By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Pakenham Warriors and the Golden State Warriors share much more than just a nickname.
Both the Big V Division 2 side and the NBA franchise are on the rise in their respective competitions, have a great blend of youth and experience and have championship aspirations.
And both have their own ‘splash brothers’.
The dynamic Golden State backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson is exhilarating to watch.
They can light up the scoreboard at any given moment with a barrage of outside bombs and they set a fast-paced tempo that lights a fire under their team mates on both ends of the floor.
Pakenham Big V rookies Lee Belton and Matt Darcy would hope to have a similar impact on their own Warriors team.
But for now, the teenagers just can’t wait to test themselves on the big stage.
“It’s a great experience, getting to play Big V and being able to learn from all the older boys,” Belton, a 17-year-old two-guard, said.
Both youngsters are bullish about their team’s chances and point guard Darcy, 16, has his fingers crossed that Pakenham can progress through the season without the injury battles they faced throughout 2013.
“With Jeff (Reid) being the main scorer last season, it was hard at times for guys to step up and have more of the scoring focus,” Darcy observed.
Belton predicted the key to success this season would be about getting an even contribution from across head coach Ryan Rogers’ exceptionally deep playing roster.
“Nobody cares about their numbers or anything like that,” he said.
“It’s just all the boys trying to win and have fun.”
For his part, Darcy said he hopes to bring even more leadership to a side that is stacked with lead-by-example characters.
“I’d hope to bring even more leadership to the team, even though I’m a bit younger, and to shoot some threes and make the defence spread,” he said.
Belton wants to use his voice, whether on the court or the bench, and add his own scoring punch whenever he’s called upon.
He said the side was aiming to be more athletic in running the floor this season and he is doing plenty of ‘extras’ – shooting and dribbling practice outside the gym – in preparation for when his number is called.
The Pakenham side is fresh off returning from a pre-season camp at Trafalgar.
Warriors star and leader James Topp said the camp was “fantastic for getting to know a lot of the new guys on the team”.
“I think it’ll give us a subconscious advantage on court, too,” he said.
“There’ll be a natural progression for the playing group after spending time away together.
“The camp brought some of the guys out of their shells and took them out of their comfort zones and it’s been great for the leadership of all the guys.”
Topp said the camp had both a physical and a mental focus but the biggest improvement from within the group would come on the mental side.
“We got quite a bit out of the two rookies in particular – Lee Belton and Matt Darcy,” Topp said.
“They showed a real desire to present to the group in a strong manner and they proved they didn’t just want to make up the numbers.”
The Pakenham Warriors will host fellow Division 2 sides Maccabi and Oakleigh in a triangular series this Saturday at Beaconhills College on Toomuc Valley Road in Pakenham from 4pm.
They will then battle it out with Coburg at The Colosseum at Cardinia Life on Sunday.
