By JARROD POTTER
FROM worst to first in less than a year, Pakenham emphatically thumped the Casey Cavaliers 28-6 in the final quarter to record their fifth win of the season and capture number one on the Big V Division 2 Men’s basketball ladder.
Let’s flashback to 30 July last year. Pakenham loses its 18th game of the season to finish last in Division 2 Men after a 10-point loss to eventual premiers Craigieburn.
Some 273 days later, Pakenham is now top of the Division 2 Men’s ladder.
It’s a turnaround virtually unheard of in local basketball circles and engineered by Pakenham coach Ryan Rogers and an all-star roster.
This week, it was Pakenham’s turn to ascend the Big V ladder against cross-city rivals Casey Cavaliers.
A tightly contested battle opened up in the final quarter as the Warriors halted all Cavalier-attacks, to take the 80-55 win.
“Little unexpected, but we’re rapt,” coach Rogers said about reaching top spot on the ladder.
“We’ve worked hard on our application on the defensive end, and we’ve been spending time tightening up our structures.
“Offensively, we’re loaded and can score, but we’re working on the finer points of restricting teams to our KPI of 17 points per quarter.”
Pakenham held fast with Casey, buying time and keeping scores fairly even throughout the first three terms, but the explosive response of the fourth changed everything.
Losing starting defender Jay Richardson early in the third quarter, with his fifth foul, Rogers went small and fast – bringing on Jimmy Magrath (nine points) to work off starting guard-pair of Jeff Reid (24 points, six rebounds) and Jay Ferriere (15 points, six rebounds, five assists).
The gambit paid dividends as Pakenham ran ahead to take their fifth win of the season and fourth in a row.
With a stellar match at point, playing 36 minutes, Ferriere played without limitation – a surprising capability of a player rendered bedridden the day before with a back injury.
“Jay Ferriere went down at training on Thursday and I wasn’t sure what he’d be capable of – but he hit 15 points, six assists and five rebounds,” Rogers said.
“He had a back spasm and couldn’t walk on Friday, couldn’t get out of bed.
“Went to a physio and we got 36 minutes – we just know if he says he’s ready to play he’s ready to play.”
Pakenham’s next challenge is another one- versus-two showdown – this week against newly reformed Big V team Shepparton Gators.
“We’re obviously confident with where we’re at and what we’re doing – to get four wins in succession, we feel we’re getting better every week,” Rogers said.
“We haven’t peaked by any stretch, and they’re a new team to the league this year – they’ve probably gone somewhat under the radar- they’re pretty solid, but we’re sure our best is good with where we’re at.”
Rogers and the Warriors wanted to thank the crowd – the biggest yet at the venue this season – for their raucous support and encouraged everyone to get back down again this Saturday at 6pm to keep the noise going.
