012 17:58:21

The ailing National Basketball League has suffered another major blow with the Gold Coast Blaze entering voluntary administration.

The shock move has the NBL in grave danger of dropping to an eight-team competition in the 2012-13 season and could leave it without a club across the east coast from Townsville to Sydney.

Founded in 2007, the Blaze recently made this season's play-offs under coach Joey Wright but the club's owners, the Tomlinson family, appointed a voluntary administrator on Wednesday to control its affairs.

It comes after the surprise resignation of Basketball Australia (BA) chief executive Larry Sengstock.

Accountancy firm Aggs Robson has been been put in control of the franchise.

The Blaze finished third on the ladder last season but fell in three games in the first round of the play-offs to the Perth Wildcats, who went on to lose to New Zealand in the grand final series.

Retired Canadian businessman Owen Tomlinson and his son had been at the helm since the Blaze's inception in 2007 when the NBL returned to the south-east Queensland tourist strip for the first time since the Gold Coast Rollers folded in 1996.

Tomlinson said in a statement earlier on Thursday that the club has a financial backer lined up to take over but legal hurdles are in the way.

"We are in discussions with an investor who wants to proceed," he said.

"However our former coach, who has obtained a Supreme Court judgment against [the Blaze], had refused to delay enforcement proceedings before the required deadline, to enable us to finalise negotiations with this investor.

"So we have appointed a voluntary administrator to control the affairs of the club pending the completion of these negotiations and thereby secure the long term future of the club."

Basketball Australia interim chief executive Scott Derwin said the sport's governing body supported the way the club has handled the situation, and hoped a solution can be found to keep Gold Coast represented in the NBL.

"The league understands that the Blaze took this difficult decision in order to act in a responsible, legal and ethical manner to try and find an appropriate way past their present financial difficulties," he said in a statement.

"Basketball Australia's priority is to find an appropriate solution quickly to the club's current situation that allows the Blaze to continue to play in the NBL and we will explore all reasonable options in our power to assist them in this process.

"The NBL is now seeking to meet with the Administrator as a matter of urgency in order to gather more information so we can formulate an appropriate position on the matter."

The loss of the Blaze would be a double blow to the sport in south-east Queensland after the failure of secret talks with an unnamed consortium to resurrect foundation club, the Brisbane Bullets, for next season.

ABC/AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, broadbeach-4218, qld, australia

First posted May 10, 2012 17:07:26

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Wildcats dowse Blaze to reach final

Updated April 08, 2012 08:22:41

Perth Wildcats will meet the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL grand final series after downing the Gold Coast Blaze 88-67.

The victory gave the Wildcats a 2-1 series victory.

Shawn Redhage (19), Kevin Lisch (16) and Jesse Wagstaff (14) led the way for the five-time NBL champions.

Adris DeLeon (20) was the game's leading scorer but did not receive a great deal of scoring support from his team-mates.

After a competitive first quarter, which ended 29-23 the home side extended the lead to double figures at the break and continued to pull away in the second half.

The Wildcats will now play the Breakers in a best of three final series beginning in Auckland on Thursday.

Tags: sport, basketball, nbl, perth-6000

First posted April 08, 2012 08:18:59

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Blaze fend off Wildcats to force decider

Updated April 04, 2012 23:18:59

The Blaze's NBL championship hopes remain alive after surviving a Perth Wildcats semi-final onslaught to claim a nail-biting 72-70 win on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night.

The series will now be settled with a third and final game in Perth on Saturday, with the winners to progress to the grand final.

The Queensland club surrendered a 20-5 first quarter lead and then several seven-point advantages as the six-time champions came at them again and again.

Controversially, Shawn Redhage was called for an offensive foul and his basket waived away with less than 30 seconds left, before Adam Gibson and Jason Cadee both made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.

The game still hung in the balance until the final buzzer when a desperate Damian Martin heave went wide to hand the Blaze victory.

