WALLAN are preparing for the start of the Big V Division Two season, with the women’s team hoping to take that final step towards a premiership, and the men’s team looking to climb the ladder.
The Panthers’ women were unable to gain promotion to Division One last season at the very last hurdle, with an eight-point three-quarter-time lead in the decider overturned at the death by Melbourne University in a thrilling grand final, but will have the opportunity to start all over again this week as they open their season with a home game against Keysborough on Saturday night.
Jarrod Bridge will return to the helm to coach the Panthers again this season, and they have announced their import signing, Ranika Guyton.
Guyton has had plenty of experience as a point guard, originally from Victoriaville in Canada, where she previously played for Vancouver Island University (VIU).
An offensively-minded player, Guyton averaged 12.6 points across her 10 games, while also collecting 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists for VIU.
Last year, she played in North Macedonia, controlling the play for ZKK MZT Skopje in the Prva A Liga as they finished fourth in the competition, bowing out in the quarter finals.
Wallan’s men’s team will be hoping to improve on a five-win season in 2024, but showed some good signs towards the end of the season with three wins in their final five matches.
That form carried through to the Country Basketball League last season, where the men’s team finished on top of the ladder before bowing out in the semi finals.
Jon Bailey has been signed as their import for the season.
Bailey is a centre who previously played for Wisconsin Lutheran College, as well as the Buffalo Extreme in the American Basketball Association in 2023/24.
Popular Wallan figure Carey Papanicolaou will return to the fold for the men’s new season, having coached over 500 games of Big V basketball, while previously serving as women’s coach.
Papanicolaou said there was plenty of excitement about the season ahead.
“Very excited with the group of guys that we’re coaching,” he said.
“We’ve had a good preparation—we’ve been training pretty hard, a couple of practice games, and just came back from a tournament—and I think we have a good bunch of guys and some we can lean on from Youth League as well. Hopefully we can go a couple of steps further than last season.”
A focus on defence and teamwork is the main goal for the season as the Panthers look to become a harder team to score against.
“I am looking at a team effort,” Papanicolaou said.
“What I’ve noticed over the last month or so, is that we don’t just have one player who we rely on. If someone is down, someone else comes up.
“Our defence has been something we have been focusing on and our teamwork as well. We were a bit individual at the start, but we’ve got it to where it needs to be.”
Papanicolaou said Bailey will assist with this on either ends of the court, both as a rim protector and a scorer.
“Jon has provided passion and leadership, and he just wants the best out of every player,” he said.
“We’re really excited to see what he can do on both ends of the floor with his inside and outside game.”
All in all, Papanicolaou believes the team will be one to watch throughout the season, starting with the Panthers’ trip to Cobblebank Stadium to play Melton this weekend.
“We want to be an exciting team to watch,” he said.
“We have a lot of energy on the bench and the courts, and the spectators who come down. We want to keep bringing them back, and especially the kids, the ones who make all the noise.”
The weekend saw the Youth League season officially start for Wallan, with an away trip for both the men’s and women’s team.
Wallan’s men fell short against Western Port, going down 84-94.
The Panthers were unable to get their three-point game going, hitting just six attempts from 33 shots.
Rhylee Leighton led the way with 22 points, while Luke Cairnes scored 16 points, Brody Thrum added 14, and Kaleb Graham added 13.
Similarly, Wallan’s women’s team fell to Darebin, 57–66.
The Panthers had the lead going into the final quarter but were unable to do anything about a Darebin burst which saw them score 18 points to six in the final term.
Olivia Sweet led the way with 15 points, while Lola Furnell was the only other Panther in double figures with 11 points.
Both teams will be in action this weekend, with the Panthers men hosting Sherbrooke on Sunday, and the women hosting a double-header against Warrandyte and Chelsea on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
