By Trevor Jackson
IT has been an almost-perfect start for the Mount Gambier Lakers women in the 2021-22 Country Basketball League season.
From five games the Lakers have recorded four victories, only going down to top side Warrnambool Mermaids on Saturday night.
In that game the young side took only seven players across the border in a game which was transferred to Portland.
At the long the break the Lakers were up by 22 points but fatigue possibly played a part late in the game as the Mermaids hit their straps and showed why they sit top of the ladder, claiming the win 82-71.
Johanna Jones and Mikaela Horrigan top scored for the Lakers with 15 points each, while Keryl Ousey (13) and Tara Bryant (11) also reached double figures.
Despite the loss, coach Bryan Green said he was ecstatic with the performance.
“We went there with seven players, the oldest being 19 and we played fantastic in the first half,” he said.
“We were 20 up at half time but due to too many fouls, a couple of girls fouled off and general tiredness we gave the lead up.
“But having said that, we had two of our starting five not even suiting up and four all up from our team who didn’t even go.
“One of the girls, Tenielle Human, is just 15 and played so well.
“She is just a goer, she has a go all the time and that is all you can ask from anybody.”
From there the Lakers hosted Horsham Hornets at the icehouse and held on in a tough contest for a win.
The defensive stoush saw just 109 points scored for the game, with Mount Gambier claiming the win 59-59.
Only Olivia Wormald (13) and Ousey (11) reached double figures but there were several others close behind.
A strong second term set up the victory where the Lakers out-scored the Hornets by 12 points.
Green said he always expected a tough contest against Horsham.
“Horsham is tough … they have always been tough,” he said.
“Playing them over there or here, there has always been a thing between Horsham and Mount Gambier since I was coaching juniors.
“They have always produced good players and play hard.”
Sophie Miles stood out on the floor, with a strong defensive game.
While she only scored nine points, her defensive effort was recognised by the coach and her fellow players.
“I have to do coach’s votes after the game and I gave her best defensive player on the whole floor,” Green said.
“She really hustled and got after their play makers.
“Their number 4 (Emalie Iredell) we didn’t do a good job on but number 7 (Georgia Hiscock) she was guarding and really shut her down.
“She was all over the floor on her and really kick started some of our stuff.
“The girls during a time out complemented her on a great effort.”
With a disrupted season already due to the impact of Covid-19, everything is on track for the young Mount Gambier side.
All-but one player is 21 or under and Green said he could not be more pleased with the first half of the season, with the side sitting second on the ladder.
“I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
“There are a lot of unknown factors about the league, with Covid and things like that.
“It has been a bit of a challenge but the girls have been really good, they have really stepped up and are really enjoying it I believe.
“Four and one, we will take that every day.
“We have five games to go and if we can win another four or five of them we will be around the mark at the end of the season.
“It is all about the playoffs and we have probably cemented a spot in there already but we still have games we have to perform in.”
With just five games remaining in the minor rounds, two of those games will be Horsham and Warrnambool when the league resumes for Round 5 after the Christmas break on January 8 and 9.
Horsham will be on the road and the Mermaids at the Icehouse.
The challenge is there to at least repeat last weekend’s performance.
From there the business end of the season fast approaches and Green in under no illusions it will be and easy run into playoffs.
“Horsham and Warrnambool are the best two teams but Portland is pretty good too,” he said.
“Playing against the Victorian teams you never know what you are going to get … they haven’t played basketball for close on two years in a competitive state.
“We did struggle against Portland … we ended up beating them but they are only going to get better.
“The next five games will be interesting.”
