Neers outclassed by stacked Force teams
BASKETBALL: A spirited showing from the Mountaineers wasn’t enough to break down a classy Ipswich outfit in the QSL.
Led by Bullets and Australian Boomers guard Nathan Sobey, the Force fired strongly in the opening quarter to open up a lead that Toowoomba was unable to bridge back, on their way to a 106-73 defeat.
The Force opened up a 10point lead through one term, before tightening things up through the middle stages of the contest.
Trailing by 18 coming into the final term, Ipswich closed out the game in style.
JaKobe Hunter led the way with an efficient 23 points (11-14 FG), six rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
Joseph Johnson (13 pts),
Kresto Wal (11 pts), Malat Makuach (10 pts) and Abraham Yaak (10 pts) also finished with double digits.
The women’s contest saw an improved showing from the Mountaineers, but like their male counterparts, they weren’t able to contain Ipswich’s top-line weapons.
Former WNBL player Amy Lewis fired for the Force, as they claimed an 80-50 victory.
The Mountaineers kept things tight in the opening term, trailing 17-13 at the break, before a dominant stretch put the game beyond doubt.
The Force outscored their rivals 48-20 throughout the second and third quarters, before the Mountaineers won the last quarter.
Jaydan Thomson led the scoring for Toowoomba with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Kaila Gabriel stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and nine steals.
The Mountaineers will have the chance to bounce back on Saturday when taking on the Northside Wizards.
Currently the Wizards have won one game in the men’s division, with the women winning two of their five outings.
Toowoomba Mountaineers 3 moved their way back to a .500 season in the men’s second division with an 87-83 defeat of RedCity.
David Werth had a gamehigh 19 points, with Hayden Maripa dropping 17. Syd Hume and Patrick Roche added 14 apiece.
Mountaineers 2 continue to search for their first win of the division two season, after falling to Moreton Bay 81-71 on the road.
Clinton Bagiri had 18 points in the defeat, with Joseph Arop adding 17.