During the past 12 months Shepparton Gators basketball has undergone a radical transformation.
With talented tactician Josh Waight at the helm, on the court the Shepparton boys have created an entertaining yet tough style of play that has already taken them to the precipice of championship glory.
While off the court, the game has soared to levels of popularity Shepparton has never seen before, with the club’s marketing prowess having the town swept up in Gator fever.
Put simply, there has never been a more exciting time to be involved with the Gators and in 2023 they have one goal in mind.
Championship glory.
This comes after the Gators fell agonisingly short last year, falling to Bellarine Storm in the grand final series, sparking a fierce determination to go one step better.
And the journey to that ultimate goal starts this weekend, as the Gators make the long trip South to Warrnambool to face one of their traditional rivals in the Seahawks.
Waight said his team had been itching to get back out on the court and show they will be contenders once again.
“Everyone is really excited to get back into it,” Waight said.
“The boys are really motivated to take that next step, but we also know it is going to be very hard to get back with the competition set to be so strong. Which the boys are well aware of and excited for the challenge.
“But the fact that our journey is finally starting up is very exciting and we cannot wait to get out there and see how we stack up.”
Personnel-wise, the Gators are expected to sport an exciting new-look this season.
Boom international recruits Derek Murphy (US) and Josh Kooiman (New Zealand) have landed in Shepparton and are ready and raring to get into it.
They will bring an injection of firepower to complement the existing core of stars such as Sam Beks, Matthew Bartlett and Tom Frame ‒ with the line-up set to be one of the most talented in the club’s history.
Waight expected the pair of recruits to instantly become fan favourites, with their skill-sets poised to take the team to a whole new level.
“Josh is a point guard with a high IQ that can shoot the ball really well and get his teammates involved, so we are very excited to see him hit the floor as he fits a real need for us in that position,” he said.
“Derek on the other hand will be a bit of a highlight reel, he plays above the ring, he’s a physical beast that can defend multiple positions and he shoots the ball well from beyond the arc as well.
“So we can’t wait to see what these guys can add to our team as we push for the title.”
The big question now is how will this new-look team fare on the court?
Well, we will get our first taste this Saturday night against Warrnambool in a match Waight expected to be a tough grind from start to finish.
“It is a really tough trip and we haven’t had much luck down there in recent years, so hopefully that can change this weekend,” he said.
“They are a really quality team and we know they will challenge us in a lot of different ways for the entire four quarters.
“But we are excited to head down there and feel that we have a group that can really take it to them.
“I feel a long road trip like this is the perfect way for us to start our season and continue to bond as a unit.”
Shepparton Gators will begin the 2023 season against Warrnambool Seahawks on Saturday with tip-off at 7.30pm at The Arc Sports Stadium.