points in 23 minutes. This is a must
win game for the Spartans if they are
to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
We expect Southern Districts to get
over the line in a close one.
Sunshine Coast Phoenix v
Townsville Heat
Sunshine Coast Phoenix and the
Townsville Heat will square off for
both of their second games of the
weekend. Regardless of Friday night’s
result against Cairns, the Phoenix find
themselves in a position where each
match is do or die as they sit just half
a game behind their cross-town rivals
USC for the eighth and final playoff
position. Townsville’s strong month
has now given them some breathing
space in second position on the
ladder and in a commanding position
to host over the first two weeks of
the playoffs. Given Townsville has
knocked off one of the league’s
powerhouse teams in Mackay twice
in a fortnight is almost impossible
to back against them. Townsville by
double figures.
USC Rip City v Cairns Marlins
USC Rip City and the Cairns Marlins
will also square off for both of their
second games of the weekend. Rip
find themselves in an almost identical
position as Phoenix with every game
from here on out being a mini playoff
game. Cairns on the other hand fifth
on the ladder yet could quite easily
drop back to the pack if they are to
suffer defeats to both 8th and 9th on
the ladder this coming weekend. The
Marlins hold a 3-4 record away from
Early Settler stadium for the season
whilst this will be game two of a five-
game home stand for USC as they
look to close out the regular season
with a strong of games at USC Sports
Stadium. In a game which could go
either way we are picking the home
side in a close one.
Toowoomba Mountaineers v
Ipswich Force
The string of losses reaches 7 for the
Mountaineers, this time going down
to the visiting Rockhampton Rockets
by 19 points. Toowoomba had no
answer for Shaun Bruce who dished
out a massive 17 dimes enabling
his teammates to get involved with
ease. Ricardo Martin put in 20 for the
home side, as did Malat Makuash off
the bench in a short fire 21 minutes
of playing time. The Mountaineers
will see this contest against the 12th
placed Force as a realistic opportunity
to end their losing streak. The Force
enter round 12 full of confidence
winning 2 of their past 4 games and
only going down to the undefeated
Capitals by a single-point in between.
What was most pleasing out of
Ipswich’s victory over North Gold
Coast was their ability to spread the
load with Kyle Harvey only putting up
14 points for the game. Coach Chris
Riches will be rapt with all starters
reaching double figures on the
offensive end and in particular Jesse
Ghee who had 24, closely followed
by Mitch Poulain’s 19 points to go
along with his 12 boards (7 offensive).
We expect Ipswich to add to the
Toowoomba losing streak as they
continue their solid form of late. out on top in this 1 on 1 battle will go
a long way to getting their team the
important win. Considering Brisbane
will enter the game the much fresher
of the two teams we are giving them
the slight edge at home.
Brisbane Capitals v Townsville Heat Ipswich will return to Llewellyn
Stadium after a Saturday night trip to
Toowoomba and possibly in search
of their second win of the weekend.
Logan will also be backing up after a
home game against the Gold Coast
Rollers. With Logan sitting at seventh
on the QBL table this is an extremely
important weekend where any minor
slip ups may prove costly to their
playoff hopes. With playoffs all but
out of the picture for Ipswich they
will see this as a great opportunity to
finish the season on a high note and
potentially ruin other teams’ chances.
Both teams should realistically be
happy to split their weekend 1-1
but regardless of Saturday night
results Logan have much more to
play for and this should be enough
motivation for them to get over
the line in a close one at Llewellyn
Stadium.
Despite still being without Magnay
and Volkman, Brisbane have kept
their undefeated season alive with
a 20-point drumming of Sunshine
Coast Phoenix. Jason Cadee
continued his incredible form with
27 points and 9 assists, with Jacob
Wilson adding 20 of his own off the
bench. Anderson and Kopcikas both
knocked down four three-pointers
in the win. In what is the game of the
weekend, the undefeated Capitals
face the second placed Townsville
Heat at Auchenflower Stadium.
Despite entering their third game
of the weekend compared to the
ladder leader’s first, Townsville will be
confident that they have what it takes
to hand Brisbane their first loss of the
season. The Cadee v Wilcher battle
looms as an exciting matchup at the
point guard position. Whoever comes
South West Metro Pirates v North
Gold Coast Seahawks
South West will return home after a
Friday night contest against the third-
placed Rollers on the Gold Coast,
whilst the Seahawks will be backing
up after a home hit out against the
Spartans the previous night. Both
teams enter round 12 with only four
losses to their name and will be
desperately eager to add to that tally.
The Pirates will be hoping to give their
home fans something to cheer for
after dropping their past three games
at Hibiscus Stadium by an average of
18 points. North Gold Coast will enter
this match the more consistent team
of late but we expect South West
Metro to bounce back after a poor
month and find some of their early
season form as they end their 4-game
losing streak.
Ipswich Force v Logan Thunder
13