QBL Men’s Previews - Toowoomba Mountaineers
2015 Season W/L: 11-6 (2014 Season 1-15) Made Semi Finals (Lost to Mackay) Coaching Staff Head Coach: Anthony Corcoran (2nd Year) Roster Transactions In: Chris Whitehead, Aaron Pantano, Syd Hume, Joe McConnell Out: Jeremy Kendle, Stephen Kluck, Don Stephens, Aaron Howard, Glenn Reimann, Anthony Dickerson, Paul Aleer Projected Starters: Chris Whitehead, Cameron Weber, Josh Derksen, Erron Maxey, Manylok Malek Key Bench: Aron Pantano, Jason Ebtener, Charles Dickerson, Syd Hume
Key Gains
Chris Whitehead: Another Bellarmine product that is entering the QBL, folowing the likes of Jeremy Kendle and Braydon Hobbs. Whitehead averaged 15.0 points (57.8% from the field), 5.3 assists and 3.2 rebound in 30.5 minutes during his senior season at Belllarmine where the team ended up at the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2015 and spend time in North Cyprus before heading to Toowoomba. While his diminutive at 5’9”, he has that speed and finishing touch to be virtual unstoppable driving into the key. Key Losses Jeremy Kendle: The heart, soul and brains of the 2015 Toowoomba Mountaineers. Made an immediate impact on both ends of the court and alongside Maxey carried the team to the semi-finals. Too good of a player to stay in QBL, thoroughly deserves the Bendigo gig. Stephen Kluck: Kluck announced his retirement last year. While Kluck wasn’t carry the team in offence (7.1 ppg @ 41.4%), his size and defence was much needed. It allows a player like Maxey to play a more comfortable role, while defensively it Kluck post presence allow Corcoran to assign Maxey as a lockdown defender.
Position by Position Analysis
Guard: Though losing the league’s MVP is going to sting, Whitehead should be a great replacement. They are different players so the style of the game might have to change. Cameron Weber has been solid as a shooting guard for the Mountaineers but the addition of journeyman Aron Pantano should give added competitiveness in that position. Both players can shoot so it remains who ends up starting beside Whitehead. Jason Ebtener should see more increased time following the retirement of Glenn Reimann and the relocation of Anthony Dickerson
Forward: Despite all the age concerns, Erron Maxey was huge for the Mountaineers. Josh Derksen played only 2 games in 2015, but if he can commit to Mountaineers for the majority of the season he can be that third option Toowoomba been craving for, and one of my favourites for youth player of the year. Charles Dickerson is coming off a tough season but if he can quickly return he could be a valuable sparkplug. After that there not much in the tank.
Centre: Toowoomba has lost a lot in this department. Kluck, Howard, Stephens and Paul Aleer are all gone and that leaves you with youngster Manylok Malek manning the centre spot. Malek is a lanky 4 ala Ipswich’s James Kuon that will have to play centre, but expect Maxey to spend time here in different scenarios. Syd Hume is a promising youngster out of Victoria and giving the loses upfront he has an opportunity to showcase his skills
What the bigger loss to Toowoomba: Jeremy Kendle or Steven Kluck? I feel the bigger loss here is of Kluck. Don’t get me wrong losing an MVP is a tough ask, but getting Whitehead; there are people who feel he can be as good if not better than Kendle. Sure having a 5’9” guard over a 6’2” guard would require a team to play a different style of game, but you should be able to get similar production. But in Kluck you losing a post presence that can defend and allow Maxey to be a lockdown defender of the opposition top scorer. You lose Kluck, Howard and Stephens at the same time and all of a sudden the cabinet is bare. You don’t know if you will get Derksen for the full season, then you’re stuck with youngsters Malek and Hume that are unproven and a lot different in physique and playing style to Kluck. More importantly it forces Maxey to defend more in the post as oppose to the perimeter, which was an advantage for Toowoomba which isn’t now. What has Toowoomba failed to do during the offseason? Get a quality unrestricted player. What the top teams in the QBL have is that one Aussie who can produce like an import. Look at the top three teams from last year Mackay has Chris Cedar, Brisbane had Dusty Rychart, Gladstone had Mick Cedar. That makes a huge difference to a team that contending to a team that pretending. Toowoomba did a lot of work to rapidly improve and I feel they have missed the opportunity to capitalise on it. Cameron Weber can have some good games but is inconsistent for my liking, you add a player for example like Mitch McCarron or guys llike Auryn McMillan and all of a sudden you gain legitimacy. Now you look at the pool of puss and doesn’t really look like it nowadays. Gold Coast have added a real coach and players, South West adds Brendan Teys as that quality unrestricted player and you start wondering if you are moving forward (grand final) or backwards (missing playoffs)? What gets Toowoomba into the playoffs?
Whitehead is as good as advertised. Maxey continues at last year's level or close to it. Josh Derksen spend the majority of the season and contributes like the talent he is. Charles Dickerson misses a minimal amount of games and gets back into form. Cameron Weber develops into that consistent third option. Pantano replaces some of the veteran experience they lost with the retirement of Glenn Reimann. One out of Malek or Hume develop into a dependable centre that not leak points. What gets Toowoomba out of the playoffs? Chris Whitehead plays like a poor man version of Aaron Anderson. Maxey’s age starts catching up with him. Either or both Josh Derksen and Charles Dickerson spend an extended period on the sidelines. Pantano struggles in his debut season from Toowoomba and Weber continues his inconsistent play. Malek doesn’t improve no other bigs are able to step up to cover for Kluck’s retirement leaving a gaping whole.
