We name the Toowoomba Mountaineers men’s and women’s teams of the decade so far
We have hit the halfway point in the decade and what better time than now to shine a light on the players who have starred for the Toowoomba Mountaineers in the 2020s. With help from an expert panel, we have named our men’s and women’s teams of the decade so far.
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The Toowoomba Mountaineers men’s and women’s senior QSL sides have boasted impressive success over the last five seasons, with several elite talents lining up for both sides.
With help from Mountaineers senior QSL coaches Matt Cox and Sean Connelly, we have named our dream teams of the 2020s with a starting five and sixth player.
Check out the two dream teams below.
Women
1. Tracey Twidale
A Mountaineers legend, Tracey Twidale is one of the two starting guards in this team and was one of the hardest working players in the QSL.
She is one of the all-time greats of the Mountaineers women’s program and is a reliable shooter who often punished her opponents from beyond the arc.
During her time in Mountaineers colours, Twidale was a go-to leader on the court who could be relied upon to distribute the ball effectively with a low turnover rate.
2. Francis Donders
The former Dutch international and University Basketball League star was a key member of the Mountaineers during their rise to a drought breaking finals appearance in 2023.
Donders featured in 2022 where Toowoomba fell agonisingly close to ending its playoff drought but she returned for the full 2023 season where the Mountaineers women’s side fought their way to the semi-final before being knocked out.
Donders was a triple-double threat who could make an impact on the game in multiple areas and brought much needed leadership on the court to a developing side.
3. Laura Conway
The guard/small forward is a workhorse who has come through the junior ranks to earn a starting spot in the Mountaineers line-up.
She has provided a defensive spark for Toowoomba and is often tasked with guarding the top player on the opposing team.
While her defence is what sets her apart, she is still a danger player in attack who can go on a rapid run on offence to change the course of the game.
4. Lisa Salmi
Salmi is a veteran leader who is a great shooter of the ball and brings a high game IQ.
She is an impressive rebounder and an unselfish teammate who has played various roles for the Mountaineers over the years.
5. Mia Stower
Stower is an absolute weapon at the centre position and is a double-double machine for points and rebounds.
She has an incredible ability to anticipate rebounds and position herself in the ideal position and combined with her offensive output - is one of the ultimate players to build a contending team around.
The Mountaineers captain’s best game this decade was back in 2022 where she scored 21 points, grabbed an astonishing 32 rebounds and made five assists.
6th woman: Kim Wilson
Wilson comes off the bench in this dream team and is a centre who is the ultimate teammate on and off the court.
She is a strong rebounder and facilitator out of the high post and is always finding ways to contribute to the team.
Men
1. Cameron Weber
A Mountaineers icon who was an on court coach for his teammates.
Weber spent more than a decade in the Mountaineers program and was a reliable shooter in clutch moments - which was most evident 10 years ago when he hit a buzzer beater three-pointer to send a quarter final to overtime.
2. Jason Ebneter
Ebneter was an elite defensive guard who could also distribute the ball effectively.
He was a big game player and scored 22 points during the Mountaineers’ heartbreaking one-point loss to USC Ripcity in the 2022 semi-final.
3. JaKobe Hunter
A wing man who could also play as a guard, Hunter was a perennial threat in all aspects of the game
Hunter was a dangerous scorer during his time at the club in 2020 and an elite athlete who now plays at NBL1 level.
During his sint in the Mountaineers uniform, Hunter could often be seen making explosive plays towards the rim through contact and was one of the most entertaining players to pull on the blue jersey this decade.
4. Adam Gehrig
Gehrig has been the heart and soul of the Mountaineers in recent seasons and has plenty of talent to support it.
In 2023, he took home the QSL league MVP award after an exceptional campaign where he averaged 17.07 points, 6.33 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.47 steals per game.
In a difficult 2024 where the Mountaineers failed to make the playoffs, Gehrig remained a pivotal player on both ends and averaged 15.62 points per game.
5. Will Mitchell
A veteran big man with great hands who is a strong rebounder.
Whenever Mitchell steps onto the court, he can be relied upon to do all the dirty work and was credited to bringing a lot to the team’s culture.
The big man is also a key player on the defensive end with his physical presence in the paint and leadership to provide that anchor figure.
6th man: Bailey Nwanevu
There were several possible options to go with for the sixth man, with various players stepping up in various roles over the last five years but we have gone with the versatile Nwanevu.
He can play a variety of roles and is an absolute weapon to bring off the bench with his explosive athleticism and lockdown defending.
Nwanevu is quick in transition, brings rapid pace on the fast break while his defensive work is second to none as he can guard anyone on the floor.
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