The Good, The Bad and The Scheibs... ep.9
Week nine and its starting to get interesting. Logan and SWM might just be ready to take the mantle of best team in the south from BBI for the first time in 4 years. Townsville are firmly in the driver’s seat in the North and it would be hard to see them falling from the number one seed and right to host the GF. Rockhampton look set to claim the second North spot by winning 2 on the road without one of their studs too. Ippy are well Ippy and by dropping a pair of South pool games have opened the door for both the Rollers and even the Mountain men to snatch the pools final playoff spot.
First up it was a fired up Macktown who rode into Townsville after a rousing win against a Marlins side boasting their strongest line-up all year. That win just confirmed that the Meteors weren’t ready to call it a season just yet. A win in Townsville and the defending champs were back and making a statement. However this is a confident Heat side that is playing a championship style of basketball. They have embraced team play and defence as the cornerstone to their success. It was no difference in this one either, and a quick look at the stats and there was not a lot in this game. Holding Mackay to only 75 points was
where this one was won. Townsville remain undefeated and in total control of their own destiny.
Brisbane got a slap in the face from the new kids on the block in their own gym. Logan’s win was brutal, complete and comprehensive. It’s not like Logan played the perfect game either, they committed 24 turnovers and BBI had almost 30 more shots than the Thunder. Logan led by nine at the half and by 21 going into the final term. It was Logan’s defence and outstanding three point shooting that set up this victory. Import Baker and Mick Cedar stroked the piss out of it from beyond the arch both making 6 from 8 at a ridiculous 75%. Brisbane on the other hand, shot it like they were pissed, jacked up 44 threes at an insipid
25%. When half your shots are from beyond the arch it shows their “system” has major flaws. Last year this side got in the trenches with defence and just about pinched a title on MacKay’s home court. This year they have D Rychart playing a lone hand inside and then a roster full of guys who shot the long ball, it’s just that they rarely make many. Sure BBI have a return match on Logan’s home court to look forward too, win that one and they could still pinch the number one seed for their pool.
SWM picked up two pool and road wins to anchor themselves on the top of the South pool. Ipswich were coming off three straight wins and showing glimpses of a real team, the force knew that if they could get this one they would be in great shape to at least take the second playoff spot from the south pool. However on this night it was the Pirates dictating the terms and the Force were anything but. Brendan Teys showed the comp why he is a fixture on the Adelaide 36ers roster. Teysie had a night out scoring 39 in only 29 minutes. Import T McGrew had another massive double double with 23 and 16. This guy can go and has been the catalysts for a Pirate run that has seen them take a strangle hold on their pool. SW then got it done up on the mountain to give them a very handy lead and a chance to get the number 2 seed in the whole league. Tbar showed they still have some life left and if they can knock off Ipswich at home this weekend they are right back in with a shot to claim that second playoff spot.
Rocky got a big win in Buderim against the PClips and dropped a season high 121 and pinned a fourth straight loss on the Sun coast side. At the half it was the PClips up 62-60 as the Rockets were playing without starter Gleeson and it looked like a shoot-out was on the cards. It was all Rockhampton after the long break and Auryn McMillan had a night out with 35 points on just 17 shots, Ray Turner had a double double of 25 and 17 import Gregory had 33 and Mitch Philp added 20. These four scored all but 5 of Rocky’s points. The next night the Rockets still without Gleeson managed to squeeze out a hard earned
victory over Bundy on the Bears court. The sweep has put Rockhampton in the prime position to grab that second spot and the home final that goes with it.
I got to ask what’s up with Bundaberg’s Daniel Sims. The guy sits out two games after getting suspended for
punching Tbar import Chris Whitehead. Then in this his return game he gets back to back T’s and ejected early in the 3 rd quarter! This guy makes Donald Trump look like a Rhodes Scholar!
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.
