The growth and development of Wallan Basketball has hit a new high, with the club having three teams accepted in the Big V competition.
The club announced last week that next season they would have a women’s, men’s and youth league men’s team in the state’s top competition.
Women’s coach Warren Taylor said the whole club was on a high on the back of the announcement.
He said they had expected their men’s and youth league men’s sides to be accepted, but had been more hopeful than anything with the women’s side.
The women’s side is only in its second year of competition in the Country Basketball League, while the men’s side is in its third.
“It was a hard sell with the women’s side, as we have no under-16s or under-18s to get players from,” he said.
“We’ve got 16 girls on the training court now and we could have another 10 training soon due to the announcement.
“Our under-20s men’s side won a title [Victorian Junior Basketball League] and there’s plenty of depth, so it’s no surprise they got in.
“The committee is jumping through the roof with the announcement.”
The Panthers three teams will all play in division 2.
Taylor said the current women’s playing group would likely make up most of the side come the Big V season. Taylor has previously coached Craigieburn and Hume City Broncos to Big V championships.
Several players have also played in the Big V.
Taylor said he expected Alex Darby, would likely remain with the Sunbury Jets, who have been promoted to state championship division.
“Our current playing group has 13 games of try outs to try and seal their spot in the team,” Taylor said.
“We’ll be looking to add a couple of players and I’m already putting feelers out.”
On the weekend, the Panthers won both their matches to make it three wins from the first three matches.
On Saturday night, Panthers were made to work hard for the win, scrapping over the line against Wangaratta, winning 52-48
The Panthers trailed at half time, before hitting the front in the third quarter. Wangaratta started to find their range from behind the arc in the last quarter, but the Panthers though held on for the win.
Alex Darby was the only player to score double figures for the Panthers hitting 17 points.
On Sunday against Seymour, the Panthers scored a 71-61 win on the back of a strong first half.
The Panthers led by double figures at half time and were able to maintain that in the second half.
Tracey Tuesley, Gemma Jackson and Jayda Hunter scored double figures.
The men’s side had a mixed weekend.
On Saturday night they were comprehensively beaten by Wangaratta Warriors, losing 81-49. Kane Molloy was the only player to reach double figures.
Against Seymour on Sunday, the Panthers needed overtime to win their first game of the season.
They eventually got over the line 82-80.
Jaak Ponsford and Molloy had massive games, shooting 26 and 24 points respecetively.
