Posted on 11 June, 2008
It’s great when you can prove your critics wrong, as here we are sitting 4th (9-6) on the ladder with 6 rounds to go and gearing up for a big run home and ready to challenge in a great final series! Our losses have only been to the teams above us apart from 2 close losses to South Districts (5pts & 6pts) who currently sit 6th and only twice have we lost by 10pts or more.
2008 started off like a bang!! With import in place, everyone fit (we held wood, not just touched it!) and we were ready to go!! A tough road trip to start, we visited Tassie to face a team full of WNBL players and coaches! First game and loss by 6 but our spirits were still pretty high! We followed up the next day with a 47pt drabbing of NW Tassie and welcomed Brooke Nisi into the team with her first SEABL points (8 to be exact) and continues to make a solid contribution. We welcome Brooke and look forward to her playing many more senior games with the club.
With a two week break we have been getting our bodies right & doing what we need to do to ensure we are ready to take on teams above us as well as fighting off the teams below us in the run to the finals.
In a season of emotional highs and lows there has been some standout moments & performances;
Clare Papavs received Player of the Week award for round 5 after 17 points @ 46.7%, 9 rebounds & 4 assists in our win over Frankston and followed up the next day against Nunawading with a solid 32pts @ 57.9% which included 4 of 9 from beyond the arch. She also followed up this with a 25pts @ 46.7% as well as 5 of 9 from the beyond the arch a few weeks later against Albury. Clare has shown after a season with Dandenong WNBL that she will be a player that teams will play close attention to; she was recently included in a SEABL website for players who have had big improvements since last season. Clare averaged in 2007: 9.1ppg (15.7ppg ‘08), 1.4apg (2.7apg) and 5.8rpg (7.3rpg). Clearly a big improver!
Sarah Parsons has had a solid consistent season with a rewarding round 10 Player of the Week award, with 12pts, 10 rebs & an amazing 12 assists against Frankston. Sarah has since been named in the May team of the month, CONGRATS! Throughout May, Sarah has been fantastic including 1 triple double and 1 double double and who can forget the 3pointer to draw followed by the 2 points with 2 seconds left to get us the win over higher tanked Bendigo. Amazing game, pity if you missed it!! To date Sarah has had 5 double doubles and two triple doubles a feat not done my many and currently averages 14.2ppg, 4.8apg & 9.1rpg, obviously a huge asset to the team!
Noticeably we have all done a lot of work during the off season to ensure we aren’t going to get to the finals and not continue on as happened last year.
Gemma Kerr (apparently I had to mention her but of course how could I not) has had a fantastic year, with more opportunity to produce points she has rose to the occasion with numerous double figured games including 23pts (4/6 3pts) and 20pts (4/7 3pts) in our wins over higher ranked Ballarat & Bendigo respectively. Gemma played her 150th SEABL game for Kilsyth recently, unfortunately we could not produce the win, but it is a credit to her and her family for years of dedication and hours of driving firstly as an U14 right up until now as she is one of the older members of the teams (yes she’s older than me….!!!) Congratulations Gemma, a job well done!!!
There is of course many players having great seasons, and we can’t forget Hayley Moffatt. With increased court time she has no doubtable increased her out put of both points and rebounds. Only 4 out of our 15 games has Hayley not produced a double digit scoring figure, including a 21point haul against a tough Frankston opponent only a few weeks ago. Week in week out Hayley has been rewarded for her hard work and knack for the game, not only by her teammates but also by making her way into the starting line-up. Hayley currently averages 11.2ppg, 1apg and 5.3rpg. Hayley will be a critical part of our charge toward the finals.
Unarguably these players are not the only ones that make up our team!! We are a great team of 15 and are all striving for the same outcome each and every week.
Desiree Glaubitz has joined us again in ’08; we always welcome her with open arms and enjoy her competitive nature & knowledge, pushing us to become better players individually as well as a team. Des currently averages 13.8ppg, 6.2 apg (amazing) and 4.8 rpg, her contributions are priceless!!
Jess Lonan has joined us from the USA and made a mark round one where she recorded 17pts and 20pts on the road in Tassie. Jess continues to work hard both on and off the court, helping out with school clinics and holiday programs……if you haven’t been to one yet kids then ask mum or dad if you can go next time!
Unfortunately 2008 hasn’t gone quite to plan for all. Tiffany Hodgson, who has returned to Melbourne after a year in Qld and has sustained a nasty hip injury forcing her out of most of the season, she is due to see a surgeon in the upcoming weeks which will determine her future for 2008. Caitlin Mulhall continues to be hampered with a recurring wrist injury that won’t allow her to play to her full potential, but in saying that Caitlin continues to play through the pain and battles as much as she can. We can’t wait until both of these girls are playing the great basketball we all love! We wish them all the best and speedy recoveries!!
The rest of the 2008 season is going to be exciting….!! Plenty of big games against big teams all will be finals type atmosphere!! One to mention is my 200th game on 21st June against Nunawading on my home court! None could have written the script perfectly….umm actually we could’ve, I know we could’ve!! As I hope you will be, Dad will also be there with me to share this momentous occasion!! He’s been there for every other SEABL, VBL, state or junior game played in the Kilsyth colours and I’m sure he won’t miss this one either!!
I would personally like to thank the girls; their parents; support staff and those supporters who have supported me and my family throughout the last few months. We really appreciate it!
The season is definitely not over so continue supporting us and we will continue to put the points and wins on the board!! We’re off to Tassie again this weekend for another tough double but looking to come home 2-0, which is definitely possible!! We’ll return and see you next Saturday June 21st as we take on Nunawading Spectres, sure to be a big game!!
