Dutch point guard jumps at chance to join Mountaineers

The Toowoomba Mountaineers have tipped off their 2023 Queensland State League season preparation with a key signing. The club’s new signing brings big game experience and leadership.

Francis Donders takes the ball down court during a previous stint with the Toowoomba Mountaineers.

BASKETBALL: Signing players can be a tricky business, but the Toowoomba Mountaineers know exactly what their newest player brings to the court.

Dutch international point guard Francis Donders is making the trip back up the range to join the Mountaineers for the 2023 Queensland State League season.

“I’m honestly really excited to be back,” she said.

“I did come back to the side part way through last season after the point guard got injured, but this year I’ll be playing the full season.

“The community here is really supportive and good to be a part of.

“It is a different feeling here other clubs don’t have the same family feel to them.”

Francis Donders (right) of Toowoomba Mountaineers battles for the ball South-West Metro Pirates with Sidney Parsons of South-West Metro Pirates.

Donders is also grateful for her coach’s (Matt Cox) involvement and support and is acutely aware of the importance in developing the team’s junior players.

“I love it and I’m back, if I didn’t like it here I wouldn’t have come back obviously and a big factor was Matt,” Donders said.

“He has been great with the junior girls in the side and is really involved in their development process which is crucial.”

Donders will be under Cox’s tutelage on the court but they have been rivals off the court this season.

“It’s quite funny actually, he is coaching the U16s girls side here (Mountaineers) and I’m coaching the same side at the Northside Wizards in Brisbane,” she said.

“We (Wizards) are actually playing them this weekend.

“So far we are one win apiece, so we have to win otherwise I won’t hear the end of it all season.”

Donders said that her goals for the year are to make the final four after falling short last year, missing out due to for and against totals.

Donders is currently teaching at Bracken Ridge and has to commute each week for games and training sessions.

She previously played for the Mountaineers before relocating to the Sunshine Coast to further her university studies.