ATD Stirling Senators captain Chris Dodd is convinced his side can overcome the demons of seasons past and qualify for the men's State Basketball League finals for the first time since 2007.

The Senators have just missed out on a finals spot three years in a row, including ninth-place finishes in 2009 and 2010, but are well positioned to finish in the top eight this season.

Dodd's side sits in seventh spot after victories in three of its previous four games, which improved their record to 8-7, and the veteran guard is confident this year's team is good enough to avoid the heartbreak it has faced in recent seasons.

"Falling short year after year gives us that hunger of where we want to be, which is to be in the mix year after year and to get in there this year," Dodd told SBL Radio on SportFM 91.3.

"We were a player short, particularly in big men stakes. That coupled with a lot of injuries and perhaps some ageing bodies has seen us come up a little bit short towards the end of the past couple of seasons.

"We need to be much more consistent and have a little more faith in our structures and stick to them ... but I believe we're good enough this year to make it.

"Getting our imports in at the right time has been helpful and with the return of Geordie Cullen last weekend we seem to be getting the team onto the court at the right time of the year."

Dodd said one of the main reasons he has faith in his side is the return of former National Basketball League player Cullen.

The veteran centre played for the first time since round one last weekend, putting up 23 points in the win against Rockingham and 24 in victory over the Slammers.

"Having Geordie in that big man rotation gives us a bit more depth off the bench and it should really help us get into the finals this year," Dodd said.

"He was pretty positive on the weekend and he was very good for us and fitted into our structures very well, so fingers crossed he'll be with us for the rest of the season."

Dodd was also full of praise for the contributions of imports Michael Jones and Lee Roberts, who have combined to average 48 points and 25 rebounds per game.

"They bring an intensity to training and that sort of professionalism where they don't let anyone slack off, so not only do they show their worth on the court, they're trying to make everyone else around them better," he said.

"They're a big part of why we've been successful in the last couple of weeks and certainly why we're driving for a finals spot now."

The Senators captain said his side would be looking for revenge when they face fellow top eight contenders Perth on Saturday, after the Redbacks beat them by 25 points earlier in the season.

"They really gave us a pasting which sticks in the back of our mind as the only game where we've really been hands-down beaten, as opposed to going away from our structures and losing games," Dodd said.

"They got us by a good margin at the start of the year and we really need to pin that back so if it does come down to a head-to-head situation, we have that on them."

Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Marg Prior

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