Hudson showed he had come to play with a monster dunk to open proceedings, while Mark Worthington stroked home an open three-pointer as Gold Coast set up its 15-point advantage.

That lead was slashed back to just three points at quarter-time as Perth capitalised on a spate of turnovers and fouls from the Blaze - including an unsportsmanlike one from Stephen Hoare and a technical foul called on Worthington.

Gold Coast streaked ahead again before Perth cut the margin to just one with little more than two minutes remaining in the second term.

But six straight points from Adris Deleon, the defensive pressure from the Gold Coast bigs and a buzzer-beating basket from Jason Cadee put the home team ahead 45-38 at half-time.

A huge block and a steal to Martin allowed the Wildcats to again close within one point in the third quarter through Matt Knight, but the desperate Blaze held them at arm's length with a 60-57 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Wildcats had two chances to take the lead with just over three minutes left on the clock, but Luke Nevill travelled on his way to the basket and then put a foot on the line with the ball in hand.

The Gold Coast's crowd had their hearts in their mouths in the dying seconds, but the Blaze did enough to win and now face a deciding semi-final in Perth on Saturday night.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, southport-4215, qld, australia, perth-6000, wa

First posted April 04, 2012 23:18:59

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Blaze into play-offs with 36ers win

Updated March 17, 2012 23:10:45

Gold Coast guaranteed itself a play-off berth with a thrilling 84-83 win over a gallant Adelaide 36ers in their NBL clash at Adelaide Arena on Saturday.

The Blaze looked in control with a 14-point second-quarter lead, but only sealed the win with seconds to play after the 36ers produced a 25-point third term to almost pull off a major upset.

Mark Worthington scored 21 points for the Blaze including the winning basket, while 36ers forward Diamon Simpson also notched 21 points and grabbed 11 boards.

In the early stages, both sides scored freely but the height and power of Worthington and Will Hudson began to tell for the visitors.

With guard Adam Gibson running the show superbly, the Blaze led by 10 before 36ers guard Everard Bartlett launched a spectacular long-range three-pointer on the quarter-time buzzer to reduce the deficit.

Anthony Petrie, Chris Goulding and Tom Garlepp came out firing after the break for Gold Coast, stretching the visitors' lead to 14.

But Adelaide imports Chris Warren and Simpson helped turn the game and, while Hudson continued to terrorise the 36ers' defence, superb three-pointers from Darren Ng and Stephen Weigh had the home crowd roaring.

Simpson was in the mood, drawing fouls and sinking a series of free throws to wrestle back momentum.

When the half-time siren sounded, the Blaze looked happy to still have a 48-41 advantage.

Baskets from Simpson and Daniel Johnson quickly reduced the deficit to two points early in the third quarter.

Gibson and Adris Deleon replied, but a Warren three-pointer maintained Adelaide's pressure.

When Warren sank another the 36ers were in front and, with Johnson on fire, they took a 66-60 lead at the last break.

The Blaze fought back and, in a thrilling finale, Warren tied it up at 80-80 with 45 seconds left.

Gibson then restored the lead only for Warren to produce yet another three-pointer to put the 36ers up by one, before Worthington clinched it with six seconds to play.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, broadbeach-4218, qld, australia

First posted March 17, 2012 23:10:45

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Blaze enter finals with Breakers win

Updated March 25, 2012 21:48:09

Gold Coast Blaze hammered an undermanned New Zealand Breakers 94-71 in the final regular season match of the season on Sunday night.

With the minor premiership already wrapped up, Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis rested strike weapons Cedric Jackson, Gary Wilkinson, Daryl Corletto and CJ Bruton ahead of the play-offs.

In their place development players Josh Bloxham, Dion Prewster and Morgan Natanahira were called into the side.

Blaze coach Joey Wright ran his full roster to get some form ahead of the play-offs after recent losses to New Zealand and Townsville, and they punished the Breakers with a staggering 12 three-point buckets.

