When you are 10-1 and on top of the women’s Big V division 1 ladder, staying there is the top priority.
Whittlesea Pacers coach Shannon Bodley said the loss a couple of weeks ago to the side he rates as the one to beat, Geelong, ensured the Pacers were not getting complacent.
It was a result that reminded the Pacers of what they need to do to keep the pressure on the other sides.
“I’m pretty happy with the start to the season,” Bodley said before the weekend’s game against Western Port, won 63-55 by the Pacers.
“Geelong jumped us at the start. We out-scored them after quarter-time but it wasn’t enough.
“It kept us on our toes … you do not take any game easily. It’s a very close competition.”
Bodley said that defensively his side had been poor at times and that it was an area that needed work.
He said that in the first seven games of the season, the Pacers did not leak many points – but that level of performance had slipped in more recent times.
“We need to close down the defence so they do not score as much,” he said.
“Offensively, we have been better but still have some things to work on. We’ve scored 90 in more than four games at a high shooting percentage.”
Import Kimertria Hayden remains the star for the Pacers.
She is averaging 23.4 points a game but the key to the Pacers’ success has been sharing the ball around.
“They are double-teaming her – she is a target,” Bodley said of the opposition tactics.
“Kimertria is very team oriented. If they double-team her, she will pass it around.
“We have a good spread and it’s something we’ve worked with Kimertria on.”
Bodley said Emmie O’Nial had started to find her feet after moving across from the Sunbury Jets, while Hayley Cooper was returning to form.
As for the second half of the season, he believes the Pacers have now become the “hunted”.
“We are treating every game like mini-finals to try and maintain that challenge and motivation,” he said.
The Whittlesea men’s state championship side fell just short against Bulleen 70-65.
Both sides struggled in the first half and were shooting at less than 29 per cent.
The Pacers led 26-25 at the main break but continued to struggle.
In the fourth quarter, the Pacers finally upped their scoring levels by making 26 points but it was too little too late.
