THE Griffith Demons will be banking on a boisterous crowd to help lift them past the powerhouse Queanbeyan side in their first home game of the season tomorrow night.
Westend Stadium - dubbed the "Demon Dome" - is hostile territory for visiting teams and Demons coach Andrew Cullen said his side would need every bit of support to get past State League basketball leaders and reigning premiers Queanbeyan.
"The crowd in Griffith really are our sixth player and Queanbeyan are the leaders in our pool so we're hoping for a full house," Cullen said. "It's going to be a massive game."
The Demons are coming off two double-digit wins in their opening road trips against Moss Vale and Shoalhaven. Cullen said his side had to focus on nailing its outside shots and not fall into the trap of over-relying on dynamic US import Leon Rosborough, who has averaged 18 points in two games. "Leon's given us something we haven't had, a guy willing to crash the boards relentlessly and still average 18 points," Cullen said.
"But spreading the points around needs to be our strength. We've all got to be capable of scoring double figures or we won't beat a side like Queanbeyan.
"They're a side where you just can't switch off to any player or they'll bring you down. We need to be on every bloke the whole game."
The Demons starting five will include Rosborough, Adam O'Callaghan, Nick Cullen, Mick Duncan and either Andrew Cullen or Dean Spratt.
The match tips off at 6.30pm.