Neers pipped on post in an overtime thriller
BASKETBALL: Another week, another heartbreak.
The Toowoomba Mountaineers women went agonisingly close to ending their 15-game losing streak.
In front of a small but vocal crowd at Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre, the Mountaineers held a two-point lead in the final minute of play, before South West Metro forward Mia Lloyd made a lay-up with 42 seconds remaining to send the match into overtime.
As the additional period started, the experience of the Pirates came to the fore, as they continued to force errors from the home side, scoring 15 overtime points to come out 95-88 winners.
It marked the third successive week the Mountaineers have held a fourth-quarter lead, only to find themselves on the wrong side of the ledger.
“It’s tough,” forward Demi Skinner said.
“We tried our best and did what we could but unfortunately we didn’t come out with the win.
“Coming off a loss on the Saturday night, we played hard. The travelling was tough, but we tried our hearts out.
“We really wanted that win but we couldn’t get it.”
The Mountaineers had to quickly bounce back from a road loss to the Gold Coast Rollers the night prior, and Skinner said the fatigue factor came into play.
“Throughout the game you’re waiting for that second wind to come in,” she said.
“Then you think the game is almost over and then it’s not, you’ve got an extra five minutes.
“Mentally you don’t even think about it, you just want to push on and get the win, but afterwards you definitely feel it (physically).”
Anita Brown went close to finishing with a triple-double, dropping 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, while Skinner (22 points, seven rebounds, three steals) and Kristina King (27 points, 10 rebounds) contributed strongly.
MEN FADE OUT TO SOUTH WEST METRO
The signs were promising for the Mountaineers men early against South West Metro as they looked to pick up their second win of the QBL season.
On the back-up from a heavy loss to the Gold Coast Rollers the night prior and again without the services of Daniel Sims and Kresto Wal, as well as coach Danny Breen, with guard Cam Weber taking on captain-coach duties.
Despite trailing by as much as nine points in the opening term, a buzzer-beater from Ranko Puseljic kept them within arm’s reach.
The hot shooting of Puseljic from beyond the arc continued in the second quarter, as a further two long bombs gave the Mountaineers the lead.
However the Pirates would go on to close out the quarter with an 8-1 run, giving them a 12-point lead at half-time.
South West Metro continued to pull away in the second half, blowing the lead out to as much as 24, before the Mountaineers pulled it back to go down 106-90.
The Mountaineers will remain at home for their final game of the season against Southern Districts on Friday night.