By JARROD POTTER
IT WOULD have been a brave person to suggest the Warriors would top the Big V Division Two table approaching the last months of the season.
On prior form it was a big call to suggest even a winning season for the 2012 wooden spooners.
The change has been bold. In came a new coach, Ryan Rogers, with new ideas and half a new roster to shake things up.
The foundation has been built upon their three star recruits – captain James Topp and guard duo Jay Ferriere and Jeff Reid – they are the bricks in the Pakenham fortress, leading in scoring, rebounding and assists.
“When I accepted the role the key thing was to keep the fabric of what Pakenham basketball was about but at the same time bring a new sense of professionalism and culture that would evolve around players who had experienced success, yet personally had the drive to be in a picture for multiple years,” Rogers said.
If the new Warriors are the bricks, their home-grown talent is the mortar sticking it all together. Coming through the Pakenham junior ranks Bill Winder, Daniel Stow, Jake Heyen and James Magrath have all contributed sizeably to the cause, with another Pakenham junior, Sean Armstrong, likely to return from a severe ankle injury in the next few rounds.
“I knew this wasn’t going to be a complete rebuild, we needed some more pieces but ultimately 2012 could be erased from the memory bank if we got the right people,” Rogers said.
“In the end, each of the new guys have been outstanding as have the established crew and when you define team, this group of players epitomise the true meaning.
“Regardless of what happens from here, each of the players have played an important role in connecting the juniors with the seniors, brought success to the club and self-belief to a group of players who didn’t know if playing for their home club was worth the 15 hours of weekly commitment on and off the court anymore.
“Having already committed for season 2014, I knows this is only the beginning of a new era.The only apparent chink in the armour remains their lack of height – with Charlie Taualii and Topp battling manfully at the five-spot while Jay Richardson suits up weekly knowing he’s the go-to defensive specialist on players 10cm taller.
It has only burnt them once – against Western Port in a round three 63-65 loss – otherwise the Warriors have excelled manning up against the taller threats in the league, including Mornington’s Daniel Christian and Coburg’s Jordan Harding.
“Rebounding is the obvious area we will focus on for the remainder of the season and with the potential of having Sean Armstrong return to the line-up in the coming weeks, defining our rotations and roles will be revisited,” Rogers said.
Otherwise the team is flying – with Topp (200 points), Reid (188), Ferriere (113) and Winder (112) all over the 100-point mark for the season and all contributing across the board in rebounds, assists and steals.
With only six rounds remaining until finals, Pakenham’s 9-3 record has given the Warriors a two-game buffer over second place and two or three more wins would guarantee their spot in their inaugural Big V finals’ series.
The run home starts this weekend at home against Western Port Steelers – the first of three home games in a row for Pakenham at Cardinia Life.
Tip off is 5pm.
