We’re back baby.
For the first time in about two decades, the Shepparton Gators are about to play a Big V Championship game.
After winning the division one grand final last year, they got promoted to Big V’s top league, essentially the third-highest tier of basketball in the country.
While it’s a monumental achievement for the current squad, it’s very much familiar territory for the club.
Captain Matt Bartlett said he remembered going to Shepparton’s games in the early 2000s, when it won the trophy four times in 10 years.
“I grew up watching them in the championship and Shepparton being a powerhouse, playing massive games against really high-quality teams,” Bartlett said.
“That all came to an end quite abruptly when that squad retired, so it’s been a bit of a grind through the divisions, starting from the bottom.
“This year is going to have lots of little wins for us as individuals and as a group, beating certain teams.
“Our wins might not look like they did last year, but there’s so many more possibilities to really achieve something new on and off the court.”
The Gators were undefeated on their home court last season in division one, only losing three games on their way to a comfortable grand final victory against the RMIT Redbacks.
They will have to work hard to defend home turf on Saturday night, April 6, tipping off at 7pm against Wyndham.
Wyndham finished first on the championship ladder last season before a disappointing finals effort where they flamed out and failed to make the grand final.
They will no doubt be looking to assert dominance early and bully the new kid on the block.
From Shepparton’s perspective, it could be a nasty reality check about what life will be like at the next level.
Or, it could be an opportunity to come out swinging and make a real statement to the rest of the competition.
Bartlett said he ran into the Wyndham coach, who has ties to our region.
He said he had been paying attention to Shepparton and wanted to see how we’d go in the championship.
“He said he’d been watching a lot of film on us and our imports already,” Bartlett said.
“He’ll be well versed, but we will be as well.”
It will also be a new-look for the group as it tries to fit new puzzle pieces into the jigsaw.
American Devin Thomas and Canadian Jayden Coke will debut for the Gators, promising superstar output and likely grabbing starting roles from the jump.
Kiwi fan favourites Dylan Wilkie and Josh Kooiman have re-signed, promising electrifying shooting from the perimeter along with arguably the most improved player from last season, Benalla big man Lachlan Kego.
Grand final MVP Derek Murphy has departed the club, so the team will take on a completely different look.
The Shepparton core remains intact, with skipper Bartlett, vice-captain Sam Beks, Tom Frame, Nick Dodd and coach Josh Waight returning.
Beks said the most complicated thing had been figuring out how to best utilise a deep and capable squad.
“Roster is shaping up really well,” Beks said.
“On paper, we’ve got a super line-up this year.
“Just trying to figure out team chemistry, how we can gel and fit together.
“It’s that time to figure out everyone and obviously not saying we don’t want to achieve something early on, but we always play our best basketball at the end of the season.”
It looks likely at this stage that Kooiman, Thomas, Coke, and Kego will be starters come Saturday night.
Beks and Bartlett agreed that there were many different line-up options and that it could change from week to week.
They also pointed out that the team in game one last year looked drastically different to the team that took home the title belt.
Following their home opener against one of the best teams in the league the Gators go on the road on Sunday, April 7, taking on Western Port.
Western Port finished second last in 2023, only tallying three wins.
“Any away game is always tough,” Beks said.
“Especially on a double-header.
“Teams underestimating us would be a mistake and a mistake we’re not going to make with other teams.”
Shepparton Gators tip off in the championship for the first time in almost two decades on Saturday, April 6, at Shepparton Sports Stadium.
The game starts at 7pm and spectators are encouraged to get there at least an hour before to secure seats.
You can watch the live-stream of the game here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NaZAv2ABqI