Old legs have plenty of run for retiring Weigh
STEPHEN Weigh’s basketball career is in its final hour but the veteran forward will call time knowing he can still compete against the best when it matters.
The 30-year-old has barely played in the second half of the NBL season due to a debilitating foot injury that factored in his retirement announcement late last month.
But on Friday night, with the Snakes down a big man rotation with centre Nate Jawai out with a sore knee, Weigh was thrust into the contest, logging just over 10 minutes and playing a vital hand in Cairns holding on to victory.
His captain Cameron Gliddon hit the massive three that will be remembered in the win, but Weigh secured a key defensive rebound, and copped a heavy hit from Lucas Walker in the process, following a Bryce Cotton shot and then walked to the other end to seal the game at the charity stripe.
The championship winner with Perth in 2010 missed the first of the two but made the second to secure the upset win.
“There is no doubt it will boost the spirits,” the retiring Weigh said.
“It was a bit of a dead rubber for us but in terms of the season we have had, to come here and get a big win in a hostile environment in the clutch, it will help us push through for the remainder of the season.
“We have got the type of group that battles through anything that is thrown at us.”
Snakes coach Aaron Fearne paid tribute to his retiring vicecaptain after the win.
“I do not even know how Stephen Weigh is even playing with his foot now,” Fearne said.
“He really should not be.
“He wants to and I am happy for him, it is one of his last games.
“He won a championship here for Perth.”
Weigh finished with one point, two rebounds and one assist in the Round 18 victory.
The Snakes win made Perth’s task of finishing in the top two and gaining homecourt advantage in the first week of the finals extremely difficult.