Neers come to the four at state titles
BASKETBALL: The dust has settled and the Toowoomba Mountaineers are left to reflect on an unforgettable state championships run.
The U16s boys came away with a fourth-placed finish in division one, a result that has left them excited about the future.
Coach Jacob Zupp said he couldn’t have come away prouder from the week, as his team continually defied the odds.
“Overall the boys did an amazing job and performed really well,” Zupp said.
“There were a few key contributors, but overall the team did well.
“I’m very proud of this group. They put a lot of hard work in and continued to build over the course of the season.
“I knew this result was possible. It was definitely a longshot, but it was possible and the boys had it in them.”
Their campaign started with a strong run through the pool stages, winning four of their five games to book their spot in the semi finals.
Coming up against a strong Southern Districts outfit, the Mountaineers weren’t able to bridge the gap, falling 81-71.
They fought doggedly in the race for the bronze medal against Cairns, with scores tied at 66 with less than four minutes to play.
The Marlins finished hard however, taking an 83-71 win.
Zupp applauded the way the team was able to put themselves into the contest, pushing their opposition right to the end.
“There were a lot of determined efforts down the stretch,” he said.
“Some guys had to play big minutes and they were really determined.
“There was some great teamwork and a good culture within the group. Some didn’t get big minutes, but everyone supported each other and sacrificed for the team.”
Zupp said this performance showed they had what it took to mix it with the big guns in their age group, and said it would form a solid foundation for future success with the group.
“I think it’s just an experience at this higher level that they will take with them,” he said.
“Playing at this level is really valuable to helping them get that experience in big pressure moments.
“They can take a lot out of that, especially moving into the U18s.”
The U16s girls had a tough time throughout the pool stages of their campaign, but were able to finish on a strong note with a 68-35 defeat of the Cairns Corals.