Tara Murray
There’s still plenty of moving parts for the Sunbury Jets as they build into the Big V women’s state championship division.
After a less than ideal off season with a late coaching change, the Jets side has come together late.
With their imports still to arrive, Jets coach Monique Stevens has had a tough initiation.
“There’s heaps of moving parts,” she said. “We still have two imports to add to the group and we have a very young group.
“When you have two 30 point losses it is tough. There are still really good signs and there’s still good energy around the team.
“When we put it together it looks really good.”
Stevens said it had been a seesaw of a season so far for them but the group is excited for every match.
She said they were hopeful that one of their imports would take to the court this week, having arrived in the country already.
Their other import is finishing up in finals in Germany and they are now just waiting for her visa to clear.
Jess Bygate, a championship winner at the Jets, has been flying in and out to play.
Stevens said they would likely have her along with their two imports for one match.
“We have her for a couple more games,” she said. “The one game we have all three it will shock that team.
“She’s been a nice little addition for us.”
On Saturday night, the Jets had a tough night out against the Bulleen Boomers.
After trailing early, the Jets struggled to match it with the Boomers, losing 83-43.
Stevens said they always knew that it would be a tough battle against an experienced side.
“We weren’t as disciplined as we would have liked in offensive sets and that is something that we will have to work on.
“Sometimes we need to make decisions and get into something we know that we can execute.”
Abby Hildebrand top scored with 10 points for the Jets as they struggled to hit the scoreboard.
Stevens said with a young side they expected to get better as the season goes on.
One of the young stars is Chloe Angove who returned to the Jets this season.
“A week out for the season she says, ‘hey, I want to come back and play’,” Stevens said.
“It was a no brainer with the experience that she brings. She might be a bit rusty, but she’ll get better and better.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Jets who face Wyndham on Saturday night.
Stevens said they were expecting a fast paced game.
“We need to fix up what we can from the last game,” he said. “The girls are quick to move on and look at what we need to learn from this game.
“Everyone is on the same wavelength.”
