NBL1 South: Tornadoes to play Pioneers as COVID locks down rest of league

The Torns handily dispatching both the Eltham Wildcats and Kilsyth Cobras last weekend, aided by last-minute availability of superstar Keely Froling, whose Olympic qualifying trip to Austria was delayed.

"To come away with two wins - I thought the team did a really outstanding job," Tornadoes coach Sarah Veale said.

"It was a battle from the start ... we got out to an early lead and they [Kilsyth] got it within 10 a couple of times.

"The score didn't reflect how intense the game was, it was a battle and it could've gone either way a number of times.

"To get both of those games and get wins was incredible."

Froling, and fellow Canberra Capital teammate Kelsey Griffin combined for nearly 50 points and 29 rebounds against the Cobras, who featured former Tornado talent Lauren Nicholson.

"We always knew with Kelsey coming in that she'd be able to take some of the pressure off all the scoring Keely's been doing," Veale said.

"Keely was being guarded by Lauren Nicholson all game - that's tough.

"Nico's a great player and a great defender so for us to have Kelsey to support the other girls is really exciting for us."

Neither Froling nor Griffin will suit up for the Tornadoes this weekend against the Pioneers, making for a mostly local squad.

"I think we'll match up really well and it will be good for our local girls to have the opportunity to step up and it'll be a really good challenge for us," Veale said.

The Pioneers have lost their last five games, and will play the Hobart Chargers the night before playing the Torns.

The two Tassie-based games will be the only NBL1 South women's matches for the weekend, with the COVID outbreak in Melbourne complicating the rest of the roster.

The Torns will play the Pioneers at Elphin at 7pm.

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