CBL - Gators lean on generation next across double-header

By Tyler Maher

Jan 18, 2021

A home Country Basketball League double-header for the Shepparton Gators at the weekend proved fruitful — just not in the wins column on the North East men's table.

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Matt Bartlett's troops found out the hard way on Saturday night how deep the big-men stocks run in some of the teams across the league when they took on Myrtleford, before going down to Wodonga on Sunday.

With both games at Shepparton Sports Stadium it gave supporters the chance to see the next generation of Gators in action, with plenty of them impressing.

“They're obviously not the results you want, you'd always rather be winning,” Bartlett said.

“But at the same time this year is purely about development for our guys.

“We were able to get 12 guys on the floor and 11 of them scored, so they all were able to get some meaningful minutes.”

Nick Dodd had his work cut out for him against the imposing Saints, scoring 10 points in the 69-48 defeat.

Boston Dowling (nine), Dylan Wayman (eight), Nathan Grace (six) and Jordan Birch (five) were also heavily among the action for the home side.

“Myrtleford had some really big guys, it was really a bit like men against boys out there,” Bartlett said.

“But everyone has been really missing basketball, so to just be back out there and getting some enjoyment out of it is great.

“I was really impressed with Jordy Munro and Boston played some really big minutes.

“Nick obviously carried the weight for us in the big-man department, I wouldn't like to know where we would have been without him.”

Dodd backed it up with 22 points in Sunday's contest against the Wolves — joined by Wayman (11) and Nathan Grace (11) as the more prolific scorers — in a tight 74-70 defeat.

“We were up at one stage and could have continued to play our main group,” Bartlett said.

“But we're still just trying to get minutes into all of the guys and see if they can play in the league and be good prospects for our Big V side.”

Liam Dodd (seven), Ethan Batey (seven), Ryan Sarkady (six) and Lachlan Cooper (six) were also on the board in the clash.

THE GAMES

Shepparton Gators 48 lt

Myrtleford Saints 69

Nick Dodd 10 points

Boston Dowling nine

Shepparton Gators 70 lt

Wodonga Wolves 74

Nick Dodd 22

Nathan Grace 11