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Adelaide Plains Basketball results reports February 3
By Three Points
Basketball was fast and furious again. Dribbler was excited going from game to game, trying to work out which teams will make the finals.
The Redleg men let him down – or, more to the point, the Meercats showed that they are a team not to be forgotten. Karl Bomford and Beau Traill were their usual energetic selves zipping around the court just like meerkats but it was probably Adam Pratt lifting his game that got them there.
What this means is the men’s division is still anyone’s. Maybe the Redlegs need to regroup – or practice as a team.
Dribbler wonders how many senior teams actually practice. There are a number who do practice in the juniors, and some of these are yet to have a win. It was surprising to Dribbler to find that a number of teams have yet to gain points.
In division one boys, Bulldogs are yet to get points. They may practice but it doesn’t show.
They don’t lack ability. It’s great, according to Dribbler, that they keep persisting, as the competition would be no good with only three teams. The other interesting thing about this competition is the Broncos have not lost a game, an in fact have easily beaten two of the other teams.
In division one women, the Redlegs are still looking for that elusive score. They’re a friendly group of girls who, fortunately for others, come out week after week and enjoy their basketball. Owen women in division two are much the same, although they’ve managed to win one.
Dribbler says he admires players like Katie Marshall and Sally Fritz who not only play in these teams, but coach juniors as well.
In the juniors there are a number of teams playing on hope and commitment. Their participation is critical for the creation of a competition. Youngsters like Kevin McArdle, Cory Sharer and Adam McArdle for Long Plains keep putting in week after week. The top team in their division thrashed the second team by more than 50 points, so hope would be hard to keep.
In division two girls, it is much the same with Owen trying hard each week, with players like Brooke Wilson, Rebecca Fritz and Maddison Merry giving their best. The competition however is not as one sided. The top three sides and possibly the fourth are all capable of coming first on their night.
Division three boys sees another lopsided competition. Once again the Bullets have a committed side, with players like Daniel Mumford and Julius Rohrlach tirelessly trying to get a winning score.
Dribbler reckons he remembers a team of young triers from the past who learnt well but just didn’t have the size and strength to match, but persisted while being thrashed. They ended up, according to him, being some of the best basketballers and good sports he remembers.
Committed players are critical for any competition. The division four boys seem to have a group of them. They managed to get teams in the holidays, and this week’s games were exciting. More practice and learning is of course needed, but it is amazing just how much they have improved over the year. Dribbler thinks it a pity that the backboards are at adult level, making the young ones try any which way to get a goal – but try they do. Hopefully their coaches train them to shoot with the right action. Shooting a goal gives them such a thrill. Most of them try hard and are pleased to get one goal. I am sure Nicholas McArdle and Mitchell Catford jumped around a bit after scoring in their game. James Roberts and Jake Tiller would have too.
The next few weeks will probably reveal the best and the worst in players and coaches. Character will be tested as the finals get closer. So will commitment.
Dribbler is getting excited even though his team is only a long shot. He hopes the men’s division gets split soon so that the two teams trying to make the second division actually go into the top division and the bottom four teams play finals.
Although he has a soft spot for the Hamley girls, he reckons the Longies lasses look hungrier and will be the ones to take the women’s division one flag.
Cats look the goods to get the Division two flag.
In the juniors, he reckons there will be some upsets as some of the players have the wrong attitude.
Next week’s games should give more indication, so we’ll be watching.
PHOTOS BELOW, from left: • Daniel Mumford, Bullets in action.
• Shaun Speisseger, Bullets defends against his much taller Owen opponent, Jarrad Dunstan.
• Division one basketballer Maddison Vietch, Storm dribbles down the court.
