Teams tip-off Big Q play-offs
BASKETBALL: The time for talk is over with the playoffs of the Heathley Big Q League tipping off tonight.
Warwick enters the business end of the season as favourites after going through the competition rounds with a perfect 10-0 record.
Saints, Harristown and USQ all showed glimpses of being championship-worthy on their way to finishing at 6-4, however it was the Saints that went through in second on a superior points differential.
Warwick will host a double header of finals this afternoon from 5pm as the Wildcats and Saints look to earn hosting rights for the grand final, and the Runnin’ Rebels and Dragons battle it out in a win or go home encounter.
WARWICK VS SAINTS (QUALIFYING FINAL)
These two sides will be familiar with each other having faced off over the past two weeks, and their styles of playing match-up well.
The Wildcats got the better of their northern rivals on both occasions, taking out 91-88 and 106-100 victories both on the road and at home respectively.
Toowoomba can be encouraged by the fact it was deep in the contest during both games, and with a bit of luck the ledger could have swung in their favour.
Starting fives
Warwick (likely): James Legan, DJ Cremasco, Kobe Robinson, Josh Cremasco, James Kuon
Saints: Jason Ebneter, Cameron Weber, Joel Seaby, Glenn Reimann, Trevor Grieve
Key match-up
James Legan vs Jason Ebneter/Cameron Weber.
The Saints can not allow the league’s leading scorer to get hot. Legan has averaged 35 in his two games against the Saints, including 46 during their encounter last weekend.
Whether Ebneter or Weber gets the defensive assignment on the star guard, they must get in his face and force Legan to take contested shots if the Saints are to come away with an elusive victory over the Wildcats.
USQ VS HARRISTOWN (ELIMINATION FINAL)
Another match-up of teams that have played out a pair of regular season thrillers.
The two traded wins with Harristown claiming a narrow five-point win back in round, before USQ got their revenge in round nine by just four points.
During their last meeting USQ guard Joe McConnell was unstoppable from beyond the arc, dropping 14 three-pointers on his way to a season-high 47 points. McConnell, currently averaging 10 three-pointers made per game, shapes as the danger man.
Starting fives
USQ: Jack Gallagher, Joe McConnell, Bob Ashford, Manylok Malek, Will Mitchell
Harristown: Joseph Johnson, Josh Derksen, Charles Dickerson, Zach Cooke Key match-up: Manylok Malek vs Josh Derksen Coach Pop Dickerson is on the record as saying he wants Derksen to be more physical inside, and he won’t get a better test tonight. QBL teammate Malek is a force on the inside in the paint and will test the Runnin’ Rebels on the offensive end as well.