Blanchfield set to lead back-to-back titles

Feature image via: Judd Green

The last time a professional basketball team from the Gold Coast went back-to-back was from 1987 to 1988, then known as the Cougars, the now Rollers have a chance to recreate history this weekend. 

The NBL1 North MVP Jason Cadee and Todd Blanchfield will face the Ipswich Force, featuring the likes of Nathan Sobey, Jaylin and Kyrin Galloway in a three-game series starting on Friday. 

Blanchfield joined the Rollers as a replacement for Tanner Krebs, the super sub has been an x-factor for the championship team. For the season, he averaged 24.3 points and 11.8 rebounds with two 40-point games. 

The NBL veteran said that the Rollers’ attention to detail is what makes them a contender. 

“It has been great to be part of this group, everyone is determined and putting in so much effort and getting around each other,” Blanchfield told Code Sports.

“I wasn’t a part of it last year, so the chance to be part of a championship this season, in any sport really is something that won’t be taken for granted.”

Blanchfield explained that his opponents, while eye-catching, cannot be the Rollers’ only focus. Ipswich is stacked with talent outside of the key-three NBL players. Deng Deng put up a game-high 28 points with 11 rebounds to knock Logan out of the Finals and their captain Jason Ralph leads the team in assists with 5.1 per game. 

The reigning NBL1 North champions will face the Ipswich Force in the three-game Grand Final Series starting on Friday, from 7:30pm AEST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.

Read the full story via Code Sports here.