ONE Ipswich team feels it should have won. The other accepted it was outgunned by a quality opponent.

That was the weekend wash-up after both Ipswich Force state league teams lost to Mackay at Booval on Sunday.

The Ipswich women went down 76-62 to the Meteors at Cotton On Foundation Stadium.

The Ipswich men toiled hard without two key players in losing 96-70.

Women’s coach Brad George knew Mackay would be tough, having lost only one match heading to Ipswich. But he had hopes of rolling the visitors.

“I’m not concerned,” George said.

“We had our chances. We should have won that game.

“We had a few things that under pressure we went away from executing.”

Emma Langford (19) and Ezria Parsons (14) again dominated the point scoring.

Ipswich finished the weekend in fourth spot overall.

After his team’s defeat, men’s coach Chris Clarkson will focus on rebuilding structure this week having lost dangerous duo Tim Behrendorff (achilles) and Luke Cann (broken ribs).

“Our rotations both offensively and defensively weren’t real good,” Clarkson said.

“We struggled on our offensive sets. A couple of times there we just didn’t know where the next score was coming from.

“When we’ve got Tim Benrendorff out there or Luke Cann as our outside shooter, we can set up offences that work better.”

Clarkson said having a new starting five, except for Ryan Stolberg and Brad Williamson, disrupted his team’s momentum.

Mackay’s big men took charge.

“Defensively we started to break down,” Clarkson said.

“We didn’t contain Deba George, we had no penetration, and Rhys Martin basically moved the ball around really well for them.”

Although Ipswich only trailed by two points in the first quarter, Mackay never looked in doubt.

“They had a 28 point second quarter and they are a team that’s had to play when they are in front,” Clarkson said.

“We just couldn’t hurt them.”

Round nine player of the week Stolberg top scored with 22 points playing with a sore back. He nailed some valuable three-point shots in the third quarter that kept Ipswich’s score respectable.

Williamson contributed 16 points.

With a finals spot assured, Clarkson said his team had to regroup for its tough run home.

“We’ve got to get these guys playing with the same game plan,” he said of his challenge this week.

Clarkson was encouraged by the effort of newcomer Zac Compton “who is coming along nicely” and Daniel Robinson, who is getting his form back.

The Ipswich men’s and women’s teams have doubleheaders away this weekend – against Gold Coast on Saturday and Northside Wizards on Sunday.

 

State of play

State league men: Mackay 90 d Ipswich Force 76 (Ryan Stolberg 22, Brad Williamson 16, Zac Compton 12).

Ipswich is in eighth place overall with seven wins and five losses after 10 rounds.

Women: Mackay 76 d Ipswich Force 62 (Emma Langford 19, Ezria Parson 14).

Ipswich is in fourth overall with nine wins and three losses after 10 rounds.

Next games: Ipswich teams away v Gold Coast on Saturday night and Northside on Sunday.