Guard Chris Goulding led the shooting spree with four straight triples in the first quarter on his way to 20 points, while Mark Worthington (13 points) and Adris Deleon (14) also reached double figures.

Tom Abercrombie (15) and Alex Pledger (12) toiled for the visitors, but with the depth of talent rested for the match the Breakers could never truly threaten.

But Leon Henry (11 points, nine rebounds) and Bloxham (10 points, two assists) showed glimpses of the club's future.

The game opened as a three-point shootout with Goulding - promoted to the starting line-up - burying three-consecutive long bombs on his way to 14 points for the quarter.

Worthington added 12 including two triples to hand the Blaze a 31-23 advantage at the first break.

Deleon caught fire in the second term, peeling off 10 quickfire points to set up a commanding 55-34 half-time lead.

The young Breakers showed some pluck in the third quarter as the Blaze took the foot off the pedal, winning the term 22-15, before rallying in the final quarter with a 9-0 run to seal the win.

Gold Coast (third) travels to Perth (second) for its first play-off match on Sunday while New Zealand (first) hosts Townsville (fourth) in Auckland on Friday.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, broadbeach-4218, qld, australia

First posted March 25, 2012 21:48:09

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Wildcats go one-up in Blaze series

Updated April 01, 2012 21:39:53

Gold Coast stars Adris DeLeon and Anthony Petrie both had big nights but it was not enough to get past the Wildcats as the Blaze went down 85-70 in Perth on Sunday evening.

The home side won the first three quarters and came into the final period with a 17-point advantage which proved far too great for the Blaze to overcome.

DeLeon's 23 points came on an inefficient 8-of-19 shooting whilst Petrie (8-of-17) was little better as league MVP Kevin Lisch poured in 20 of his own on just eight field goal attempts to go along with seven assists.

Lisch had scoring support from team-mates Jesse Wagstaff (16 points, five rebounds, four assists) and Luke Nevill (14, six rebounds).

Gold Coast struggled from long range, making just 7-of-26 from three-point range, and was outscored in the paint as the Wildcats bigs went to work down low.

The Blaze were also left hurting by the Perth defence, giving up eight points from 14 turnovers.

The series now shifts back to the south-east Queensland tourist strip where Gold Coast will look to level up the series on Saturday night.

Tags: sport, basketball, perth-6000, wa, surfers-paradise-4217, australia

First posted April 01, 2012 20:27:15

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Worthington leads as Blaze down Taipans

Updated January 29, 2012 22:41:47

The Gold Coast Blaze recorded a dominant 76-49 home win over the Cairns Taipans on Sunday night.

The Blaze produced their most lethal display to date to leapfrog Cairns into fourth spot.

In stark contrast, the Taipans were miserable as they crashed to the lowest score of any team so far this season.

"We should be pretty embarrassed by that. We were disgraceful," shell-shocked Taipans coach Aaron Fearne said.

It was a win built on defence as the Blaze shut down every Taipans option, dominated the paint (30-22), the rebounds (42-27) and ultimately the scoreboard.

Boomer Mark Worthington was the main destroyer with a game-high 17 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block, while international team-mate Adam Gibson contributed 10 points, six boards, four assists and three steals.

Only Alex Loughton (12) could trouble the scoreboard for Cairns.

"Cairns are one of the teams that run their offence better than any other team," Blaze coach Joey Wright said.

"If you can push these guys out of their offence, you've done a good job."

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, qld, southport-4215, australia, cairns-4870

First posted January 29, 2012 22:41:47

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Breakers maintain intensity to beat Blaze

Updated March 15, 2012 23:13:40

New Zealand kept its foot on the gas despite having already wrapped up the NBL minor premiership to cruise to a 109-93 win over playoff hopeful Gold Coast on Thursday night.

In their last regular-season match in Auckland, the defending champions had too much offensive efficiency to go three wins ahead of second-placed Perth.

The result in front of another sellout crowd gave the Breakers a 13-1 home record and also took them to 3-0 in their season series against the Blaze, against whom they have passed 100 points each time.

