Rowe’s Flames pumped for first home game of season

As they say, there’s no place like home and the Sydney Flames, who are the WNBL’s youngest team by close to two years, can attest to that.

After four straight road games to start the WNBL23 season, Shane Heal’s side will finally play their first game in Sydney on Sunday.

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“After starting the season with a first round bye and then four games on the road, we are super excited to finally play at home in front of our home crowd,” said Flames forward Kiera Rowe.

The Hoops Capital side will come into the match fresh off Thursday’s seven-point defeat to Southside at the State Basketball Centre.

“Last night’s game shows us how close we are, being able to compete with the top teams,” said Rowe, who is in her second season with Sydney.

“Some things didn’t quite go our way at the end of the game, but there are a lot of positives we can take from it.”

Rowe’s side won’t have time to dwell on their fourth defeat of the season, with the quick turnaround before game two of their Fighting Period Poverty Round double-header against Bendigo.

“Ahead of Sunday’s game we just need to focus on making the small adjustments that help is string four quarters of good basketball together,” 23-year-old Rowe said.

“Some of the keys against Bendigo will be boxing out and securing rebounds, as well as being physical against their bigger players and stopping their transition game.”

That won’t be the only double-header the Flames are involved in, with their clash being the second game on the slate at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, following the Kings and 36ers clash from 2pm.

Fans can grab their tickets to the first of four Hoops Capital double-headers this season now here.