Big Q heads bush
BASKETBALL: The Heathley Big Q League is set to expand its horizons and spread the love with a pair of regional contests starting tonight.
The Toowoomba Saints have opted to shift their home game against the USQ Dragons to Roma, while the Mountaineers Development and Warwick Wildcats will head over the border to do battle in Woodenbong.
Tonight’s round seven fixture will have particular significance for a pair of Saints.
“I’m originally from Roma and Joel Seaby is as well,” coach Trevor Grieve said.
“I’ve still got some contacts out there at Maranoa Basketball and they’ve got a junior carnival on out there this week so I asked if they’d be interested in having a game out there.
“I talked to Jack (Gallagher) from USQ and he was happy to do it as well. We got the idea from the Woodenbong trip and thought why not.”
Grieve said while there would be a sense of nostalgia attached to the fixture, there was still the task at hand of defeating a formidable Dragons side.
“It’s always fantastic to head home. Back when I was a junior in the 80s basketball was really strong during its heyday,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to go there, and it will be nice to go back where you come from and relive some happy memories.
“We want revenge. They beat us by three points last time.
“They’ve got some really good bigs so we need to execute with our guards. Henry Adler played a really good game for us last week.”
League co-ordinator Jay Clark said taking a game to the small community of Woodenbong was a way of saying thank you for their contribution to basketball on the Downs.
“They have an indigenous community down there that have really supported Warwick basketball,” Clark said.
“They’ve travelled up to play games here and we thought we’d take a game down there so they won’t have to travel as far.”
When asked if there would be future games taken outside of regular venues, Clark said it was in their plans.
“I think it will happen,” he said.
“Danny (Morseu) has been keen to recognise those areas outside Toowoomba and getting the game to the communities.
“It depends how this weekend turns out. It’s been hard work but it’s getting there and it’s been exciting.”