Tara Murray
Whittlesea Pacers have got off on the right foot to start the Big V season.
With plenty of things going on off the court to help the association move forward, things have taken a step forward on the court too.
The Pacers have three sides this season, men’s division 2 and youth league men’s and women’s.
New coaching director Shannon Bodley said they were happy with how things were tracking so far.
“It’s been a really good start,” he said.
“The youth league men are sitting 4-0 and the girls lost on the weekend and are 4-1.
“It’s a pretty good start for both of them.
“The men have won one game, but had a tough road trip to Mildura and were just pipped.
“They’ve played Altona and Mildura who are two of the top teams.”
Bodley said the men’s team was a mix of youth and experience. He said they were confident the team could have a good season.
He said they could still add another player in the coming weeks.
“They’re still finding their feet with some new players coming into the side,” he said.
“We’ve got a good mix with some of the boys have have come back.
“Jason Dirkx, Brendan Hughes, Chris Petroro were in the team when it was a division 1 team when Ross Moll coached.”
One of the new signings is Jorden Adnam, who is the brother of South East Melbourne Phoenix captain Kyle Adnam.
Bodley said Jorden is nothing like his brother on the court.”
On the youth league side, Bodley said they were excited with what they were building.
The men’s team is averaging more than 100 points a game.
The women’s side is a brand new team, after the club didn’t have a side last year.
“Anthony Archangel the coach bought some players with him.
“Isabella Ryan is a Pacers junior and has been playing well. The side goes eight or nine players deep.”
For Bodley, who has returned to the Pacers, having coach both their women’s and youth league women’s sides previously, it’s about building for the future.
He said he was already putting some things in place so people not only want to come to the club, but stay at the club.
“The senior players have a junior team which they’ve gone to games and training and it’s had a bit of an impact already.
“We’ve got one team in the VC [Victorian Junior Basketball League top division] and they’re 4-0.
“We’ve got some work to do, but it’s really exciting times around the club. We want to build back up and get some good coaches on board.
“We’ve put some good things around and we want people will want to stay.”
