By Tara Murray
Kyneton Tigers are hoping a mid season break will give them a chance to regroup in the Country Basketball League north west competition.
The Tigers have two weekends without games and enter the break, sitting 1-3-1.
Coach Mick Ryan said he had mixed feelings on how the season had panned out so far.
“I had expectations to try and be ahead of the ledger,” he said. “Realistically, we are a new team coming together and it’s going to take time to gel.
“When we don’t have continuity at training it doesn’t help. I’m not over the moon about our form, but I’m realistic where we are at.”
Ryan said they had shown glimpses of some really good basketball but had also let themselves down.
He said if they played the way they did against Maryborough Blazers, which the Tigers won before the game was declared a draw due to a scoring issue, they would be very competitive in every game.
Ryan said the back court of Louis Bongiovanni and Aidan Darmanin was playing well together and big man Matthew Quinn was having an impact at both ends of the court, when not affected by foul trouble.
“All our starters have played heavy minutes,” Ryan said.
“The top five or six guys have been great and there’s a few key guys on the bench.
“The second unit is at every training session and working hard to push the starters.
“I’ve told them they need to earn their minutes.”
The Tigers have a tough period before the Christmas break.
“We’ve dug a hole for ourselves,” Ryan said.
“I still have aspirations to play finals. We have the rest of the season to set up and these matches [before Christmas] will determine where we finish.”
He said they were also focused on making sure they were being competitive and earning respect in the competition.
The Tigers next match is November 24 against Bendigo Braves.
MORE CBL NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/scrappy-game-enough-for-a-welcome-win-for-bacchus-marsh-lions/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/kyneton-tigers-battle-for-win/
