Injuries have put the Craigieburn Eagles behind the eight ball in the Big V women’s division 1-2 season.
The Eagles sit 2-4 after seven rounds with coach Tobi Swinley said it had been a really tough start to the year.
“We’ve been very injury-riddled,” he said. “We lost our point guard in the first half of the first game.
“We then had a knee injury, two more ankle injuries and busted thumb, all to different people.
“We’ve had a hard time getting our import onto the court as well.
“It’s not the start we’re after. A lot of it is out of our control, injuries are just part of basketball.”
Jasmine Solano has stepped up from youth league to help out in the guard spot while they’ve been short.
Swinley said they were hoping to have Myra Wood back in the next two games, while they were also hoping to have their import on the court soon.
He got his wish with import Briana Gray suiting up for the first time on the weekend.
Gray is a decorated American import with recent experience playing in Australia in some of the highest competitions including National Basketball League 1 and Big V state champ with the Hume City Broncos and the McKinnon Cougars.
This season division 1 and 2 have been combined with the two competitions split midway through the season.
Swinley said this puts them in a tough position so early on.
“It puts us under pressure,” he said. “We’re under the thumb if we want to make division 1.
“If we had the whole season it would be no real issue, but we’re under pressure now.
“With a full strength squad we can do some real damage.”
Swinley said he was confident with the squad that they had put together and they had some really talented players.
“We have fought really well and the score doesn’t really reflect how hard we have fought out games,” he said.
The Eagles this week faced the Coburg Giants.
The Eagles were able to get their second win of the season, winning 75-56.
Gray top scored with 22 points.
In the men’s division 2 competition, the Eagles had a big win against Wallan.
The Eagles won the first three quarters to open up a big lead. The last quarter was closer with the Panthers winning that by two points, but the damage had been done with the Eagles winning 93-72.
Max Viitala top scored with 21.
Tara Murray
