The Good, The Bad and The Scheibs... ep.6
Week six it was, some have asked why I didn’t write an article for the single game that made up round five. Personally two teams that are underachieving playing out at Ipswich meant I had a week off. Ippy continue to spiral out of control and Brisbane got a much needed win over a cellar dweller.
Week six and the game of the round would have to be last year’s GF rematch between BBI and Mackay. So what do the geniuses at BQ do? They schedule the game for a Sunday, which meant the Meteors had to play 3 games in 40 hours. Wow, first off asking teams to play 3 games in such a short time frame shows this league is not elite, it’s a patchwork conglomeration of 14 teams in 3 pools, with minimising cost the only factor that counts. Pity the governing body weren’t as fiscally prudent when it comes to spending their member’s money. No expense is spared when BQ put on their annual back patting showpiece, scores of administrators in a black tie affair at the Convention Centre
and being hosted all on their members hard earned. Yet their so called “elite” competition has teams forced to play in inhumane conditions. And a GF rematch too, what a poor decision that one was.
Macktown had swept the Sunny Coast and their result against the Rip showed that they did just enough to eke out a win and keep their playoff hopes alive. Fatigue eventually won out at Auchenflower and Brisbane came home in the fourth to wrestle control of the game and keep their hopes of a home final alive. For the home team import Anderson was BBI’s best player and fittingly he hit 2 free throws with under ten seconds remaining that proved to be the game winner. Other curious stats were Brisbane’s Barker gathering 5 fouls and one point in 11 minutes, all-star numbers
for sure. The 6’8 human Marshmallow gathering one whole rebound in 27 plus minutes of play to keep his softest 4 man title intact. Sure Brisbane won the game and their slim hopes of a third GF appearance in four years is still alive mainly because of poor BQ scheduling and not their dominance.
With the loss Macktown title defines is in taters and import Nick Wiggins was made the scape goat and released. If word of an imminent Nick Kay signing are true it will be a futile and knee jerk reaction. Rumour has it that the hierarchy of Mackay felt they needed more size. Not sure I buy into that one as Rasmussen, Diop and Harvey offer up a pretty good dose of QBL size. The problem was the human ego JK, waiting till the last minute to inform the club he was leaving. No disrespect to current coach Furdyk but he was a fill in at best and probably suited more to coaching juniors. The club has the best all Aussie back court in the QBL and adequate size to defend their title. While JK
under achieved by only winning a solitary title, he had depth and plenty of cash to cover up his shortcomings as a coach. Oddly enough Furdyk was not afforded the same and that’s why their season is probably over.
Old Coast with the addition of Boomer Adam Gibson have stamped themselves as the co favourites in the South pool. Their win over my preseason tip SWM will make it a tough task for anyone else except these two to take the pools two playoff spots. Thalo Green continues to impress after a few seasons away from the game. Throw in Christian Salecich teaming up with Gibbo and the Rollers are legit as long as Adam dons the strip they are in with a chance in most games.
What’s going on in Happy Rock? Apparently their American coach Waters has resigned citing “personal” reasons after less than a third of the way through the season, go figure? Despite this the Power did a great job keeping up with the comps only undefeated team in Townsville to narrowly lose on their Far North roadie. However it was a different kettle of fish up in Cairns with an Alex Loughton led Marlins easily accounting for the Gladstone lads. Thou my spies tell me the Gladstone side played hard the entire weekend against the odds, but surely their playoff hopes are dashed now.
Looking forward the South is in for a treat this weekend with a couple of fire cracker matchups on the Friday it’s a fresh Cairns side playing Logan at Cornubia. If the Marlins send their best side it should be a good one. As will the Marlins game the following night against the Pirates at Hibiscus. Saturday night if you can handle the music, announcing and a game presentation that has steadily declined since the departure of the Big man and others, head out to Auchenflower. A desperate Rockhampton taking on what should be an equally desperate BBI. The winner is still alive to win the league’s top spot, the loser will more than likely have to battle to make the finals. The game to avoid is the Sunday battle of the Old Coast taking on the Zombies that will be the Marlins who play the equivalent of Lambs to the slaughter that three games in 40 hours guarantees. Disclaimer: This article was prepared or accomplished by Rob Scheibner in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the Basketball Expressions.
