THE South West Slammers have gone through the Women's SBL season with a remarkably young group and first-year coach Julieann Bissaker hopes that points to a positive future and a quick rise up the table in 2017 with an import or two added into the mix.

The Slammers did win 10 games and make the playoffs in 2015 before losing in the quarter finals but that was largely on the back of performances by import pair Deonica McCormick and Patricia Bright, and the WNBL-experienced Kate Fielding.

It wasn’t necessarily building to the future and that's where things have changed in 2016 with Bissaker taking over as coach with a group that lacks experience, but has plenty of youth, excitement and exuberance that should only lead to an exciting future.

Veterans lead Lady Hawks to crucial win over youthful Slammers 

Highlighting the youth at the Slammers is the fact from the team that played the Perry Lakes Hawks on Sunday, Rebecca Preston was the oldest player at just 24 with Brittany Gliddon, Dena English and Courtney Bayliss the next oldest aged 22.

The team also featured 21-year-old Taylah Kemp along with 18-year-olds Raya Thompson, Meg Ferraz and Ebony Bilcich, and 17-year-old Georgia Denehey.

From the girls that hit the floor against a team featuring veterans Deanna Smith and Antonia Edmonds, the Slammers had an average age of just 20.2.

Bissaker is proud of being able to see the young players on her team grow with the opportunity of playing minutes they wouldn’t normally get at this level at their age.

While the wins might not have resulted with just two coming so far this season, the signs for the future more than make up for that.

"We will take a lot out of this year because all our juniors have been able to get on the court. We have girls who are 16, 17 or 18 and they are starting. You only get better by being exposed to competition and getting to play on the court," Bissaker said.

"Hopefully the proof will be in the pudding next year if we can keep them and maybe add some imports again. I'm all about team work and having a team that plays together which is another thing we've worked hard on.

"We might not be winning too many games on the court but off the court we've got a really good team that we have developed. They have a good attitude together and they are good friends, and I think that's really important at the end of the day. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks now we will be able to be competitive."

Things don't get any easier in the run home for the Slammers with two double-headers the next fortnight starting this week against the Cockburn Cougars and Kalamunda Eastern Suns, and then next week against the Lakeside Lightning and Perth Redbacks before finishing away to the Mandurah Magic.

But Bissaker looks at it for an opportunity for her young group to continue to grow and develop, and build for 2017 particularly considering with the imports and experienced players of recent years has meant those young players haven’t seen a whole lot of court time in comparison.

"They are going to be tough but we just have to keep working on our game. What's been good is that our juniors have been able to have a really good crack this year," she said.

"They've been able to get on court and even some of our players who have been here a couple of years, I can see some confidence coming back into their games.

"The last few seasons we've had a lot of imports and quality players coming in so our juniors haven’t been able to step on the court much. So it's good to see them getting an opportunity and confidence so that if we can add something next year we should be good."

Two players who have stood up strongly for South West this season have been Courtney Bayliss (18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds) and Dena English (13.8 points, 3.7 assists). Bissaker has enjoyed seeing their efforts of leading despite being young still themselves.

"They have been good for us and they are quality players, and can shoot outside. It's always hard to defend a shooter," Bissaker said.

"We've got to take some positives from that if our offence works and they get free, they get to take some good shots and that has been a positive for us this year."

Avoiding the wooden spoon with the Slammers and East Perth Eagles both having won two games with four rounds to go isn’t necessarily something Bissaker is worrying about either. She just wants to see her young group continue to progress and for the girls to keep getting important court time.

"When you're on the bottom it's hard to focus too much on wins and losses, or where you will finish. We try to focus on the goals we set for ourselves and trying to improve our game, and trying to be competitive every game," she said.

"When you're already getting beaten, you don’t want to add any pressure on to winning and we just focus on us, and where we started the year, where we've been and what we are trying to achieve."

If Bissaker had the talented imports or experienced players at her disposal that the Slammers have had over the last four years that brought about three playoff appearances and a championship there's every reason to suggest she would have them right up near the top of the table again.

However, that wasn’t giving opportunities to the youth in the south-west and that's something Bissaker is proud to now be at the helm of, even if it can be frustrating at times with the results not coming their way.

"I think we've just had to use this year to try and get some run into our young legs, and giving them opportunities and maintaining positivity. It's been tough personally if I'm honest but having a good group of girls who come out and do their best every week is what it's all about," she said.

"To me coaching is all about teams and being part of their lives and I'm still a young coach and am not the best coach out there. I try to focus on being positive and giving opportunity, and hopefully that's reflected in the way they play and will play next year."

When taking over as coach, Bissaker never really thought about if she was in it for the long haul, she just wanted to give something back to the game that has been good to her.

And what might entice her to make it a long-term career is the chance to make an impact on the life of the girls and see them get the absolute best out of themselves.

"I don’t know what my plans are long-term. I'm just trying to give back to a sport that I was very fortunate to play myself for many years and I've had good coaches. I think it's important that you do give back to what you were given," Bissaker said.

"That's not to say I'm not a passionate coach, but this past week with Pat Summitt passing away there has been a lot of stuff I've seen about the impact she was able to have. I've taken in some of that and that makes you think I might like to do this long-term.

"Not because I'm a brilliant coach, but maybe I can impact on people's lives and help mentor and motivate some kids. There are a lot of opportunities now for kids and they can be up and down a lot, so to be part of their future is a good thing."

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Jon Gellweiler (South West Times)