The Sunbury Jets’ squad for their first tilt at Big V state championship basketball is taking shape.
Having already announced the re-signing of captain Chelsea Burns, all-star five guard Monique Stevens and star import Courtney Duever, the Jets last week named several other players who will return.
They include Kayla Theodore, Alex Darby, Genevieve McCorkell and Sharon Plichta, the latter moving into an assistant coaching role.
Rebecca Marshall, who was part of the Jets’ youth league side last season, will step up to the senior side.
Jets coach Kennedy Kereama said all these players would be important parts of the Jets’ state championship side.
The Jets also named four new recruits.
Bethany Theodore, Kayla’s sister, is returning to play in Sunbury. She had been playing with Bulleen in the youth league championship, in which she was nominated for that division’s rising star award last season.
Kereama said Bethany would add depth to the guard position.
“Beth has settled in really well and it’s great for us to have local players coming back to help us continue to push our program in a successful direction,” he said.
“Beth will bring some speed, quickness, defensive energy and creativity to our offence.”
She will be joined at the Jets by the New Zealand trio of guard Shea Crotty and forwards Jessica Slade and Rebecca Van Kuyk.
Slade and Van Kuyk played for Werribee against the Jets last season in division 1, both averaging double-doubles across the season.
Slade was nominated for Big V division 1 player of the year, while Van Kuyk’s defensive efforts saw her nominated for defensive player of the year.
The Kiwi trio will bring some international experience, extra size and rebounding power to the side.
“All these girls are great competitors, workers and – most importantly – great people,” Kereama said.
“They are all looking forward to making contributions around the club and getting to know the Sunbury community.”
The Jets are hoping to make their final player announcement in the next couple of weeks.
Josiah Smith and Chris Tighe will join Plichta as assistant coaches this season.
Kereama said that as he could potentially be absent for commitments with the New Zealand Tall Ferns during the season, it was important to have a strong coaching line-up.
