Tara Murray
New Macedon Ranges Rockies women’s coach Stacey Stewart is looking forward to the challenge of the Country Basketball League north-west season.
Stewart is no stranger to basketball in the area and has been coach of the Sunbury Jets youth league women’s side this year.
She was a finalist for the Big V youth league women’s division 2 coach of the year.
Stewart said it’s an exciting opportunity at the Rockies.
“I’m super excited and honoured when I got the phone call saying they wanted me to come across and join them,” she said.
“We want to try and get our first win in history.”
Stewart said it had been tough on the girls the first couple of years without a win on the board, but there was a lot of encouraging signs with players wanting to return and play again this year.
“It’s been hard on the player to be able to get the confidence up and want to come back again,” she said.
“I’ve had a few convos and it’s exciting that players want to come on board and give it a go.
“They are a lovely bunch of young ladies and it’s nice to have them back.”
The Rockies have had some young sides in the competition which ranges from 14-year-olds through to open age.
Stewart said they would again have a young side.
She said with players of all ages, the experience of other sides does come to the fore.
“They’re able to play against older and more experienced players with a good basketball knowledge,” she said.
“It is probably our downside but it’s part of the process. To have the core group come back and hopefully they settle in.”
Stewart said they would have some players under-16 this year with a lot of the group to be around the 20-21 mark.
She said they would have a few players in their late 20s to complement the group.
Among those returning from last season are Cara Beattie, Lauren Trakosas, Grace Cooper, Adrienne Cameron and Isabelle Ogston.
The first of those three played under Stewart at the Jets in the Big V competition. Cameron played for the Jets championship women’s side,
Ogston has also played Big V.
Stewart said it is different for the girls playing in youth league and then stepping in the open age competition.
She said they also had some players stepping out of the Victorian Junior Basketball League.
Stewart said they were all keen for the season to get underway.
“It was a slow start to the pre-season,” she said. “We are now close and can not wait to get back out there.”
The Rockies start their season on Saturday night against the Maryborough Blazers with the men’s team playing afterwards.
Meanwhile, Mick Ryan will again coach the men’s side.
It will be his fourth year as coach of the Rockies men’s side.
