Brendan Teys came up with some big plays at crunch time in the last quarter to secure a vital win over pool rival, the Ipswich Force on the road last night!
The Pirates had their best start of the season holding Ipswich scoreless for the first four minutes and dominating the boards to take a 15 - 0 lead. They closed out the quarter with a 31 to 15 lead. Turnovers hurt the Pirates as the Force started to stop the slide. Mid way through the third quarter the momentum shifted and Ipswich started to peg back a 20 point deficit to a 10 point margin going into the fourth.
The momentum continued into the fourth with James Legan hitting his patented step back threes to drag the Force back into the contest. A James Kuon three tied the game at 80 -80 with five to go and then Legan hit consecutive threes in run that saw the home side with a 5 point buffer with 3:30 to go! Legan showed why he is leading the league in scoring and the type of player who can carry a team with his exceptional shooting.
However from that point forward it was "Teys Time!!!"
Brendan had the added pressure of playing with four fouls after incurring a technical foul. He scored 11 of the last 16 points for the Pirates. It started with a floater and then a "Magic Johnson vs Celtics" type hook shot across the lane. (See below)
Jason Conrad (10 rebs), Tanner McGrew (17 rebs), Jarred Bairstow (7 rebs) and Ryan Vines (6 rebs) were diligent in their box outs when it mattered most. Some holding and pushing fouls on the offensive end by a frustrated Ipswich had them in team fouls early with 7:03 minutes remaining. Teys showed his experience by attacking the rim and getting to the foul line on the next two possessions, icing both sets. An offensive board and stick back from McGrew and another trip to the foul line for a free throw from Cap'n Vines. had the Pirates up 94-88 with 62 second left on the clock. On the next play Legan went hard at the rim and he was met outside the charge circle with a feet first facing and stationary Teys. Jarred Bairstow had the match up on Legan and was getting it done, staying in his space and forcing Legan to miss his two previous shots. His effort and Brendan's help defense drew the charge foul on Legan with 52 seconds left with the Pirates still up 94-88. A couple more trips to the free throw line by Teys, followed by a nice assist by Teys to McGrew for a dunk, put a fitting full stop on the game at the buzzer 99 - 88! (Teys - 39pts & 4 ast, McGrew - 23pts & 17 rebs)
The Pirates head up the mountain tonight for a chilly encounter with the Mountaineers with a forecast of 1 degree. Pirates will be hoping the chill extends to Toowoomba's imports Chris Whitehead and Erron Maxey. Both were on fire in last week's match up against Ipswich. Maxey did not miss a three pointer in the first quarter going 5 from 5 and Whitehead finished with 51 points but lost the contest.
A win by the Pirates tonight will put the club in a good position to secure a playoff spot and possibly host at the "Pirate Ship" in August. Toowoomba will be desperate for a win to keep in the playoff race in the south pool. Ipswich play Gold Coast tonight as well, so tonight's results will be critical to all teams playoff aspirations.
The Dionysius Pirates women tip off at 6.00pm and the men at 8.00pm at the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre at USQ in Toowomba.