By Trevor Jackson
THE Mount Gambier Lakers Country Basketball League season was thrown into chaos for the teams’ final round.
With a bye scheduled for Round 8 of the competition, the Lakers had just the weekend to complete the season.
Unfortunately the men suffered, with no chance to make the playoffs after two games were forfeited, while the women sit in second position on the ladder.
Basketball Mount Gambier development officer Tom Daly said it was an unfortunate end to the season for the men.
“Unfortunately it is it for the men,” he said.
“It all came to a quick halt.
“We missed a game against Colac which we had to forfeit and were trying to get that made up but the league wouldn’t do it.”
The weekend’s scheduled games were thrown into disarray again due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which would end up including both the men and women.
“Against the Surf Coast we forfeited the women’s game,” Daly said.
“Pretty much all of our squad either had Covid or had a training session together and someone had Covid so it made them all close contacts.
“Basically it was the whole team which was remaining.
“We had to forfeit there so that made it hard for the Surf Coast.
“They were missing players through Covid as well so they forfeited the men’s game.
“It was all a bit messy.”
The season itself has been tough, with the men unable to field a full strength side from the outset, with the Covid-19 pandemic either affecting players directly, or other players were simply not willing to risk their health and work through possible exposure and a positive test.
“I has been disappointing at times,” Daly said.
“With the Covid you have to be flexible, comfortable with chopping and changing and making the most of it.
“It has made it difficult for us and it is frustrating but hopefully next season will be different.”
With his sights set on next season, Daly said there were some positives to take from the disrupted season.
“It did give us an opportunity to bring in some young guys and give them a taste for it which was positive,” he said.
“And they did well.
“Looking towards the future and how we bounce back and structure it for next year, there is a lot of potential and it will be a strong season for us.
“That is the silver lining for a lot of the senior players not being able to play – that is in both the men’s and the women’s teams.
“Looking to next season, our squads will be very organised but also strong and competitive.”
The women have a bye this weekend before playoffs begin on February 5.