The two sides are due to meet again in Queensland to close out the round-robin schedule on March 25.

The Blaze, having been on a great run over the second half of the season, have now lost two in a row and are mired in a three-way battle with Townsville and Cairns for two playoff spots.

American import Cedric Jackson was again influential for the Breakers, controlling the play as he produced 12 assists and three steals to go with his nine points.

Top scorer was Tom Abercrombie with 24, while Gary Wilkinson got 20 and Daryl Corletto contributed 18.

The Blaze has six scorers in double figures, led by Anthony Petrie (18) and Adam Gibson (14), but they could not match the Breakers' 58 per cent accuracy from the field.

The home side were in front from virtually the get-go, making light of a high early foul count and being dominated on the boards in the opening quarter.

Their better shooting was in evidence from the start, especially from long range.

CJ Bruton, Leon Henry and Corletto, twice in quick succession, found the mark from beyond the arc as the home side edged into a 23-18 lead at quarter time.

Bruton and Corletto both ended the match with four from six from three-point range.

The Breakers kicked away in the second quarter as their offence moved up a gear.

Up 58-46 at the main break, they did not ease off over the remainder of the contest, with a highlight being Corletto's buzzer-beating running three-pointer to extend the lead to 22 at end of the third quarter.

The Blaze are next away to Adelaide on Sunday, while the Breakers are in action in Townsville on March 23.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, new-zealand, broadbeach-4218, qld, australia

First posted March 15, 2012 23:13:40

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Blaze thump Taipans

Updated March 04, 2012 11:37:18

Gold Coast blew Cairns off its own court with a deadly shooting display to post a 94-77 NBL win at the Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday night.

The Blaze shot 58 per cent from beyond the arc and barely missed when given an open look to keep the Taipans locked in a battle with Townsville for a spot in the top four.

Adris Deleon hit 23 points to lead the way for the Blaze while Jamar Wilson also notched 23 points for Cairns.

The Taipans' usual stingy defence was not on show in the first half, summed up when Jason Cadee scored another Blaze transition basket to give the visitors a 47-45 half-time advantage.

Cairns started fast and earned a four-point lead, but lost its way when Wilson headed to the bench.

Coming off the bench Chris Goulding exploded when given the nod by coach Joey Wright and finished the first quarter with a steal and a slam to give the Blaze a 10-point lead.

Unlike the Blaze, who were at one stage shooting 80 per cent from long range, the Taipans were struggling to find their range although Aaron Grabau hit a triple to give them an early 39-38 lead.

Deleon sat out most of the third quarter after running into foul trouble but his team-mates stepped up and the Blaze took another big step towards the play-offs.

AAP

Tags: sport, basketball, cairns-4870, qld, australia, southport-4215

First posted March 04, 2012 00:12:04

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Blaze crush hapless Hawks

Updated February 04, 2012 23:20:02

Mark Worthington led the Blaze to a 91-50 annihilation of Wollongong Hawks in Saturday night's spiteful NBL encounter on the Gold Coast.

The Boomer was bruising in defence and lethal in attack, finishing with 25 points, five rebounds and two steals with strong support from Adris Deleon and Adam Gibson (both 13 points).

Only recruit Ayinde Ubaka (12 points) managed double figures for Wollongong as the visitors struggled to find a way through the jamming Gold Coast defence.

Worthington found himself receiving verbal and physical attention from the Hawks, who became frustrated by the physicality and lop-sided scoreline.

Veteran Hawks coach Gordie McLeod received a rare technical foul for questioning referee Scott Beker, and said after the game the Blaze had "stepped it up a lot of notches" since their last meeting.

"That was like going through a tsunami," a stunned McLeod said.

"They manhandled us. There was no way we were going to be able to run and execute the way they were defending."

Worthington declared the Blaze were far from the finished product yet.

"The last two weeks have just been a glimpse at what we do (but) we still have our breakdowns and we're not happy about it," he said.

