USC Rip City basketball coach Nathan Arousi says a rare clean sweep in the north has set them up for a run at state league finals.
The Sippy Downs-based side shocked the NBL1 North competition last weekend when they toppled traditional juggernauts Townsville and Cairns on the road.
The victories essentially showed they are genuine contenders in the 15-team competition, after six rounds.
“I’m not sure when the last time a team from south Queensland won two games in a row in north Queensland,” Arousi said.
“Most teams go up there to try to get one win, expecting to come away with one loss, because of the significant travel involved.
“So, to win both games there, that’s really huge for our season.
“You just don’t see teams winning twice there very often, and it gives us a bit of a leg-up on teams who don’t win two games there.
“So, we’re thrilled to get the wins”
They beat Townsville 86-73 before accounting for Cairns in a thriller, 82-81.
“They weren’t deterred by the travel or the opposition, who have some very good players,” Arousi said.
“They just went out there with the mindset to win. Once we won the first game, it gave us the opportunity to win the second game.
“They were really strong, positive and focused.”
USV let slip an 18-point lead against Cairns to trail by 3 points with 51 seconds left, but battled their way back to win.
“The boys really hung tough, so I’m proud of the guys,” Arousi said.
“We executed our last two plays perfectly to get the win, which was a real milestone for this group.”
USC lost their first two games of the season but have since won four straight, to be in sixth place.
“We knew we were going to have a tough start to the season without a full squad,” the coach said.
“But we’ve had a couple of guys come in who have made significant contributions.”
Experienced state league player and former NBL guard Isaiah Tueta has played a key role, averaging 21 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds per game, while Eric McAlister is averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds per game.
Kyle Zunic, who has returned from the United States where he played college basketball, has also made his presence felt.
Rip City entered the state competition in 2016 and made the playoffs from 2017 to 2019.
They competed in a Queensland southern league last year, after the NBL1 North season was cancelled due to COVID-19, and used that campaign to develop the club’s younger players.
But they’re yet to win a playoffs game.
After winning in north Queensland last weekend, they’re keen to make a deep run into the competition this year.
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“We want to win a championship and that will always be the goal but to get there we’ve got to get ourselves in the best position on the ladder and get a home final, and then we’ve got to win a final, which is something the club has never done,” Arousi said.
“We’ve strung a few wins together now and are still getting better.”
USC are in the middle of a crucial run of games.
They’re scheduled host Mackay, who have won five in a row, at USC Stadium on Sunday, before tough matches against meeting Northside and Logan next month.
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“It (the stretch of games) is going to define our season, I’m pretty certain,” Arousi said.
Rip City’s women’s team is in seventh place, while Sunshine Coast Phoenix’s men’s and women’s sides are enjoying a strong season. They’re in fifth place and third place respectively.
NBL1 North teams are set to take part in the inaugural Mental Health Round from June 25-27, to emphasise the important of mental health and wellbeing.
Teams will also take part in an Indigenous Round in July.
NBL1 Round 7 action
- Sunshine Coast Phoenix – Saturday, Maroochydore Basketball Stadium, women 6pm, men 8pm
- USC Rip City v Mackay – Sunday, USC Stadium, women 1pm, men 1pm
