Warriors wounds and woes

By JARROD POTTER
PAKENHAM fought valiantly against the Coburg Giants and despite an increasing injury list, the Warriors were only five points adrift in their 65-71 loss.
Without go-to star Sean Armstrong (groin/hamstring), Jake Heyen (ankle), Charlie Taualii’s (hamstring hindering play) and guard James Magrath (leg), the Warriors were light on for personnel, but what they lacked in quantity, they made up for in quality.
Bill Winder, with 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Daniel Jeavons, 17 points, 13 rebounds and two huge blocks, kept the Warriors going in spite of the injury crisis surrounding them.
Taualii (seven points, two rebounds) kept plugging away even with the hamstring injury to give the Warriors much needed defensive height and size against the Giants’ talls.
Tyson Harding and Tim Eakins ran the ball well in Armstrong’s absence to set up Winder and Jeavons in the paint.
A failed set-play late in the fourth quarter became a costly turnover to put the Warriors down by the final margin and Pakenham couldn’t assail the deficit.
Daniel Stow didn’t have his usual dead-eye aim from the perimeter, shooting at 1/10 from three-point territory.
Pakenham coach Leon Stapley was pleased with the team’s effort and thought the side could have won, even when you put into consideration the lack of bench players and rotations caused by their injury list.
“We managed to go with them right from the word go,” Stapley said.
“It was a very close match, but it was just one of those plays that didn’t go our way that put them two plays in front.
“That’s what cost us – another two minutes in the game and we could’ve had them.”
The result holds more esteem when you take into account Pakenham’s round 11 68-99 loss to the Giants away last month.
“The last time we played Coburg at Coburg, we lost by 31, so we’ve cut that almost down to a win, so at least we’re doing something right,” Stapley said.
“Happy with the way we played but disappointed we couldn’t get the W.”
Stapley said Jeavons’ numbers to date this season have belied his ability – with this week’s double-double hopefully showing people what the forward is capable of creating.
“With the scoring, Daniel just hasn’t been there for the last couple of months, but he’s been getting the rebounds and doing all the things people aren’t looking at, so it’s good to have him firing this week and keeping it up,” Stapley said.
Pakenham gets the bye this weekend – impeccably timed to help them get over their mounting injury list before taking on Western Port at home on Saturday 16 July at 6pm.