JK SAYS - VOLUME 3
WINTER IS COMING, BUT THINGS ARE HEATING UP
Before getting underway, I want to send a quick shout out to the Logan Thunder & Gold Coast Rollers for last weekend’s game-day hospitality. Guided by great leadership, these are two solid clubs who continue to do things well, both on and off the court.
On Sunday I had the chance to watch a good ol’ fashioned shootout between the Sunshine Coast Phoenix Clippers and the Gold Coast Rollers. Both teams are very much improved on last year and will compete with any of the top sides throughout the competition. Each roster has a good balance of experience and youth, with their styles of play being comparable. Both like to showcase their scoring talent via free-flowing offences, with many guys possessing the capability to GET BUCKETS in a hurry. Quarter one indicated a high-scoring affair, with both sides jumping out of the blocks. Gold Coast nailed their first four triple attempts, while collectively going 5-for- 7 from downtown for the period. The Phoenix also kept the scoreboard ticking over, with new import Eric McAlister proving to be a tough cover based on his size and athleticism.
The match-up most spectators came to watch was in the backcourt, with former Queensland and Australian junior representative teammates Jorden Page and Christian Salecich locking horns. It’s fantastic to see both of these quality players back from the States and competing for their hometown’s in the QBL. Salecich battled hard, but the Clippers defence did a solid job of minimising the sharp-shooter’s easy looks. Page also started out a little slow, but in true ‘Jordy’ fashion, came alive in the third period, rattling off 9-straight points giving his side momentum and the lead.
It was always going to be a challenge for the Goldie with key starters Thalo Green & Dwayne Vale not suiting up. Jackson Parr stood up in their absence however, doing his best to keep the Coast in the contest. The versatile big-man put together a solid inside-outside game of 17-points and 8-rebounds. Rookie Point Guard Charlton Offermans had his best game in a Gold Coast QBL singlet dropping 15-points and 3-assists off the pine. It was the Clippers bench that proved to be the difference in this one though, with guards Josh Walters, Zeke Meehl combining for 33-points on 11/18 shots. Fresh off a plane from the States a day earlier, Nelson Kahler was also an X-factor, finishing with 9-points and 7-rebounds in just 17-minutes.
JK’s ROUND FOUR GAME OF THE WEEK
Rockhampton Rockets (2-2) @ Townsville Heat (4-0)
The Townsville Heat kept their undefeated season rolling with a huge 101-77 win over the Brisbane Capitals last weekend. The result obviously indicates that good things are happening at both ends of the floor in the Furnace.
Rocky split their Round 3 games with a home win against Toowoomba on Friday night, before taking a road loss in Mackay on Sunday afternoon. With a match-up against Cairns this Friday night prior to meeting the Ville on Saturday, it is really shaping up to be a massive weekend in the Rockets 2016 campaign. A pair of losses would severely dent their hopes of hosting home finals, while two wins puts them right back up with the competition frontrunners.
The marquee matchup for me is in the backcourt between Mirko Djeric and Shaun Gleeson. Djeric has had an electric start to the season, leading the Heat offensively by averaging 20-points per game. Gleeson on the other hand has had some struggles, with the high-octane scorer yet to find his usual rhythm. I think whichever of these two players can stretch the floor by converting on some early trifectas, will help put their team in a great position to secure a win.
Road-trips are a great way for teams to come together and this is a perfect opportunity for Rocky to get their new-look squad building some momentum. While the team is without key American Ray Turner, they still possess exceptional talent and always present a danger to the opposition. Many said my Round 2 prediction was a fluke (Logan by 5 in Rocky, yes I called that) so I guess to make myself like legit-LEGIT (almost TOO LEGIT) I’m going to have to get it right all over again. For some reason I can’t go past the Ville, with the Heat celebrating a home victory by nine.
