Toowoomba Mountaineers v Northside Wizards, Sat 13^th June @ 7:00pm (Toowoomba Basketball Stadium)-  The Mountaineers have a big ask on Saturday night.  They face the Wizards who are playing as tough as they ever will this year.  Add into the mix 2009 Boomers squad member Adam Gibson who has recently joined the Wizards and the Mountaineers have a real uphill battle.  In Gibson’s most recent season with the Dragons he averaged 10.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.1apg and will add another element to the Wizards team that Coach Haly once only dreamed of...until now.  The Mountaineers played well last week but were just unable to match the 51% from the field that the Force put up.  Glover and Tribe continue to get solid numbers and it’s only a matter of time before one goes their way.  The Power managed the Wizards last week, maybe the Mountaineers can here as well?

Bundaberg Bulls v Gladstone Power, Sat 13^th June @ 7:00pm (Century 21 Stadium)-  The Power’s Nagas was unstoppable back in Round 1 where the team collected a 116-100 win over the Bulls.  He managed a season high of 28pts, 7rbs, 6asts, 3stls to overpower the Bulls, who now have the home advantage and will be hungry to get this one back.  Having only two wins from their last five starts has the Bulls in troubled waters as they near the half way mark of their season.  With Brisbane, Caboolture and Northside trading blows at the top of Pool B, the Bulls need to get moving if they want to be within reach of post –season activities.  The Power turned things up a notch in double-overtime last weekend, with a huge morale boosting win over the 6^th placed Wizards.  Kingma going from strength to strength collected 33pts, 20rbs in the win.   

Mackay Meteors v Rockhampton Rockets, Sat 13^th June @ 7:00pm (Mackay Basketball Stadium)-  Teams 2 and 3 will trade blows in a serious fashion in Mackay on Saturday night.  This is the second time these two have met in 2009 with the Rockets walking away unharmed from their first clash (118- 96 in Round 4) which was the last time the Meteors lost a game.  The Meteors back end of the year is quite tough and with the Heat only 2 losses below them and the Power only 3, any loss in concentration could lead to an early exit pass from the competition.  Expect nothing less than an NBL level game here with plenty of talent on both sides- Cook, Martin, Fitzgerald, Golson, Blanchfield, Brown, they’re all here and don’t want to be shown up.  With the CQ bragging rights at stake along with the rights to host finals at the finger tips of Rockhampton, this will be explosive basketball at its best.  Catch the livestream of the game here. 

Caboolture Suns v Maroochydore Clippers, Sat 13^th June @ 7:00pm (Caloundra Indoor Stadium)-  The Suns will be looking to get back on an even keel after they were handed 2 losses on the road in CQ last week.  They were only 3pts behind at the half against the Rockets but they couldn’t stay within range and then in game 2 of the weekend they were just plain old mowed down by the Meteors.  The Suns picked up a 6pt win over the Clippers in Round 1 (103-97) but the Clippers are coming off the back of a 1pt upset win over the Capitals and this will have their confidence sky high on Saturday night.  Tueta is an asset the Clippers really need to retain and further develop as he is shaping into a future star.  Local rivalry could not get any hotter than these two so not one to miss. 

Brisbane Capitals v South West Metro Pirates, Sat 13^th June @ 7:45pm (Vince Hickey Basketball Stadium)-  The Capitals are in no position to complain about being match ready.  The team is still coming off the high of Round 7 where they were pushed to the brink in both games of the double-header to finish with a 2pt win over the Goannas (100-98) and a 1pt loss to the Clippers (108-109).  Coach Ryan is still reliving the 38-28 final quarter snatch by the Clippers to give the Capitals their 3^rd loss of the season.  The Pirates are comfortably holding a top 2 position in their pool and bounced back to form from their 4-game losing streak last week with a win over the Mountaineers.  The team hit near 50% from the field with Ammar and Thompson starting to get serious.  Big corporate night at Brisbane- let’s get this placed packed!

Cairns Marlins v Gold Coast Goannas, Sat 13^th June @ 7:45pm (Bendigo Bank Basketball Centre)-  The Marlins were in crushing form back in Round 2 where they destroyed the Goannas 124-77.  The team has had a somewhat reserved start to the year with a serious feeling around town that their unbeaten run is set to continue.  The closest anyone has come to the Marlins was the Heat back in Round 5 where they came within 15pts (103-88).  The Marlins have enjoyed their 2^nd bye of the year and will take this well rested approach and try to unleash fury on the Goannas.  Coach Fearne expects more than just a win, he demands a level of play that continues to see this team competitive year-in year-out.  Goannas will travel a small squad but one that is very capable.  Gurney will need to inflate his current 25ppg for the Goannas to be a chance in their first game of the tough road double.

Townsville Heat v Gold Coast Goannas, Sun 14^th June @ 1:15pm (NPA Stadium)-  Game number two of the Goannas northern road trip see’s them facing yet another dangerous opponent, the Townsville Heat.  The Heat also enjoyed the bye last week yet prior to that lost 2 of their last 3 games.  The season is starting to arrive at a T-intersection for the Heat – on one hand a few wins for them and a few losses to Mackay will have them on-track for a top 2 position.  On the other, their current 8^th place overall could be eaten up by the inform Gladstone Power putting them at last place in Pool A.  The Goannas have dropped their last 2 games and will be unhappy if they walk away from this weekend on a string of 4.