For Shepparton Gators 2021 is a game of letters and numbers.
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How many Ws and Ls Josh Waight’s men pick up will decide whether they will breakthrough the threshold and progress into the Big V Championship.
The side’s division one charge begins tomorrow, taking on Camberwell at Balwyn High School.
And following a scrapped season last year, Waight revealed a venture into finals territory was non-negotiable for the Gators.
“The boys are really excited, they are super keen to get on the court and represent Shepparton,” he said.
“We want to make finals, that’s our goal. It’s a great unknown with there not being any competition last year, so that’s made it a little bit tough to see where everyone is at.
“But finals is the goal and then from there just seeing where it can take us.”
Knuckling down and fine tuning the basics throughout pre-season has been Waight’s prime focus in the lead-up to tomorrow night’s competition opener.
“Rebounding is an issue, just really making sure we find a body,” he said.
“In a couple of practice matches we’ve played; it has a been an issue we have seen.
“We’re working on that, so hopefully come round one we are on top of that and we’re really locking in, making sure we’re boxing in and finding bodies all the time.”
The Gators went six and six in the Country Basketball League over summer, making the four before being barrelled out by Wallan in the semi-final.
Results aside, blooding youth was the tournament's main payload according to assistant coach and player Matt Bartlett.
“Usually we’ve used (the CBL) for probably not the right process that we want it to be, which is development, but we haven’t had the personnel in there to do so,” Bartlett said.
“It was a real success in that regard, that we were able to develop guys, see if they’re primed and have a spot for them to go in Big V.”
Import restrictions as a product of COVID-19 will shake up the league this year.
Their loss could even be construed as a significant hinderance.
However, Waight and Bartlett have instead chosen to flip the situation by building on the local presence at Shepparton Sports Stadium.
“We have 11 locals who have come through our program which is a testament to our junior coaches who have put in a lot of hard work with these athletes many years ago,” Waight said.
“It is exciting to see them on the courts and see them reap the rewards of the hard work they’ve put in.”
Bartlett, who has been a staple member of the Gators for some time, will headline a cast of Shepparton natives turning out for the side this year.
“You’ll now see a lot of guys who grew up in the Shepparton area in the group,” Bartlett said.
“All our young kids are stepping up and showing that they really want to play at a high level which is fantastic.
“If you come along to games, you’ll definitely see people you recognise, as opposed to some other seasons.”
Placing full faith in his young contingent, Bartlett reinforced Waight's earlier statement.
That finals are, and always will be, on the Gators’ radar.
“I haven’t played in a Shepparton team where we haven’t been successful, so finals is always on our mind,” Bartlett said.
“It’s very difficult coming into a season where we’re a little bit unsure about what’s happened with other teams and things like that over COVID-19, so it’s a bit of an unknown.
“But if we take care of what we’re meant to take care of, finals is a minimum.”
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