Mountaineers eager to maintain QBL ascent
BASKETBALL: The nightmares of a haunting 2017 season are in the past, but the Toowoomba Mountaineers know their job isn’t done at the halfway point of the QBL season.
Toowoomba sits in ninth with four wins and five losses after winning just one game last year, however coach Danny Morseu said the team had their eyes set on higher goals.
“It’s been a great learning experience to coach this team. They are a different group of guys all together,” Morseu said.
“They all have strengths and
‘‘ IT’S BEEN A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO COACH THIS TEAM. DANNY MORSEU
weaknesses, and we’re getting players to play to their strengths.
“When it’s a close game and we’re down, I know they have the ability to come from behind and clinch the game, which is great for me as a coach and for the playing group on the floor.
“This group is very confident they can make the top four. They’ve been playing very well.
“It took a few games to make some adjustments in terms of playing against other teams, but it’s a matter of us focusing on our game and sticking to our game plan.”
Tonight the side will come against USC Rip City with a spot in the top-eight on the line.
The QBL’s leading scorer Damon Bozeman (34.75 ppg) and leading offensive rebounder Harold Ridgeway (5.75 pg) will again be crucial to the chances of the ‘Neers, however coach Danny Morseu is looking for a big output from his starting bigs.
“I’d like to see Josh Derksen and Mayo (Mayek) step up to the mark and stamp their authority. I think those two will lift for the game,” Morseu said.
“I think Josh is ready for another big one. He will be able to match up against their bigs inside the paint and I expect a good job on defence in the big man department.”
Morseu knows his team has to be ready for the challenge of the second-placed Rip City, who have won all eight games since dropping their opener to the Phoenix.
“They’re sitting in second on the ladder and playing consistent basketball,” he said.
“As a group they are obviously playing very well. At the end of the day we have to play our game, execute our offence and stick to our defensive philosophy.
“For us to win this game we need to shoot well from the floor and play some tough defence. We match up well with their big men, and they’ll find it tough to match up on Damon, who has been playing so consistently.” The Mountaineers will be without Syd Hume and Charlie Gibb through injury.
In the women’s fixture, Toowoomba has the opportunity to pick up it’s first win of the year when they host seventhplaced USC Rip City.
They will need to contain Leah Scott, who is averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds through nine games.