The Sunbury Jets are leaving no stone unturned as they try and find the answers to get over the line in the Big V men’s championship division.
The Jets have found themselves in the thick of it in a lot of matches, but haven’t been able to get the wins on the board.
They find themselves sitting in ninth spot with just six wins for the season.
Jets coach Nathan Heywood said consistency was the biggest thing for them.
“In patches in games we’ve been able to compete and be right up there,” he said. “Lapses have cost us against good teams who have punished us on the scoreboard and have made it hard to claw back.
Heywood said they knew this season would be a bit of a development year as they went with a younger side.
He said there were lots of positive signs despite not getting the results they were after.
“We knew being a little bit younger and not having as much depth on the bench, that this [inconsistency] was to be expected.
“We will be better for this in the months and years to come and we will ride through this.
“It’s positive seeing so many youngsters get their opportunity at this level.”
Heywood highlighted Lucas Carnell as one who was getting significant minutes, along with Zak Martinez, who has come up from youth league permanently to help fill a void.
“To see them evolve has been positive as we’ve had injuries and others playing through injuries.
“Every team had injuries and we aren’t using them as an excuse, it’s just the reality at the moment.”
On Saturday night, the Jets were able to get a confidence boosting win against the Blackburn Vikings.
The Jets led by five points after three quarters before finishing with a 37-23 final quarter to get over the line, 98-78.
Five players scored double figures led by Koby Skenderis with 17 points.
Heywood said they have some winnable games in the back part of the season and they were looking to finish the season on a high.
That starts with matches against the Keysborough Cougars and Pakenham Warriors this weekend.
“We spoke after Sunday’s [previous week] and identified how our strengths can give us our best opportunity to put our best foot forward.
“We have nothing to lose. We just have to compete the best we can.”
Meanwhile, Heywood said they were hoping their youth league side would do enough to stay in division 1 next season.
He said they had been hurt by players going up into the top side.
In the women’s championship division, the Jets had a narrow loss to the Sherbrooke Suns, 80-78.
The Jets had just seven players and after leading at half time, lost both the third and fourth quarters narrowly.
Abby Hildebrand top scored with 21 points.
The Jets sit sixth on the ladder.