"If we were peaking right now then I would be worried. We've got the top two in our sights, they're the benchmark."

The Blaze ambushed the Hawks early with its rugged defence, knocking the visitors out of their offensive rhythm and leaping to a 17-7 lead.

The injection of Ubaka made some headway against the Gold Coast defence, the guard scoring eight points including a late triple to keep the Hawks within range, 26-17 down after 10 minutes.

Deleon found his range early in the second term, his two long-range jumpshots pushing the lead out to 13 before the technical foul on McLeod increased the advantage to 17.

Wollongong launched a mini fight-back with three consecutive baskets late in the term, but it was unable to build any pressure against the impregnable Gold Coast defence, going to the main break trailing 47-29.

The dam wall cracked wide open in the third quarter as the Gold Coast ran roughshod over the visitors to record its fourth consecutive win.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, broadbeach-4218, qld, wollongong-2500, nsw, australia

First posted February 04, 2012 22:54:51

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Deleon steers Blaze past Hawks

Updated February 24, 2012 22:58:49

A gritty fourth quarter has sealed Gold Coast a much-needed 94-86 NBL win over the Hawks in Wollongong on Friday night.

Adris Deleon scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth to help guide the Blaze home and keep them firmly in the playoff picture, while Ayinde Ubaka produced a team-high 24 points for the Hawks.

The Hawks had few answers for Gold Coast's front-court combination of Mark Worthington (26 points) and Anthony Petrie (19 points), who accounted for 19 of their team's 30-point second quarter that created a handy 51-43 half-time buffer.

Petrie carried the early offensive load, scoring the Blaze's first nine points as his duel with former team-mate Glen Saville produced the first 11 points of the game.

Worthington scored the Gold Coast's next six points, but a Mat Campbell triple and four late points from Rhys Martin saw the Hawks poke their heads in front 22-21 at quarter-time.

After eight lead changes early in the second stanza, a pair of buckets by Petrie helped spark a 16-2 run for the Blaze, Worthington capping the surge with consecutive three-pointers to give the visitors a healthy eight-point lead at the main break.

Courtesy of five unanswered points from Adam Gibson, the Blaze led by as much as 12 in the third, but threes by Campbell and Oscar Forman helped the Hawks chip away at the deficit.

When Hawks centre Larry Davidson scored four late points and Deleon gifted the home team a pair of free throws on a technical foul, Gold Coast's lead had been reduced to 67-65.

Ubaka gave the Hawks their first lead since the second quarter at 73-72 with a pull-up three, setting up a thrilling final five minutes but Deleon delivered victory for Gold Coast.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, wollongong-2500

First posted February 24, 2012 22:29:36

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Blaze too strong for Kings

Updated February 10, 2012 23:32:05

Adam Gibson awoke Gold Coast Blaze from a first-half slumber to steamroll the Kings 84-72 in their NBL game in Sydney.

The Blaze were in foul trouble and trailed by six points at half-time before Gibson (17 points, nine assists) exploded with 15 points and three assists in the third quarter.

Mark Worthington (12 points, seven rebounds) sat out most of the second quarter due to foul trouble, but returned in the second half to wreak havoc, draining three-pointers at one end and blocking Kings shots at the other.

Blaze guard Adris Deleon had a game-high 29 points, his outside shooting and control of the offence a struggle for the Kings to contain.

When Deleon and Worthington again hit from three-point range the Blaze led by 14 with just under two minutes left and the contest was over.

Sydney's Jerai Grant, chief tormentor the last time these two sides met, had a tough night, while star centre Julian Khazzouh's influence was fleeting.

Anatoly Bose (21 points) tried in vain to bring the home side back into contention, while Khazzouh (16 points, nine rebounds) and Ben Madgen (14 points, four rebounds, four assists) provided the best support.

Meanwhile, the Taipans defeated Perth Wildcats 76-67 at Cairns Convention Centre.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, sydney-2000, carrara-4211

First posted February 10, 2012 23:32:05

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