Where Toowoomba Mountaineers men’s and women’s QSL sides need to improve ahead of run home

As the Toowoomba Mountaineers prepare for a bye round, we take a look at what has and hasn’t worked for the men’s and women’s sides ahead of a bumper final three weeks of the competition. See what the key focus for both sides will be here.

Toowoomba Mountaineers coach Sean Connelly during a time-out against Northside Wizards. Picture: Kevin Farmer

With the Toowoomba Mountaineers braced for their bye round this week before heading into the final three weeks of the QSL season, we take a look at how the season has gone so far for the men’s and women’s sides as well as their run home.

Men

For the men’s side, it has been a horror run over the last month where they have picked up just the one win in their last eight games.

It has been a stark contrast to their performances in the last two years where they made back-to-back semi finals and even won their first two games this season.

There is no doubt it has been a disrupted season for Toowoomba with injuries and player availability taking its toll but with just three wins from 10 games, the season could not have differed further from the pre-season expectations.

The moment Toowoomba’s fortunes changed can be pinpointed to one quarter which dramatically changed the trajectory of the season.

When the Mountaineers took on South West Metro at home in round 5, they were on the second game of a double-header and were on a three-game slide headed into the contest with a 2-3 record.

Toowoomba held the ascendancy for the majority of that clash but collapsed in the final quarter to suffer a dramatic last second 76-78 defeat.

If the Mountaineers had held on, they would have found themselves right in the mix with a 3-3 record after the first five weeks of action.

Adam Gehrig in action for the Toowoomba Mountaineers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Instead, they were 2-4 and with eight games left in the season at that stage, every clash became vital.

Since then, they have won just one of their last four games and are likely out of finals contention barring a miracle.

Despite their poor record, the Mountaineers have actually had one of the stronger offences in the competition as they average more than 75 points per game.

It is the defensive end which has hurt the Mountaineers the most as they have conceded more than 80 points per game, with only Northside and Moreton Bay conceding more points per game.

While it has been a disappointing season for Sean Connelly’s side, there have still been some shining lights this season with Adam Gehrig still a perennial threat, while new import Jordyn Perez has also impressed as the lead playmaker.

Gehrig has been one of the leading scorers in the division with more than 16 points per game, while Perez is second for assists per game with 4.67.

Looking at the run home for the Mountaineers, they return to Clive Berghofer Arena on June 16 to take on the second-placed Moreton Bay Suns, before facing USC Ripcity, Southern Districts Spartans and Brisbane Capitals to end the season.

Toowoomba Mountaineers coach Matt Cox during a time-out against Northside Wizards. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Women

While the Mountaineers men’s side have struggled to turn competitive games into wins, the women’s Mountaineers have been more successful and are in a strong position to fight for finals.

Matt Cox’s side are fourth on the ladder after 10 games with a 5-5 record.

After a slow start to the campaign, the Neers have shown glimpses of why they have been a team on the up over the last three seasons.

One of the main areas of focus for Toowoomba in the final stretch of the season will no doubt be their finishing around the rim.

While they have not shot the lights out as much from beyond the arc this season as previous years, it has not been as costly as some of their easy misses around the rim.

The offensive output will be key for Toowoomba if they are to match the soaring Brisbane Capitals who have won all 10 games they have played this season.

Brisbane has averaged 76.5 points per game and conceded just 58.7 points per game, while the Mountaineers have averaged 66.6 points for and 68.6 points against per game.

While the 68.6 points against per game is not ideal, they have proven that at their best, they are elite defensively.

Mia Stower for the Toowoomba Mountaineers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

This was most evident in the round 7 double-header, where they held their opponents to just 45 field goals from 161 attempts at 27.95 per cent.

While their relentless defence at its peak has been impressive, another highlight from the season has been the dynamic duo of crafty import guard Paula Ortiz Caballero and centre Mia Stower.

The duo have led the way for the Mountaineers on offence, with Stower averaging 18.57 points and 13.86 rebounds per game, while Ortiz Caballero has averaged 13 points per game and has the highest three-point percentage for any player with 10 or more threes for the season (40 per cent).

If the pair can continue to compliment each other’s game on offence then the Mountaineers could be in with a shot when they take on the powerhouse sides like Brisbane.

With just one win separating USC in second place and South West Metro in sixth, every game will be vital for Toowoomba in their final three weeks of the season.