Sirens slowly seducing the punters
The crinkly Christchurch taxi drivers informative commentary on most things Canterbury fell into a giant hole on the trip to Cowles Stadium when I said I was checking out the first-year Australian womens national league franchise.
Never heard of them, mate, he confessed. The majority of the mainstream sports media had already mirrored Rons failure to launch; Sirens results barely causing a ripple north of Cook Strait.
Ron had heard of Kathmandu clothing founder, multi-millionaire Jan Cameron, who invested $2 million start-up capital in the franchise. Big ups to Jan. The reticent Australia-based Sirens benefactor doesnt talk much, but her money does.
It was pretty subdued for the most part inside Cowles - aka The Cauldron - with the 500 regulars not having much to raise the roof about when second-placed Sydney University gave the injury-hit locals a 71-56 lesson.
And the rock n roll dance recruiter who prowled the stands at halftime trying to sign me for his Hoon Hay club got less joy. John Travolta I aint, although I wouldnt say no to a tango with Olivia Newton-John. Gotta love those Grease re-runs.
At the start of the inaugural season the Sirens struggled to take flight, basketball devotees bracing for a re-run of Breakers-like DVD nasties from the Auckland mens franchises first four years of mediocrity.
The Sirens endured a poor start, falling to zero wins-seven losses on the back of a dog draw, which had them on the road for six weeks after losing the home opener at Addingtons cavernous Westpac Stadium.
But the switch to the more intimate, spiritual home of Canterbury basketball coincided with a surge of four straight wins. They stood at 9-13 ahead of Friday nights second-last match against Adelaide with another away game left. That left them eighth on the 10-team ladder but only two wins from fourth, a first-season result which the original Breakers would have given their right sneakers for.
Although yet to register a victory on the road, they lost only twice from 11 games at Cowles, coach Leigh Gooding stressing that making home court a fortress is key to their upward progress.
The crowd becomes a factor when its close. When youre running out of juice they can be the difference to get you back over the line.
Weve been able to get on a few winning runs and since that start weve gone nine and six, which is a very pleasing finish to the season.
Hampered by injuries to Tall Ferns tall timber Nat Purcell, Lisa Wallbutton and Charmian Purcell, plus key point guard Noni Wharemate, who has played only the last half the season, Gooding is happy with their achievements.
When youve got half your top- eight players out for most of the year its a bit disruptive and hard to get the continuity youre after week-in and week out.
The girls, to their credit, have stuck together and made the best use of the resources theyve had and done a pretty good job.
Gooding, who rates the season at seven out of 10, said it was no coincidence their winning streak was in the second round of games as they were able to scout their rivals more closely.
We had the advantage of knowing who we were up against and what they could and couldnt do, what worked against them and what didnt . . . it made for a better preparation among players and coaches.
He believes they can challenge for the top-four playoffs next season.
The players have taken some great strides in season one for a group in which 90% of them hadnt played in the league before. Theyve showed some fantastic improvement and the results at home have been top rate.
Our group is still young and immature in regards to travel and competing against the top teams but as we get a few years under our belts Im sure we can turn that around.
The injury problems have led to court time for promising youngsters Toni Edmondson (forward) and Natalie Moore (guard) while Gooding rated former Otago guard Suzie Bates as the most improved player.
Theyve got a lot of years ahead . . . weve got a group who could play together for a long time.
He confirmed forward Donna Wilkins is undecided about returning next year while Tall Ferns forward Aneka Kerr may retire after the Olympics.
United States import Lamisha Augustine impressed Gooding with her solid, all-round game, but he was slightly disappointed in former University of Mississippi point guard Ashley Awkward.
She has found the adjustment to the competition a little bit tougher than anticipated and hasnt had the [scoring] impact we were hoping for.
He says high-quality Australian players will be on their radar as the two allowable imports for next season.
With their knowledge of the WNBL and being in the competition before its a definite advantage - our girls will know how they play and it could possibly be an easier transition into the team for the imports.
This is a very tough competition - there are no gimmees. If you dont turn up and play you get smacked down.
The Breakers success shows that it can be done, Gooding says in summary.
It might take a little while and youve got to put in the hard yards and got to have the chemistry right - but if you take small steps and do the right things you can have success.
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Friday, February 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 am under