Brassard claims unique title double
JCU Townsville Fire coach Claudia Brassard has added a QBL men’s title to her growing resume which starts this week’s Winter Update.
Having steered the Fire to the 2017/18 WNBL championship, Brassard, who was a title winning assistant in the WNBL in 2014/15 and 2015/16, has claimed a unique double.
Congratulations to Claudia Brassard & the Townsville Heat on securing the 2018 QBL title! What a performance to go back-to-back.#FireUpTownsville #TitleTown #HeatWave pic.twitter.com/mgDcc2luvh
— Townsville Fire (@TownsvilleFire) August 25, 2018
The Canadian Olympian joined the Townsville Heat’s coaching staff midway through the 2018 campaign after Rod Anderson’s assistant coach accepted an inter-state job.
Proving she has the midas touch, Brassard joined the Heat for the back half of the season and helped them go back-to-back as they swept Cairns in Townsville.
There would be no fairytale for the Townsville Flames, however, as Brisbane secured back-to-back championships on the road.
The Spartans drew first blood on Friday night as they clinched a 76-63 victory.
Opals forward Darcee Garbin top-scored for the Flames with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Fire teammates Stella Beck (14 points and seven rebounds) and Micaela Cocks (12 points and five rebounds) were the best of the rest.
Facing a do-or-die game two, the Flames put up a better showing but Brisbane still prevailed 90-78.
Garbin top-scored again with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Beck (16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists) and Cocks (19 points and two rebounds) were both active.
The Fire trio – along with development player Alex Fowler – will enjoy a brief rest before pre-season officially commences early next month.