Bellarine proving doubters wrong in first Championship campaign

BELLARINE Storm’s Championship women are blocking out all external noise in its first season at the top level of Big V basketball.

Storm head coach Tim Sanderson and his side have staked an early claim to the competition’s finals race, with the Storm in second position by half a game with 10 wins from 12 games.

“A 10-2 start in our first season of Championship was a little above what we were aiming for at the beginning of the season if I’m honest, but our main goal has always been to be competitive, and we’ve managed to do that,” Sanderson said.

“We took a few wins early on in the season to get the confidence up and then after we defeated Bulleen, I think everyone started to get that belief.

“I’m very happy with where we’re sitting at the moment.”

The Storm enjoyed a bye week over the King’s Birthday long weekend but will play back-to-back away fixtures against Pakenham on Saturday, and a winless Camberwell side a week from then.

Sanderson said that dropping gettable games is a cardinal sin in the back half of the season, as any slip up could be the difference between a home or away final at the end of the season.

“We need to keep taking care of games,” Sanderson stressed.

“Knowing how tight the top end of the ladder will be towards the end of the season, losing a game or two could be massive. We need to take the games we should.

“Having said that, Pakenham has had a promising few weeks, meanwhile Camberwell gave Warrnambool a good scare, so we’ll need to come our prepared in our next two games.”

Bellarine’s import signing Courtney Strait (15.6 points and 3.4 assists per game) and Bridgette Rettstadt (18.1 points and 12.7 rebounds per game) have both given the Storm substantial production in their first seasons in the light blue.

Sanderson has also been impressed by Olivia Virt’s (9.5 points per game) form over the past month.

The Storm’s first game back at Bellarine Secondary College hosts Wyndham on June 29.