Brevard Flame Ready To Tip Off Third Season
By Ed Pierce // May 19, 2012
Home Games At MCC
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – This could be a big year for the Brevard Flame and the party starts Sunday in Melbourne.
The Flame enter a third season of competition in the U.S. Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League with optimism and looking to make a statement after a strong finish a year ago.
“I am expecting the Sun Coast Region to be very competitive with Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa playing hard to win every game,” said Brevard Flame coach Reuben Williams. “Overall I see the league as being very competitive based on my observation of other teams throughout the league at nationals last year.”
The Flame tip-off the new season with a home game against the Fort Lauderdale Lions at 4 p.m. Sunday at Melbourne Central Catholic High School.
Experience
Key returning players could give the Flame much-needed experience and firepower.
Last season’s top scorer, former Melbourne Central Catholic and Florida Tech point guard Lynisha Nelson, who led Brevard with 14.3 points per game last season returns along with former Florida Tech standout Roselyn Burnett, the team’ top rebounder in 2011, averaging 10.7 boards per contest and 13.4 points per game.
“The goal this year is to have more wins that losses, compete for the regional title and head to the nationals with a competitive spirit,” Williams said. “The league is planning to have an All-Star game this year and our goal would be to have a least two players on the team representing the Brevard Flame. The overall goal is to compete at the highest level possible and let the chips fall as they may.”
Besides Nelson and Burnett, the Flame’s starting lineup against season opening opponent Fort Lauderdale includes guard Amanda Deveaux (Florida Tech and Satellite High School), guard/forward Abena Bosia (University of West Florida, and center Roberta (Bobbie) Scott (Coe College).
“We will have a steady rotation of players during the course of the game,” Williams said. “Down the stretch, the productive players for the night will finish the game.”
Team Depth
The Flame’s bench is strong and talented as well, featuring a former state champion in Laquita Curry (Astronaut High School), guard Latoya Anderson (Indian River State College) and guard Quortaysha Millege (Southeastern Illinois College).
“Depth on the roster is going to be a very strong point for us this year. We have good shooters and our post play will be a plus,” Williams said. “Weaknesses that we will have to correct are stamina, turnovers, and mental errors. These are things that we will evaluate each game starting with game one.”
He pointed out that after a 2-8 record in 2011, the Flame are hungry to turn things around and join the eite leaders of the WBCBL
“With the roster we have this year, it is very realistic that we can achieve our goals,” Williams said.
The Women’s Blue-Chip Basketball League is a semi-professional league for women basketball players with college basketball experience.
Its mission is to prepare prospective professional players for higher-level play with the goal of providing talent for the Womens National Basketball Association, the National Womens Basketball League and numerous professional teams in Europe.
Tickets for the Flame’s matchup against Fort Lauderdale are $5 and available at the door.
For more information about the Brevard Flame, visit http://ballcharts.com/wbcbl_brf
