Flames finalise US imports

Rockingham Flames will finalise their roster for the upcoming State Basketball League season with the acquisition of two American imports.

Forward Cooper Land, whose brother Taylor plays for Mandurah, and point guard Steven Bennett are expected to conclude negotiations to join the Flames shortly.

Coach Mark Utley said he was excited about the prospect of seeing the duo in action.

“Taylor is a six-foot-nine, inside-outside player, he comes from a super basketball family,” he said.

“Hopefully he should join us by mid-February, Steven probably won’t get here until about five days before the start of the season.

“I want the imports at both ends of the courts, I want those guys to win their position night in, night out – then it’s up to the other guys to carry the load.

“These two are really exciting, both of them have probably played at similar, if not better, levels overseas.”

Utley was confident Bennett, especially, would make a big impact, despite standing at just 167cm.

“He’s just an outstanding, exciting basketballer,” he said.

“A lot of teams will think ‘why are you signing a five-foot, six-inches point guard?’. He’s superquick, team-orientated and can create for others and score for himself.”

Flames’ gruelling pre-season campaign is approaching its midway point, with fitness a driving force behind the young squad.

The Rockingham side has come under scrutiny in recent years for their lacklustre performances, dating back to 2009. A playoffs appearance has not been anything but a long-shot since 2008.

Utley has set out to change not only the results on the scoreboard, but the perception surrounding the team.

“The Rockingham Flames men’s program of the last four years have been seen as the ‘easy-beats’ of the competition. We want to win back the respect of the league, and it all starts in the pre-season.”

The men have been in training since late November, and with a change of guard in the coaching ranks, there has also been some changes in the playing roster.

Rhett Della has packed his bags and moved to near neighbours Mandurah Magic, although his departure does not phase Utley.

“Rhett is a loss, but we want players who want to play,” he said.

“We have that here at Rockingham, we have youth, and we have leaders. It is a loss, but we survive and move on.”