Posted on 15 June, 2012

South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) recognised Swinburne Lady Cobras’ Head Coach Peter Gay as the Women’s Coach of the Month for May.  Coach Gay led the Swinburne Lady Cobras to a 6-0 perfect run in the month, holding the team comfortably in second place in their pool and in  great form for the second half stretch of competition.  Read the full story from SEABL below.  Congratulations Peter Gay!

Unsurprisingly the players and coaches for the month of May have come from the most dominant teams over that period.

In the men’s championship, Bendigo was the only undefeated team across the month, and subsequently the Braves have taken out both the Player and Coach of the month award. Coach Ben Harvey oversaw the five wins against Brisbane, Mt Gambier, Nunawading, Knox and Kilsyth. The streak saw them return to the top four of their conference and back into championship contention.

The Braves’ Deilvez Yearby has continued his outstanding form to be awarded the Player of the Month for May. In his five games across the month, Yearby averaged 22.6 points at 49% to go with 14.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 block per game. The Bendigo import is second only to Eric Gaff in average rebounds per game for the entire season, and has been the most consistent and dangerous player for the Braves in 2012. His standout game for the month came against archrivals Knox. Yearby had 31 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in a performance that also saw him awarded the Player of the Week for round 10.

Meanwhile in the women’s championship, Kilsyth’s undefeated month and subsequent emergence as a championship threat has been the impetus for Peter Gay being awarded the Coach of the Month. The Lady Cobras went 6-0 for May, with their wins coming over Albury-Wodonga (twice), Frankston, Canberra, Sandringham, and Bendigo. The rise in form has seen Kilsyth cement second place in their conference with a 13-2 record and within touching distance of leader Knox.

Finally, after missing the opening rounds of the season with injury, Deanna Smith has recaptured some of her career best form to take out the Player of the Month. Smith was instrumental in steering her team to a 4-1 record over May, and simultaneously to top place in the East conference. The Lady Supercat averaged 19.2 points at 46% from the floor, along with 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.2 steals throughout those five games. Her best performance in May was probably when she came agonisingly close to a triple-double against Nunawading, with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.

SEABL Congratulates the Players and Coaches of the Month for May:

Men’s Player of the Month: Deilvez Yearby (Bendigo)

Men’s Coach of the Month: Ben Harvey (Bendigo)

Women’s Player of the Month: Deanna Smith (Geelong)

Women’s Coach of the Month: Peter Gay (Kilsyth)