By RUSSELL BENNETT
SOMETIMES it’s through tragedy that a community comes closer together.
On Saturday evening at the Pakenham and District Basketball Association’s Cardinia Life home floor, the local basketball community came together as one to honour one of their own, Peter Williams, who passed away on 16 May after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Peter was involved with the association over a number of years, having most recently coached its 18.3 boys’ team – of which his son Liam is a valued member.
PDBA secretary Marja Fredrickson remembered Peter fondly, telling the Gazette just how much he loved the game of basketball.
“He coached my son in a team called High Flyers, which was a domestic team in which his son played too,” she said.
“His family and his basketball was his life – he was very involved in it all.”
In lieu of flowers, Peter’s family asked for donations to be made to the Pancare Foundation, which provides treatment and care for patients and families affected by pancreatic, liver, biliary and foregut cancers.
The Friday following Peter’s death, a minute’s silence was held at the Warriors’ VJBL game; while on Saturday night the 18.3 boys’ team lined up alongside their Big V brethren to pay their respects.
In a touching tribute, Pakenham’s opponents on Saturday also stood as one with the Warriors and the large crowd. Over $600 was raised on the night for Pancare.
On court, the Warriors’ Big V men paid their own kind of tribute – defeating the Keysborough Cougars 75-66 after trailing by eight points at half-time.
In coach Jeff Reid’s own words, the Warriors were “bullied” by the Cougars in their first encounter of the season – a 24-point whitewash in Round 3.
But Saturday night’s result showed just how far Reid’s side had progressed since.
“The difference between those games early on in the season and now is that we’re getting those stops, we’re learning as a group and we’re not making mistakes in crunch time,” he said.
The Warriors had their issues on the defensive end in the first half on Saturday night, but came out of the locker-room to start the second half with a real purpose – restricting the Cougars’ high-powered offence to just 19 total points over the final two quarters.
“The defense just wasn’t there in the first half and we weren’t playing our style of ball,” Reid said.
“They out-hustled us and just wanted it more – they were playing harder.
“We had to want it more and out-hustle them
“Every possession to start the third was important, the guys grew as a team and their composure was fantastic.”
Reid praised the performances of import guard Darren Galloway (24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists) and Darrell Morgan, who broke through with a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double.
“We needed a big scalp to show we belong in the top five,” Reid said.
“I made sure the guys thought about the last time we played them, and how it felt during the game.
“They bullied us then, but we want our home floor to be a real fortress.”
Reid said the Warriors’ parochial home crowd made a real impact on Saturday night, adding: “It’s (Peter’s passing) not what you want to have people come together for, but it was fantastic seeing so many there.
“The crowd got right into the game and the boys loved it.”
In the first game of Saturday’s double-header, Pakenham’s Big V women were outclassed 88-39 by Casey but Natalie Bjelan again impressed with 14 points and 14 boards.
The men’s side, now fifth on the ladder, will next face the Breakers in a crunch game at Mornington on 13 June from 6pm, while the women’s side takes on Melbourne Uni at home.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Pancare Foundation should visit www.pancare.org.au.
