BIG V QUALIFYING FINAL THIS WEEKEND

The King Contruction Men Heat have finished 2nd on the Big V Division Two Men's ladder and now in a top 5 finals format face 3rd placed Surf Coast Chargers in the first Qualifying Final this Saturday at the Ausloans Mildura Hothouse.

Head Coach Sammy Gazzo - How We Got Here!

First 2 games for the season were at home, and we came away with 2 good wins. Both times it felt like a great team effort against quality opponents in Wallan and Maccabi.

Then we had Easter and a bye round before travelling to Melbourne for a double header. We first went to play Southern Penn on the Saturday night, then to Sherbrooke on the Sunday. Unfortunately we lost both games, but we did take away some things we had to improve on which we thought was positive.

Over the next 2 weeks we had games at home against Craigieburn and Surf Coast. Both teams being consistently at the top end of the ladder during the year they were tough opponents and again we faced losses. Small lapses through the games were again the difference, and we again we learnt areas we had to go away and work on.

At this point we were 2-4, fallen to 8th position on the ladder, having just lost 4 games straight. But to the credit of the guys, it felt like we all had faith in the group and the process, we just had to keep working and believing. We wanted to attempt to reach out potential whatever that was, and see where it takes us.

Our next challenge was a double road trip away, with Collingwood on the Saturday and Melton on the Sunday. Knowing how important it was to get some wins, it was great to see our style our play start to come out over that weekend. We won both games, and the boys did it our way. Dallas Brown playing his 200th game and getting a win for him was a bonus.

Next game was at home to Sherbrooke. And although we played better, they were able to make shots at important times and we lost. Time to regroup over the bye weekend and again practice the way we want to play, players new roles and get more familiar within the playing group.

The next 2 weeks we were at home and saw us get important wins against Southern Peninsula and Mornington. Going into the mid season break we were 6-5, with some better games under our belt and work to do if we wanted to play finals.

After 2 weeks of no games we had a tough Road trip to Surf Coast and Wallan. With some tough play and consistent pressure we were able get both wins, which again was important if we wanted to play finals.

A win at home against challengers Melton, a win against Maccabi in Melbourne, then a win against a tough inform Collingwood at home saw as with some momentum and belief within the group that things were starting to work with patience and consistency.

Final weekend saw us with an important double header away against bottom placed Mornington and top placed Craigieburn. Two wins would have us finish second definitely, one win would at least mean we couldn't finish lower than third and have a second chance throughout the finals.

We beat Mornington on the Saturday night, and battled hard against a tough Craigieburn team but couldn't quite get the win.

Which then left us with a bye during the last active round for the season.

As the last round was completed, the games saw us finish second with a 12 wins 6 loss record and sees us playing a home final against third placed, a well coached and talented Surf Coast team.

Exciting to be a part of the finals series and see it unfold.

2024 PLAYERS

Lachlan Knight, Tarryn Shaddock, Tyjhai Byers, Jacob Young, Zane Lueth, Noah Valentich, Craig Baker, Jack Bakewell, Dallas Brown, Tre Rudd-Morfaw, Sammy Pileggi, Jay Madigan, Rylan Robinson

STAFF

Head Coach Sammy Gazzo, Assistant Coach Pas Zappia, Assistant Coach Josh Smith, Team Manager Joe Pileggi

We hope to see down at the Ausloans Mildura Hothouse this Saturday. Tip off 7:00pm, doors open 5:30pm.