BIG V PREVIEW – WARRIORS V COUGARS
Pakenham 'Compare Quotes' Warriors Vs Keysborough Cougars
When and Where: Saturday 18th May, 5:00pm @ The Colosseum
Season Series: First Meeting
Current Standings: Warriors (6-3) first, Cougars (3-4) eighth

We welcome the Keysborough Cougars tomorrow night as we head back home after suffering a buzzer beating overtime loss to Maccabi last Sunday on the road.

The initial thoughts for most would be ‘how does the top team, lose to the bottom’, ‘the team must have taken their position for granted’... the truth is sometimes you just don’t make shots.

As frustrating as it was to lose a game that we expected to win and outsiders had us as heavy favourites, we actually did plenty of things right yet just fell short on the day.
 
In looking at the stats sheet post game apart from the lopsided rebound count (due to our poor shot percentage) we ticked off our internal KPI’s only committing 10 turnovers to their 27, we took 17 more shots, had 18 assists and had 18 steals to their seven.

As we have now hit the midpoint of the season, when you take a moment to reflect on the overall state of play, we have lost three games by a combined margin of just 10 points so when you consider where the team has come from, we’re going ok.

Irrespective of the personnel turnover during the offseason and talk that our squad would be a team to beat purely based on names on paper, it actually takes time to learn how to win. Forget the total game plan and structure overhaul, the mentality and culture that existed when I walked through the doors in October last year when half of the squad had experienced a 2-18 season needed the most attention. With 12 of the losses being by more than 15 points and a 48 point drubbing against Keysborough nearly 12 months to the day those memories stay with players and to see all the guys feel special and play with a purpose is the most rewarding for me as a coach.

The Keysborough Cougars played in the championship series last season and despite their current record we are fully aware of the fire power they possess with some talented guys arriving over the off-season period.

The Cougars come in off a 13 point loss against Mornington, in a high scoring affair to currently sit eighth place on the standings but have great depth. Their team is well balanced with American Kevin Benn (11.6ppg & 6.0rpg) leading the way while former Warrior Alistair Granger (11.3ppg & 4.6rpg) and swing man Adam Sliwinski (10.7ppg & 6.8rpg) are having solid seasons. Dettman, Brook and O’Hara are all capable of having significant impact.

For our guys a loss similar to last weekend kick started a five game winning streak back in round three so we know it’s time to focus on the road ahead and not worry about what’s been achieved to date.

Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow night at the game.

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