ALTONA Lady Gators were beaten by a more accomplished and experienced Latrobe City Energy in the Victorian Basketball League Big V women’s division 1 season opener at Traralgon Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
The young Gators, many of whom came up from the youth league after a mass exodus in the summer, got a taste of life in the senior ranks on one of the most gruelling road trips.
They also had to confront a fit and firing Michelle Cosier, a former WNBL player with the Canberra Capitals, who put up 23 points and 19 rebounds.
The lopsided scoreline, 86 to 47, said it all, really.
“They’re a decent team and it’s a godforsaken trip,” Gators coach Randy Shanklin said.
“They ran us out of the place. We’re not quite at their level just yet. It’s going to be a good benchmark for us.”
The Gators were left baffled by one statistic: the foul count.
Following the exits of powers-in-the-paint Brigette Ardossi, Louise Johnston and Nicole McMahon, the Gators have been forced to play small, making hay with quick cuts to the basket to draw fouls in the land of the giants. The team will be busy from the three-point arc, but they only attempted 11 against the Energy, rather opting to attack the inside.
There were no rewards from the referees for their efforts, reaching the foul line just five times, compared with the Energy’s 26.
Shanklin chose to bite his tongue, but he did make reference to a number of non-calls.
“I thought we got hit quite a bit. We only had five free throws for the whole game,” he said.
“It makes a difference to the margin. I don’t know if they’re a 39-point better team.”
The Gators, led by the poise of forward and captain Ashley Patterson (15 points and six rebounds), got the jump to lead by one at the end of the first period.
That was where their joy ended for the tourists, who were blown out in the last three periods.
The Gators will begin a three-game home stand against Craigieburn Eagles at the Altona Sports Centre on Sunday.
— Lance Jenkinson
Big V basketball
Women’s division 1: Latrobe City Energy 86 Altona Lady Gators 47
