By Tara Murray
Melton Thoroughbreds are looking to build on last year in the Big V women’s division 2 competition.
With the team last season taking to the court for the first time since 2010, it was always going to be a bit of an unknown.
But having now played a season together, coach Lauren Olcorn said they were expecting to make some huge inroads this season.
“We want to push forward,” she said. “We’ve got a strong foundation in place.”
“Last year everyone had Big V experience, but we’re now more settled into the team.
“There’s so much potential on paper, now we have to put it on the court.
“This season we want to be pushing into the top four and being one of the teams to beat.”
One area the Thoroughbreds have been focusing on in the off season has been team bonding.
Olcorn said they were trying to make that a strength, hoping it would then flow onto the court. “We’ve got half the old team and half a new team,” she said. “The girls are gelling well and have come back and hit the court hard.
“The team bonding is very important not just on the floor but supporting each other off field as well.”
Olcorn, who is focusing on coaching this season, said there had been some good numbers at the try-outs. She said they had been able to bring in a number of players they think will strengthen the side.
The core group has returned, including Caitlyn Spence, Chantelle Paris-Webb, Jenna and Lauren Conroy, Molly Young and Rebecca Marshall.
With the new players added to the group, Olcorn said they had focused on looking for players who would add some more flexibility.
Taylah Lea comes across from Werribee and is a strong and athletic guard.
Twins Allanna Procak and Stacey Procak join the Thoroughbreds and bring championship experience, having played with last season’s division 2 premiers Craigieburn Eagles.
Ashleigh Rozenfeld, who was playing with Corio Stingrays, is another who joins along with Jessica Kivimets, who returns to Melton having been at Sunbury in recent years.
Further adding to the Thoroughbreds women’s program is the establishment of an under-21 girls team in the Victorian Junior Basketball League.
The team has been training with the senior team. Olcorn said the club was looking to field a Big V youth league side next year.
“We’ve set small goals and the under-21 team is one of them and several players are development players for the senior side.
“It’s great to see juniors coming through the ranks and we’re setting up the women’s program for them in the long term.”
The Thoroughbreds will host a practice match on February 16 against Melbourne University as 8pm at Melton Indoor Recreation Centre.
MORE BIG V NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/keilor-thunders-ready-to-rumble/
