Neers climbing higher
Rebuilding side earns redemption
BASKETBALL: “It will be over my dead body for us to pull out - that’s how strongly I feel.
“We have worked too hard for 50 years for us just to pull out now.”
Those words were expressed by Mountaineers chairman John Gouldson last August, when the side was on the brink of folding from the QBL.
His involvement at the time had stretched through 47 of the club’s 50 years, and his passion shone through during their time of need.
Fast forward eight months, and both men’s and women’s sides are gearing up for the first round of fixtures this Friday, as the revamped sides look to put it together on the floor after one of the longest off-seasons in the club’s history.
The road hasn’t been an easy one, but a number of decisions for the betterment of basketball in Toowoomba, has resulted in a new outlook for the season ahead.
One pivotal change has been the coaching structure, and Gouldson said it has the sides on the right path to future success.
“We have a separate company, and their focus is on the Mountaineers. It’s not entirely divorced from club basketball, but acting as a brand at the top of the pathway for players,” Gouldson said.
“We’ve done our level-best to change the culture of the Mountaineers.
“Right now, we’ve got in place the possibility of individuals basketball skill development, team training and playing in a first class facility, with a group of coaches headed by Danny (Morseu) and Ezy (Parsons). “We’ve never had that before. There is a better culture in terms of team training. We’re trying to get the concept of individual work and funding it, so the players are committing to that.”
Having a thriving junior basketball program is another focus of the revitalised Mountaineers, through the community efforts of players and officials.
“What we’re focused on as a board is more than playing the game, we want the positive choice concept to come through our culture,” he said.
“Every Mountaineer adopts a school and that program is working on creating a new culture in our youth.
“It has been building gradually, and the success of it is illustrated in the performance of our junior Mountaineers.
“They’re getting teams in all age groups, The secondary school Friday night competition had over 1000 kids playing,”
After a tough season in 2017, the Mountaineers haven’t set lofty ambitions to immediately win a championship, but Gouldson said the club is committed to their slogan.
“Our slogan is ‘climbing higher’ and looks at the team behind the team as well. We can all climb a bit higher.”