Building again

Reyhan Aziz returned on the weekend. (Supplied, Big V)

Tara Murray

The Altona Gators are hoping to get all of the pieces of the puzzle together in the Big V women’s division 2 finals.

While the Gators have just about sown up a top two spot heading into the final round, the Gators have had some up and down form in recent times.

Coach Cameron Wilkosz said they were hoping that it would all start to click in the coming weeks.

“We have forgotten how to win,” he said. “ We started the season 10-0, but now we haven’t been able to get across the line.

“We haven’t been able to figure it out.”

While knowing there are things they can do one court better, not having their full side available has had a big impact on results.

Many weeks they’ve only had seven or eight players suiting up. Wilkosz said that had played a part in not being able to play out the full 40 minutes and cost them a couple of games.

“We’re running out of legs and there is some tiredness,” he said.

“We’ve had Jess Rarity and Sharna Appleby playing 35 to 40 minutes every game and that is when they start to break down.

“We are cautious with them as well. Practice has been difficult as you haven’t been able to prepare things as we would have liked.”

In good news for the Gators they will hopefully have their full squad available for finals.

Jaylen Rose Hawea is back from a knee injury and has played the last couple of weeks. Reyhan Aziz returned on the weekend and played for the first time since round one.

Alysha Carden-David missed the weekend’s match due to COVID-19, while Lucy Barth is a couple of weeks away.

Wilkosz said they were slowly adding them all back to the fold and getting the team gelling again.

“We are getting there,” he said. “We should have everyone back for the first week of finals.”

Wilkosz said while they weren’t getting the results they were after, they had been not far off getting the results.

On Saturday night, the Gators lost to Gippsland United, 64-60. A 24-12 third quarter proved to be the difference for the night.

Appleby and Rarity top scored with 18 points apiece for the Gators.

The Gators face Surf Coast this Saturday in the final round.

Wilkosz said the group remained focused on the task at home.

“We still think we’re good enough,” he said. “We’re still very much confident.

“A top two spot and the double chance would be good. We were pumped last year, but missed out due to COVID-19. We’re pumped again this year.”

The Gators men’s side beat Surf Coast on Saturday night, 91-60.

All five starters hit double points in the win.

The Gators sit in fourth heading into the final round. They face Maccabi on Saturday night in their final regular season match.