After more than a year off the court, the Torns are making their return, albeit with a different-looking team.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The side's first match-up will be against intrastate rivals the Hobart Chargers at the Kingborough Sports Centre on Saturday night.
This will be Tornadoes head coach Sarah Veale's first game at the helm after being named to the team in early 2020.
She said Chargers addition and former Opal Maddie Garrick would make for a particularly testing match-up.
"She'll [Garrick] be a bit of a handful for us - she's a quality player so we'll have to talk about how we defend her," Veale said.
"They've got a pretty solid local group even if they have a few injuries at the moment.
"We'll be as ready as we can be."
While many faces remain the same, the 2021 Tornadoes look substantially different to their 2019 iteration.
With limited possibilities for overseas imports due to the pandemic, the team is joined by a number of interstate and Tasmanian talents.
The emphasis on Tassie talents has led to a team driven by its grassroots.
"I think for us, having such a big local group and seeing them progress over the last three or four years, to the point where they can play big minutes and contribute to the team, is getting that local identity back out there," Veale said.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
The inaugural head coach announced former Canberra Capital Keely Froling would be captain.
"I think Keely's leadership skills are outstanding - she was a leader with the Canberra Capitals," Veale said.
"Everything she does, she leads by example, off and on the court.
"She's an incredible role-model for the girls just as a person as well as basketball."
Burnie's Mariah Payne and Launceston's Micah Simpson were named as vice-captains.
"Mariah has had that experience at college for the past four years, she's gone through the whole process that a lot of the younger girls will," Veale said.
"Micah, being a local Launceston girl, is going to be with us a long time - just a quality young lady who I can't speak highly enough of."
The Launceston Tornadoes' first home game will be on April 24 against Ballarat.
Torns staff:
Sarah Veale (head coach), Michael Johnstone, Nathan Lee, Jamie Baldock (assistant coaches), Scott Beeston (physio).