Tara Murray
The Sunbury Jets aren’t getting ahead of themselves despite two successive wins in the Big V women’s state championship division.
After an interrupted start to the season the Jets have now got their full squad available and it’s making a difference on court, with four wins total for the season.
Imports Maria Jespersen and Ida Andersson are a couple of games in and have made an instant impact.
For Jets coach Ben Draper, having everyone available has made a big difference.
“We had a lot of players out with injury and COVID,” he said.
“They’ve come back into the team and we have a more balanced side. We have had a couple of games where we had six players who were all guards and have struggled at times
“Having Ida and Maria has just been phenomenal. One of things is that they’ve played together before and that was really helpful with the chemistry between the two already pre-existing.”
Draper said he rated Jespersen and Andersson as two of the best imports in the league. He said while they have been putting up big stats on the court, the input is even bigger off it.
“They have been really good with the young girls and giving them confidence to play and support them.
“They’re sharing the ball around. They [the other girls] are loving having the imports there. It had been good for them to play under pressure and learn to perform under pressure early in the season.
“Now having Ida and Maria is giving them even more confidence.”
One player to really benefit from the imports is Olivia Ogston.
Draper said after getting an opportunity about three to four weeks ago, she has really stepped up.
“She’s done some nice things and is coming on leaps and bounds,” he said.
“She’s gone through the roof and now with Maria being able to help her, the two are working really well together.”
Despite doubling their wins total in their last two matches, Draper said they weren’t getting ahead of themselves.
Draper said they wanted to continue develop and see where it took them.
“Two wins doesn’t make a season,” he said. “Speak to me if we win six or seven games in a row.
“But is is exciting. The young girls were struggling with losses and understanding how the season goes and seeing that they weren’t that far off.
“Now we’re seeing we’re not far off with a bit more depth. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves.
The Jets have a double header on the weekend.
They are set to face the Chelsea Gulls on Saturday night, having beaten them earlier in the season.
The bigger test is on Sunday, against the McKinnon Cougars.
The Cougars won the first time round, by the Jets had neither of their imports.
The Jets men’s side is set to face both Wyndham and McKinnon on the weekend.
