Pakenham Warriors coach Braden Venning has poured praise on the leadership of Kaleb Beveridge, whose first quarter helped seal a do-or-die win on Saturday night.
The Youth League 1 side is through to the preliminary final against McKinnon on the back of a 79-63 victory over Camberwell.
The margin was in the 10-20 range for almost the entirety of the last three quarters after Beveridge’s shooting and defensive intent in a 10-point, two-rebound first quarter gave Pakenham the early running.
“Defensively, he was massive for us, offensively, he always does what he does so I’m really stoked and pleased to have someone like that in my team,” Venning said.
Even when he wasn’t making baskets, his potency and size in offence took Camberwell’s focus away from some other Warriors shooters, which allowed their spread of contributors to shine bright.
“He’s got no ego and is happy to do anything the team needs,” Venning added.
“To see him grow in leaps and bounds and take ownership at such a young age is really cool to see and is something we’ll lean on throughout next game and hopefully one more.”
He finished the first quarter with 12 points, 14 rebounds and a block, standing up not only in the first quarter, but also when Pakenham was challenged early in the fourth frame.
His dunk four minutes into the contest got the almost full house on their feet at Cardinia Life.
Saturday’s performance was the latest in a catalogue of significant performances in his first season in charge.
He is averaging 17 points, 11 rebounds and two steals per game and has carried the captaincy load since Ethan Small went down with an ACL rupture earlier in the season.
“I’ve loved it, it’s a great group so it makes my job easy,” Beveridge said of the leadership.
“We’ve got some others as well who make my job easy.
“I’m just trying to lead by example and how I conduct myself on the court and trying to pick people up when they get down.
“I’m trying to keep a really positive mindset.”
Pakenham returns to the court on Saturday night at GESAC at 7pm.
