A 6-15 2023 record in 2023 belies the silver linings that came out of the season for Pakenham.
The Warriors were immediately competitive under new coach Rob Dielemans; while they were winless until round seven, the average losing margin across the first five games was just eight points.
Exposure to that high pressure basketball positioned them well to get their first win of the season against Southern Peninsula, and they continued to compete in most games they played.
Victories over McKinnon, Hume and Camberwell, and a strong outing where they pushed semi-finalists Bulleen until the very end in their last game, proved what they could do at their best.
“The process was there, so that was really helpful, and then our ability to close out games and stay in game plans and structures for a longer period was a big thing,” Dielemans said.
“Structurally, I felt the girls improved at both ends of the floor, and got more familiar with what I was trying to achieve, which was to get up and down and lock teams down the other end of the floor.
“Being calm and (having) better decision-making towards the end of games was the thing we probably improved the most throughout the year – along with playing to structure.
“We were able to be more poised (late) in the game as we got beyond round seven, which was pleasing given we were undersized as a team and didn’t have the outright explosiveness on the scoring end, which says volumes about where we’re at.”
The Warriors remained largely consistent in the face of injuries through the middle of the season, and the defence stood up.
Pakenham conceded fewer points than all the teams outside the top four, which kept them in games given the lack of height.
The coach highlighted Sam Romanowski and Jacinta Maxwell as players who stood up defensively throughout 2023.
“You could throw those two at most players and you’d get a good result,” he said.
“Very rarely did they lower their colours, and if someone did play well, it was because (they) were making tough shots.
“Hopefully we can find those missing pieces of the puzzle, and some scoring punch and a 6’3-6’4 big.”
In her first full season with the senior team, Ebony Sans showed plenty of promise and was fifth in the league for three pointers made, given a minimum of 50 shots.
Another who gained confidence was Hayley Letts, who adapted to the physicality of senior basketball coming off the bench.
Dielemans was also full of praise for Canadian import Haille Nickerson, who was one of only three players in the league to average more than 20 points per game, while going at more than five defensive rebounds.
Nickerson was also well clear of anyone in the league for making free throws – given a minimum of 20 shots – making 78 of 89 at a percentage of 88.
“She was so consistent throughout the whole year, she was a rock at the offensive end of the floor and was able to make free throws when they were needed, which was really good,” Dielemans said.
