By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Pakenham Warriors are stepping up their fight in the battle to claim next season’s Big V Division 2 men’s basketball crown, adding big-time presence Brett Small to their coaching staff.
A former Dandenong Rangers junior, Small progressed through the ranks as a player and on to the national stage – representing Victorian in the under-18 championships – before graduating into the SEABL program, where he also played two seasons.
But Small is now firmly entrenched in the Pakenham family and Warriors head coach Ryan Rogers can’t wait to have him by his side as his new lead assistant.
Small has just completed a stellar season at the helm of the Warriors’ under-12 boys Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) side, guiding it to a runners-up position in the VJL2 competition.
While coaching just junior squad this year, Small took a huge interest in the progress of the Warriors Big V program and he told the team’s website how he enjoyed watching the side play to the systems and structures put in place by Rogers.
“The guys worked really hard and played for each other and this really showed when they were hit hard by injuries late in the season,” Small said.
“The team is well-coached and I believe I can help with (their) continued improvement and the integration of the junior program through to the seniors.”
In addition to his new senior duties, Small will continue his VJBL involvement next season – leading the under-14 boys.
While the Warriors’ Big V season has drawn to a close for another year, its Melbourne Metropolitan Basketball League (MMBL) sides are just getting started.
Pakenham’s new women’s side secured an impressive first-up, round one victory over Keysborough last Wednesday night, 44-32.
The men are fielding two sides this MMBL season, with Pakenham 2 dominating their Keysborough opponents 67-34. Pakenham 1 had the bye.
Rogers was particularly impressed with the performance of up-and-coming 16-year-old guard Matt D’Arcy, who the coach says is already on the cusp of Big V selection.
“He’s a smaller kid but he makes really good decisions,” Rogers said.
“He makes up for his lack of size with great fundamentals.”
Another young Warriors prospect to come out of the clash with Keysborough, Shane Loynes, has the coaching staff salivating about his size and potential alone.
The six-foot-nine centre is still only just 17-years-old and has a development role in the Big V squad.
“He hasn’t really even had a run-around but he can really finish under the basket and is a great rebounder,” Rogers said.
“His understand of the game is the biggest thing and he’s working hard on his fundamentals at the moment.”
The Warriors women next play Oakleigh tonight from 8pm at Heatherhill Secondary College in Springvale. The Pakenham men will take on Camberwell at Cardinia Life from 9.30pm, with Pakenham 2 facing Warrandyte 2 in a curtain-raiser.
