Townsville Heat v Northside Wizards, Friday 24^th July @ 8:15pm (NPA Stadium)-  This game means alot more to the Wizards than it does the Heat.  The 2009 season has come to an abrupt end for the Heat with the team not able to make the playoffs as a result of dropping their game against the Rockets last week.  This is a disappointing end to the year for the team given they were runners-up in ’08, after toppling Cairns and South West in the early playoffs before going down to the Rockets in the GF (80-97).  The Wizards are confirmed for the post-season and now it’s down to a question of who will host the Quarter Final – them or the Capitals.  Solid two hit-outs in the north this weekend for the Wizards as the team prepares for the upcoming playoffs which have really troubled them in recent years.  Based on their mediocre performance against the Capitals last week and no Gibson travelling north, the Heat could come up trumps.

Rockhampton Rockets v Brisbane Capitals, Friday 24^th July @ 8:15pm (Hegvold Stadium)-  A huge amount at stake here for the Rockets as the team clings to the hopes of hosting the main Semi / Grand Final weekend in August.  To do so, they’ll need to take care of the Capitals here and the Marlins & Wizards in the final round.  The team was beaten down at the hands of a quality Mackay team in Round 13, but it was Guard Martin who was the knight in shining armour for the team – 39pts, 12rbs, 5asts, 4rbs.  The Capitals managed an OT win over the Wizards last week (125-119) and this weekend stand to be the real test of whether they have what it takes to break their 6-year drought and collect a another Championship.  Rockets bring finesse and the Capitals bring bucket loads of experience.  The Capitals only need pick-up 1 win from their last 3 starts to secure a home Quarter Final.  Will that win be here?

Maroochydore Clippers v South West Metro Pirates, Friday 24^th July @ 8:15pm (Maroochydore Basketball Stadium)-  The Clippers have grown from their wooden-spoon of 2008 and their current 4 and 12 average is a sign that things are on the up.  The highest they can finish this year is 10th so these final 2 games are important to them.  For the Pirates, the team has fallen from their high of a very competitive Semi Final berth from 2008 but it looks as though they’ll face the Goannas in the Quarter Finals in 2 weeks.  To confirm this though they need atleast 1 win from their final 4 games to seal the Force’s coffin for the year.  The Force do have a small window of opportunity to knock the Pirates out of contention.  Both teams have only managed 1 win from their last 5 starts, but the Clippers have been competitive in these games against strong opponents so they may get the nod.

Mackay Meteors v Brisbane Capitals, Saturday 25^th July @ 7:00pm (Mackay Basketball Stadium)-  The Meteors are gathering pace at the right time of year and their comfortable win over the Rockets last week (117-111) suggests that they will enter this game as favourites.  They have the advantage of the home game and will exploit what may very well be a tired Capitals team due to lots of time on the road and a tough game against the Rockets on Friday night.  Cook was the Round 13 Player of the Week and his speed is something the Cap’s need to watch out for.  Coach of the Month Dale Ryan has led the Capitals to a dream 6-game win streak and if Castle can keep producing (26pts, 11rbs, 3asts, 3stls) then this game stands to be a cracker.  The Capitals collected a 136-85 win over the Meteors in July 2008 (the last time they met) so Mackay will be hungry to square the ledger.  Tune into the livestream!

South West Metro Pirates v Ipswich Force, Saturday 25^th July @ 7:00pm (Hibiscus Sports Complex)-  If the Pirates manage a win over the Clippers on Friday night then this game will just be a matter of going thru the motions for both teams.  If they don’t then the Force will come out a blazing as they’d love to see a Quarter Final this year.  The Pirates returned to form in Round 12 with a win over the Goannas and they’ll be well rested for this weekend’s double-header after the bye in Round 13.   Thompson has stepped up this year to lead the team at the offensive end with ’08 Youth Player of the Year Teys slightly off cue in recent weeks.  The Pirates managed a 16pt win over the Force in Round 2 so Coach Lindeberg will turn to Broom, Jeffries and Robinson so get things moving with the possibility of the playoffs still attainable. 

Gladstone Power v Caboolture Suns, Saturday 25^th July @ 7:45pm (Kev Broome Stadium)-  The Power have already bettered their 2008 results (6 and 12) and Coach Smith will be happy with how the team has performed this year given their placing in the toughest pool in the League.  The combination of Kingma, Esparza, Cochran and Simanic has given plenty of teams a run for their money this year and the Suns have got a huge hill to climb to get the better of Gladstone here.  The playoffs dreams are over for the Suns after a disappointing double header in Round 13 where they went down to both Ipswich and Cairns.  The team showed some aggression in the game against the Marlins last week which is a possible sign of frustrating times at the tail end of the year.  With only 1 win from their last 5 starts the Suns need to show some kick to close out the year on a high.

Cairns Marlins v Northside Wizards, Saturday 25^th July @ 7:45pm (Bendigo Bank Basketball Centre)-  Alot of eyes will be on this game as the League leading Marlins try to keep their stranglehold on the competition.  This team is yet again on-track for a title and the depth of the team is something that many have struggled with all year.  If Coach Fearne has a player with high fouls or someone that needs a rest, the amount of talent sitting on the bench to replace them is enough to build a starting-five in the next town over.  The Wizards have certainly made a name for themselves over recent years as a powerhouse team in the south and this year they have the ability to extend that to a state-wide threat.  If the cards fall right for both teams this could be the 2009 Grand Final game but history tells us that the Wizards struggle to close the deal in the playoffs – they lost to the Pirates 96-97 in the 2007 Quarters and then lost to the Capitals 103-106 in the 2008 Quarters. 

Bundaberg Bulls v Caboolture Suns, Sunday 26^th July @ 2:00pm (Century 21 Stadium)-  Despite the team losing numbers weekly, the Bulls have battled on and are very keen to jump a few more places on the ladder before the year closes out.  They finished 13th in 2008 and are currently slight better at 12th but a quality performance in their final 2 rounds of competition could have them as high as 10th.  Late mail has seen Catlin and Mackie join the squad and the team knows that the Suns are vulnerable right now based on their recent performance and their long weekend on the road.  Hanson continues to achieve individual success so interesting to see if the Suns can control the threat that he is at both ends of the court.  The Suns desperately need Ajayi to return to full health, full minutes and good form.