“WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN” CBL SEASON FOR LAKERS’ WOMEN.

An air of promise and expectation surrounded the Lakers’ Women as they prepared for the 2014/15 CBL season last October. Team-mates and Coach, Trevor Semmens, were thrilled that former WNBL player Melissa Russell had decided to suit up, thus giving the team depth in experience, leadership and talent in quest for the title.

The team however suffered a body blow when Russell was struck down with a severe knee injury ending her season. This injury was devastating for Russell and the younger players in the team. It was pleasing to see the players regroup and finish top of the South West Conference at the end of the season.

The Lakers outclassed Horsham in the home semi-final and had arch rival, Warrnambool in their sights for a classic grand final contest, but another hurdle appeared. Two of the starting five, Rachael Hines and Brenna McKay, were named in the SA Country team and their first training date clashed with the CBL Final. All this happened after the minor round had finished for the CBL denying the Lakers any chance to qualify replacement players.

In previous years state Coach Paul Salter has permitted and encouraged state juniors to play in these elite senior competitions as part of their early preparations for the Nationals.

This year, despite the long term commitment both players have made to the state team programs and their preparedness to attend training on Sunday after playing the CBL final in Horsham, they were required to attend all 4 training sessions of state training. This was the second body blow for the Lakers’ Women and one that they could not surmount.

It was not however all “doom and gloom” for the Lakers at Horsham on Saturday night.

Lakers slick guard, Brianna Walters scored a double in the individual awards, being voted the South West Conference Season Most Valuable Player and the Conference top scorer.

She polled 46 votes, followed by Alana Strom of Portland on 34 and O’Keefe next on 31.

 Walters winning average was 18.13 points per game for the regulation season ahead of Warrnambool’s Katherine O’Keefe with an average of 17.29.

The Lakers Men were unable to make it four Conference titles in a row when they lost the semi-final to Colac, 69-77. Colac went on to win the title against hot favourite and host Association, Horsham, 86-70, before a capacity home town crowd.

Lakers’ Simon Berkefeld was again the consistent “go to” player for the team and featured strongly in the CBL individual awards, finishing runner-up in the Conference Most Valuable Award voting. Liam McInerney of Colac won with 88 votes while Berkefeld recorded 56. Lakers stalwart Chris Mason also had a stand out season to finish fourth in the Conference voting.

Berkefeld however turned the tables on McInerney and continued his dominance of the point scoring award, averaging 26.62 for the season. McInerney returned an average of 21.43ppg.