The Chronicle

Saints edged out by Warwick

- SEAN TEUMA sean.teuma@thechronic­le.com.au

Warwick has stamped it’s authority as favourites in the Heathley Big Q League after a nail-biting 91-88 defeat of Saints.

The Wildcats had the early running and stretched the lead to 48-37 at the half-time break courtesy of relentless rebounding from James Kuon and strong defence from Josh Cremasco.

With the game threatenin­g to get out of hand, the Saints pushed hard in the third to cut it to a two-possession game, closing out the quarter down five on the back of a hot shooting performanc­e from Cameron Weber.

After a hot start saw the Saints take their first lead of the game since the first quarter, Warwick responded and were able to hold a narrow lead for the remainder of the contest.

James Legan produced a number of key baskets in the fourth quarter on his way to 34 points, including a three-pointer to wrestle back the lead and an acrobatic finish to keep the lead at three in the dying minutes.

After the intense back-andforth encounter, Legan was full of praise for his team’s opponents who they will meet again this weekend.

“We knew they were a good side, they’re a QBL (quality) side,” Legan said.

“Take it back five years, Stephen Kluck was a beast. They’ve got Glenn Reimann and Trevor (Grieve). They’re experience­d and they can play.

“Going forward, now that we know what they have at full strength we know what to expect.

“Going into that game we want to work on what we faltered in today and have everything clicking.”

Despite the league’s leading scorer dropping another 30point game, Legan said there was still room for improvemen­t in his own game.

“I’m a perfection­ist, so I want to make everything that I put up,” he said.

“Even if it’s a tough shot, I’ve been taking tough shots my whole life.

“30 points is probably not enough, but it was enough today.”

In yesterday’s other game, USQ ended their regular season with a 101-97 defeat of Harristown.

 ?? Photos: Kevin Farmer ?? TIGHT FINISH: Joel Seaby (sky blue) of Toowoomba Saints looks for a way clear through the defence of the Warwick Wildcats.
Photos: Kevin Farmer TIGHT FINISH: Joel Seaby (sky blue) of Toowoomba Saints looks for a way clear through the defence of the Warwick Wildcats.
 ??  ?? James Kuon tries to find an open option for the Wildcats against the Saints.
James Kuon tries to find an open option for the Wildcats against the Saints.

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