Altona Gators don’t have much room to give in the back part of the Big V women’s division 1 competition.
The Gators finished the first part of the combined division 1-2 competition in fifth spot securing a spot in the division 1 competition for the rest of season.
Sitting a couple of games outside the top four, the Gators know they can’t have any slip ups in the run home.
Gators coach Randy Shanklin said the goal was to always make the division 1 competition, but they want more than that.
“If we have two losses, we’ll probably be playing for nothing,” he said. “We had a couple of losses early in the season which were hard to take.
“Our four losses have come to the four teams above us on the ladder which is disappointing with where it’s left us for the second half of the season.
“Mildura Heat have the head-to-head on us and we’ve got them first up and they have to travel.”
The Gators have had an up and down season.
They’ve had injuries and a number of players in and out of the side.
Sharna Nanai-Leifi is out for the season and the early part of next season with a serious knee injury.
One positive for the Gators has been the opportunities given to a number of their youth league players.
“I love that,” said Shanklin. “There have been roles for quite a few of them there.”
There was a competition wide on the weekend due to the King’s Birthday weekend.
Shanklin said they’re ready for the challenge ahead.
“We want to be hunting for a spot in the top four,” he said. “Warrandyte lost to Chelsea so that opens up the doors for other teams.
“Hopefully some teams will start to fall.”
Shanklin said elsewhere things were going well for the club.
This season they have six teams in the Victorian Junior Basketball League VC competitions.
“That is good,” he said. “We almost had eight teams in VC.
“Last year we had thee teams make it. This year we had nearly all our first teams which we haven’t had for a while.
“We’re not far off it and sides in the second and third teams and positive going forward.”
Meanwhile the Gators men, host the Whittlesea Pacers on Saturday night in round 12.
The Gators sit in sixth spot.
Tara Murray
