Rockingham Ready for Round One
The Rockingham Flames men have been challenged to up the ante this summer, and they are ready.
A gruelling pre-season campaign under head coach Mark Utley is approaching its midway point, with fitness a driving force behind the young squad.
The Flames have come under scrutiny in recent years for their ‘lacklustre’ performances, dating back to 2009. A playoffs appearance has not been anything but a long-shot since 2008.
Coach Utley has set out to change not only the results on the scoreboard, but the perception surrounding the team.
“The Rockingham Flames mens program of the last four years have been seen as the ‘easy-beats’ of the competition. We want to win back the respect of the league, and it all starts in the pre-season”
The men have been in training since late November, and with a change of guard in the coaching ranks, there has been some changes in the playing brigade also.
Big man Marko Deric returns to the Flames for the 2013 campaign, along with long-serving sharp shooter Trent Gerovich. Other returning faces after some time out include Tyrone Thwaites and Brendan Della.
Rhett Della has packed his bags and shipped himself down the freeway to the Mandurah Magic, although the loss of the big man does not phase coach Utley.
“Rhett is a loss, but we want players who want to play. We have that here at Rockingham. We have youth, and we have leaders. It is a loss, but we survive and move on”
Fitness has been of utmost priority, and the coach explains that players have put that on the top of their agenda.
“They have all stepped it up. Ty (Thwaites) will be one of, if not, the fittest guard in this league. Trent Gerovich is set for a career year the way he has been travelling, and the young stars in Jake Amos, Matt Honey and Luke Roberts are all going to make their presence felt”
The official pre-season tournament is from March 1 to 3 at the WA Basketball centre, and the Flames men and women kick-off their regular season campaign on March 15th against the Willetton Tigers.
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Article by Rockingham Flames
Photo by Darren Speedie (Vision Inspired Photography)
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