Tara Murray
Altona Gators believe they are peaking at the right time in the Big V men’s division 2 season.
After coming together late in the pre-season the group has slowly built throughout the year, doing enough to secure a finals berth.
On Sunday, the Gators were convincing in their elimination final win against the Mornington Breakers, 97-72.
Gators playing coach Jordan Lino said the group was starting to put out the sort of performances they had been hoping to.
“I think we finally have that team chemistry and we’re putting things together and peaking at the right time of the season.
“Hopefully it can continue for another three or four weeks.”
On Sunday, it was an even first quarter, before the Gators blew the game open in the second and third quarters.
Lino said this was how they played a lot of their basketball.
“We come out and take the brunt of their full force,” he said. “We stay together and keep within striking distance.
“Half way through the second quarter we pile on the points and the team work shows through.
“We start running the ball more and the shots start falling. Then by the end of the third quarter we’re up by 30 points.”
Lino said this was driven by how the players were feeling, but said it had been about working out what worked and playing together as a team.
He said that sort of form had shown how far they’ve come this season.
Samson Rocker top scored with 21 points in just 13 minutes. The minutes were shared around, with no one playing more than 24 minutes.
Lino said they had made a point of not relying on only a few players.
“At the start of the year we didn’t want to rely on five or six players to carry the load,” he said.
“As a coach I have a lot of confidence in the players from one to 11.”
The Gators now face the Pakenham Warriors in a best-of-three semi final series, with a grand final spot on the line.
Game one will be played at Altona.
Lino said he was expecting a great match up.
“We beat them both teams during the season, but it was by a combined score of five points, with one game going to overtime.
“It will be a good match up and there’s a bit of rivalry going on. They’re dangerous in the interior.”
