Stung Taipans refocus
Poor Ballarat showing sparks need to bounce back against Townsville
THE Taipans’ game in Rockhampton tonight is their chance to make up for a lethargic effort in what was meant to be a trendsetting first away game in Ballarat last weekend.
Vice-captain Alex Loughton joked that it would be a chance for the central Queensland city to roll out the red carpet for one of their own in Stephen Weigh.
But the Taipans could do worse than follow Weigh’s lead, the consummate professional known for doing all the little things right to maximise his performance.
It was the little things that
Wilson said it had “always been a dream in the back of his mind” to represent his adopted country while he toiled for three seasons in Cairns.
And following a season in Adelaide and a stint in France he was able to do it, passing his language test and earning a spot on the roster for the European Basketball Championships.
Just as he did against Townsville at the Cairns Convention Centre in 2011, Wilson started with a bang to lead his were off, Loughton said, in the side’s loss to Melbourne United in Ballarat last Saturday night.
Ahead of a non-stop season that will include games on every day of the week except Tuesday, Loughton said it was imperative they got their routine right now.
“We need this to serve as a benchmark in terms of all the professional things that we need to do,” Loughton said.
“No, it wasn’t (acceptable in Ballarat); we sort of rolled into Melbourne and we need to be team on 21 points against a Tony Parker-led France.
An instant hit with fans, he road the wave into the tournament’s round of 16, where they were bundled out by Serbia to exit the race for a spot at the Olympics in Rio next year.
“It was a bit strange to play against someone that has had so much success from this game,” Wilson said of his duel with NBA champion Parker.
“It has been an amazing experience and such a huge accomplishment on it, it needs to be set in stone how we go about our business.”
The Taipans will play Townsville in the first of three games between the northern rivals before the NBL’s round one, the sides due to clash in Cairns on Sunday and again at next week’s NBL Preseason Blitz in Townsville.
Weigh, who learnt his craft in the region, is the returning star in a homecoming not missed on his teammates.
“At the airport the red carpet is rolled out, fire engines are going off ... when Weighsy to share the court with people that you talk about at the round table with your friends.”
Rubbing shoulders with the elite is where Wilson has wanted to be since graduating from the University of Albany as the highest scorer in the school’s history.
Stints in Belgium, Finland, Australia and France followed, culminating in his international debut in the past few months. goes there they put on a big show and we just happen to be part of it, we are just pawns in the game really,” he joked.
But Loughton is aware of the seriousness of the situation too, Weigh back to full health after missing the first two preseason games and going full tilt at a physical training yesterday.
There were plenty of heavy hits, angry glares and shouting as the squad got the best out of each other.
At one point, coach Aaron Fearne stopped the session to
“I feel like I’m becoming the player that I always wanted to be and where I envisioned myself playing like at some point coming out of college,” the point guard said.
“I have proved my worth and am now at the stage where I am surrounded by top-tier basketball players.
“It was something that I had in the back of my mind while in Australia. It has always been a dream for me to represent Finland and I’m excited that the demand Matt Andronicos dunk the ball instead of lay it up, while Mark Worthington showed his competitive streak with a few choice words of his own soon after.
“We’ve had three good, intense trainings in a row,” Loughton said.
“If we are sharp and competitive, that will carry over and we need to keep raising our level somehow and we want to be tougher.” time has come and I finally have an opportunity to do so.”
At 31, he has been through the school of hard knocks and back again, but his undeniable competitive instincts will keep driving him for a while yet.
“I still have a lot of basketball left, I hope. For now, I will take it day by day and enjoy this game for what it’s worth,” Wilson said.