By Jonty Ralphsmith
It’s a sixth sense.
Blink and you’ll miss it, and opposition teams often do.
But regular Pakenham Warriors youth observers are accustomed to seeing Dylan Jenkinson link up with Cooper Lanting on-court.
Jenkinson, league leader this season for assists, will pass it off in Lanting’s direction as soon as he receives it.
Lanting knows it’s coming and generally converts.
That tends to be followed by a signature celebration from the skipper, who has seen teenager Lanting’s confidence skyrocket this season.
“It’s so much fun to play with him,” said Jenkinson.
“I have the ball in my hands a lot and it’s nice because I know if I dribble here, he can slip into this spot and take a shot, we bounce off each other well.”
Lanting chimes in: “It started last year where he wasn’t even looking at me, he would just throw it (where I needed it to be) and I would run onto it,” he said.
“He would have trust in me to just be there…I can’t explain it.
“We get along and it’s so easy on the court.
“If I was to take a night and look at my stats, especially threes in the corner, it’s him throwing me the ball, a skip pass cross court, the defence lapse out and it would land in my palm and he just had the confidence in me to take a risk and get me the ball.”
The pair have been nominated for the league All-Star Five team.
Lanting is averaging 16 points per game, while Jenkinson is going at 5.68 assists and seven rebounds.
Underlining the speed of his rise, last season Lanting wasn’t even a regular starter; earlier this year, he was awarded a scholarship to Dawson University to play college basketball.
Their journeys will be further interlaced when Lanting leaves later this month, his Super League replacement player set to be Jenkinson.
A player of similar calibre to Lanting is required to fill the spot.
“For me, it’s an honour that ‘Dyl Jenk’ is my accepted replacement,” Lanting said.
Jenkinson has got senior minutes this season, including against a strong RMIT Redbacks team when he played 25 minutes off the bench.
“I know I’m not a loud player, I’m not going to go out there and have 30 points, but I try and put it in the right dude’s hands, and do whatever needs to be done,” Jenkinson said.
“I have been training with the (senior men) this season and filled in for a couple of games so hopefully I can step straight up into it.
“It’s nice to actually play with the bigger boys, it’s a different game and I love it.
“I like to be a bit aggressive especially on the defensive end.”
Meanwhile, youth league women’s player Rhiannon Gallagher has also been nominated for her league’s All-Star Five.
The skipper is point guard for Ben Gaze’s team and has also been afforded substantial minutes in Pakenham’s senior team this year.
“She’s our barometer on offence and defence,” said Pakenham youth coach Gaze.
“Her ability to push the ball and push the tempo and make life difficult for opponents made her a big key for us this year.
“The tempo and intensity changes when she’s on the court.”
Gallagher has made 42 three pointers this year, putting her in the top five of the league, including seven from 11 attempts to lead an upset against Camberwell earlier in the season.
“When she gets hot, she’s hot,” Gaze said.
“She lets them fly.
“That’s a part of her game she’s been working heavily on in the last couple of years.
“She gets feedback and spends time at training improving her technique, whether it’s footwork or hand position, and this year she’s been big on picking the right shots to take in offence.”
