The Pakenham Warriors Big V basketball side embarked on its ‘northern swing’ road trip on the weekend – leaving Cardinia Life on Saturday morning and heading to Shepparton and Wodonga before a long bus ride home on Sunday. The Gazette’s RUSSELL BENNETT followed the team on its quest to win both games – against the Gators and the North East Bushrangers – inside 36 hours on a whirlwind trip.
10:15am, Saturday. Cardinia Life stadium.
Wives, partners, family members, even young kids and the team’s support staff climb aboard the coach as one, unified group.
The 6’9” Andrew Savige folds himself into his coach seat, while coach Ryan Rogers – seemingly suffering badly from the flu – sits towards the front of the bus – across the aisle from his young family. Workhorse big man Jay Richardson hasn’t made the trip – suffering from similar symptoms to Rogers. It seems his presence on the floor against both the Gators and the Bushrangers will be sorely missed.
Before the bus even leaves the stadium all the talk is about the NBA playoffs, specifically the Miami versus Indiana series – of which many have found a live video stream on either their phones or iPads. Aah, the modern day social media bus ride.
Savige, who has been on the team just a matter of days and has been unable to train during the week, passes on his experiences from his time with other elite teams to his new team mates… all this before reaching the level crossing on Cardinia Road.
12:10pm. Wallan BP service centre, just off the Hume Highway.
The first stop of the trip – and what’s any road trip without McDonald’s or Subway?
The players need to stretch their legs and fuel up before the big game.
Back on the bus soon after and, with Miami destroying Indiana in a lop-sided contest, the search is on to find some other form of entertainment. Rogers emerges from his window seat and puts a DVD on the TV at the front of the bus – Space Jam. If the next hour and a half proved anything, it’s that it doesn’t matter how old you are. Michael Jordan + Bill Murray + Bugs Bunny = classic cinema.
1:45pm. Arrival at the team hotel in Shepparton.
The bus is vacated and the check-in process begins. Cam Luke and Brett Rainbow didn’t travel with the main group, but both will be available that night for game one. Assistant coach Brett Small, team manager Wayne Armstrong and Warriors president Craig ‘Calfie’ Magrath travelled by car – Small with his family, and Armstrong and Magrath with plenty of the team’s game-day equipment. Armstrong’s son Sean – a valued member of the team – travelled with the tight-knit group despite being unable to play.
After checking into the hotel it’s time for some much-needed R&R before the 30-plus strong group heads into town for some carbo-loading – pasta, salad and herb bread – prior to the 8pm game.
6:15pm. Team meeting at the hotel.
The discussion quickly turns to strategy before the big game against the top-of-the-table Shepparton. Players and coaches clamber into one of the hotel rooms.
Hayden Davey – Pakenham’s top perimeter defender – is given the job of stopping Shepparton’s best player, Matt Bartlett. Warriors stalwart Daniel Stow gets the role on big American import JL Lewis, while Savige will face up against John Woodcock in the post. Word has already filtered through that talented Gators forward Ian Wright will miss through suspension.
Rogers outlines each individual starter’s role – opposition strengths and weaknesses, and their tendencies.
“Be aggressive – we need to show we’re legit,” Rogers says.
“We’ve come here to win two games.”
Small adds that this clash is simply “all about effort”.
6:45pm. The traveling group boards the bus to the Shepparton Sports Stadium.
The players get their first look at the court 10 minutes later and get changed into their gear in a dark room about the size of a standard kitchen. The players head out to the practice court to get some shots up. Lewis and his Gators team mates are at the other end of the floor, going about their own pre-game rituals.
7:30pm. Rogers’ pre-game rev-up in the change room.
“People externally have written us off,” he says.
“They’re top of the table for a reason, but these are the most satisfying teams to beat. The challenge is great but the reward is so much greater for us.”
10:05pm. Players head back to the change rooms after a physical nine-point loss, 78-69.
The small group of Warriors fans who travelled up to watch the game found their voice in the second half, making their presence felt in a hostile away gym. It isn’t lost on the playing group, which includes point guard Luke who broke his nose putting his body on the line during the game. Bartlett finishes with 26 points, but on an inefficient 9-25 shooting. Woodcock proves the difference-maker with 23 points and shooting the ball at 70 per cent. Jimmy Magrath and Rainbow led the way for the Warriors with 16 points, and 12 points and 7 boards respectively.
Rogers gathers the group for his post-game address: “Nobody likes the under-12s-style ‘good game’ talk, but this was a team that absolutely wiped us last time we played them,” he says, adding that the team just didn’t get to the free throw line enough.
“We’ve made some massive ground in a few weeks and this game shows we’re right around the mark.”
Luke and Small agree. The atmosphere in the room remains extremely positive and bullish for tomorrow’s game against the Bushrangers.
Players and fans are eating and drinking at the stadium with their Shepparton opponents until well after 10:30pm. The lights on Court 1 have long been switched off. Luke’s wife drives him to the hospital to get his nose examined. Armstrong suspects he may be concussed. Savige is feeling the affects of a calf complaint.
11:15pm. Back at the team hotel.
Players are icing sore limbs – knees, calves and feet before heading to bed. Luke and his wife arrive back at the hotel at around 1am after he gets his nose examined. It’s clear he won’t play tomorrow.
10:30am, Sunday. The bus departs the hotel for Wodonga.
While some players begin to surface around 9am, others aren’t exactly morning people. Savige is in the hotel pool early doing his own recovery session.
Once the bus departs, versatile wing player Jim ‘Uncle’ Viray describes the military-escorted road trips he experienced in his days playing in the Philippines. Terrorism was an ever-present threat. Not surprisingly, this has a way of putting the Warriors’ northern swing into context.
Big Sav is trying to stretch his calf on the bus however he can while Rogers is feeling, and looking, more than a little worse for wear.
The playing group, as a whole, is upbeat – ready for a strong performance against the Bushrangers. The curious case of reserve guard Matt Darcy’s lost phone keeps the troops entertained. Everyone is a suspect!
1:05pm. After a quick stop on the way, the team arrives at the Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre for its 2pm game with the North East Bushrangers.
The players head into the rooms to get changed and Rogers outlines his plan of attack.
Reserve guard Craig Drew’s opportunity has come – he will start at point-guard in place of the injured Luke. He looks focused, jumping out of his skin for the game to start and to get his chance to prove himself.
“I know you’ve sat most of the season but this why you play – to got opportunities like this,” Rogers tells him, before turning to the group.
“Today isn’t about words – it’s about actions.”
“Stay off the referees and stay into the game. Stay focused.”
4:00pm. The Warriors belt out a heart-felt rendition of “every heat beats true for the gold and the blue”.
No Armstrong, no Luke, no Rainbow… no worries. The Warriors comfortably handle the Bushrangers 74-58 on the back of a second-straight standout performance from Magrath – son of ‘Calfie’ – who finishes with 20 points. Viray, Davey and Savige also have strong showings. Stow was on the receiving end of a shove into the wall at the end of the baseline in the third quarter from frustrated opponent Josh McKay, who was ejected for his troubles.
Rogers credits his side with a great all-around team performance before the group boards the bus once again at 4:55pm for the long trip home.
Spirits are high on the trip home, despite more than a few tired bodies draped across the seats.
9:30pm. After a couple of obligatory stops along the way, the Warriors, the coaching staff, families and supporters arrive back at Cardinia Life.
More than a little tired – both physically and mentally – the players haven’t lost their sense of humour. “Sweet, sweet Pakenham,” young sharpshooter Lee Belton exclaims as he once again lays eyes on the gym.
Now we await what the rest of the season has in store of the group as it makes its playoff push.
