Tara Murray
A pre-season camp is behind something special for the Whittlesea Pacers youth league men’s side.
With a group of players who had little finals experience, the Pacers are now a win away from a Big V division 2 grand final.
Pacers coach Sam Halpin said it had been a long process to get the group to this stage.
“We started when the COVID-19 restrictions eased last year when you were allowed groups of 10 outside,” he said.
“Our pre-season started really early in October. We had a team bonding game in the lead up to the season.
“We had four hours on the court before a meeting about where we wanted to be as a team.
“We worked out there was something special there.”
With a few players from last year’s squad, the Halpin and Shannon Bodley looked to add a few other pieces.
Halpin said most of the group had never played finals at this level. They worked with the players individually to get the most out of them, as well as a team.
“We had heart to heart conversations about how you see yourself and how we get the best out of them,” he said.
“There’s players I have coached since they were 13 and are now doing things they didn’t know they could do.
“We set them a task and they really took on the challenge and they’ve continued to get better.”
The group went through the regular season with a 17-2 record, the same as minor premiers Keysborough Cougars in their pool.
It meant a qualifying final against the top side in the other pool, the Pakenham Warriors. The Warriors won that final 78-65.
It meant the Pacers had to back it up the next day in an elimination final against the Albury Wodonga Bandits, winning 69-60.
They now face the Cougars for a spot in the grand final. Halpin, who has re-signed for next season, said the two teams had built a rivalry.
“The focus this week is on us and doing us,” he said. “We want to continue what we can control and do what we do best.”
