BATHURST Goldminers will be hard pressed to repeat their 2017 Waratah Youth League division two men’s grand final appearance this season but a new look side will be giving it their all to make it happen.
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Goldminers have named their team for a new season of basketball starting on March 10, with some familiar faces returning while several fresh faces have joined the squad.
Will Cranston-Lown will captain the team this year, taking over from Matt Gray.
Gray will still be available for the opening half of the season before he heads to the US to play for Drake University in the NCAA Division I competition.
Kobe Mansell has the vice-captain’s role. Other returning players in the main squad include Nathan Germech, Blake Schaefer, Harry Betts and Nick Smith.
Andrew Osborne will return to coach the team. Osborne will be absent for the opening month of the competition, leaving the squad in the hands of returning assistant coach Ben Slater.
Osborne is excited to see how the new players fare in the statewide competition.
“Ben Matthews, Shane David and Tom Pottinger have come through the Stannies program and are playing in the 1st V. They’re getting some good experience there playing in division two,” he said.
“Andrew Parish is from Orange and he’s played in the junior leagues with Matt Gray.
“I’ve also coached against him on a number of occasions. He will be handy off the bench and a big guy we can use at three or four.
“James Gogala is another player from Orange. He’s quite tall but lacks experience at Youth League level.
“Anai Mathiang is one of our Sudanese contingent. I’ve coached him in 18s junior league and had some years playing for Stannies while they were still in div one.”
Aiden Allen, Fred Gunning and Blake Hadjipetros join Pottinger on the reserves list.
Goldminers will lack the power inside the paint they had during their run to the 2017 grand final.
The title quest for Bathurst came up one game short at the hands of a talented Newcastle Hunters outfit.
“Obviously we’re down on strength in the middle this year with Zac Simons not being there, and we’ll only have Matt for half the season,” Osborne said.
“Two seasons ago I was in a similar situation when I was coaching the under 18s. It means the telling factors for us this season will be our speed and ball skills.
“It will probably take half a season until the newer players feel confident. I’ve named 16 players this season because I’m expecting issues with player availability due to things like CPL, Western Junior League and NSW camps.”
Goldminers will play host to Illawarra Hawks in their opening round fixture.
