By JARROD POTTER
SIX games in 50 hours proved a huge task for Casey Cavaliers at the BIG V pre-season tournament, but a second-place finish was a fitting result from the long weekend.
With a new-look roster featuring in the tournament at Dandenong Basketball Stadium across the long weekend – following the additions of 200cm powerhouses Brent Hobba (from Dandenong Rangers) and Lester Strong (Bulleen Boomers) – Casey powered its way through to the Premier Men grand final after defeating Keilor 55-44.
Even though the Cavaliers were rolled by Waverley Wildcats 41-60 – despite the long bombing efforts of Hobba and Ash Szalek from beyond the three-point line – Baird believed the weekend revealed a lot of unique combinations for the new-look offence.
“We learned that offensively we have plenty of production,” Baird said.
“Which we probably knew… but it was good to see that in action against other teams.
“It was good to get out on the floor against other opposition and see how various combinations worked together.
“We also learned that despite our size, we’re not top-heavy, I don’t have any real concerns about that and finally we learned that we have plenty to learn.”
Baird praised the roster from starters to the depths of the bench as Ryan Outhred impressed at the four/five – boxing out strongly and top scoring in the first game of the tournament.
Dean Johnson (vacation) was the only notable absence for the Cavaliers squad ahead of its BIG V Division-1 debut on Saturday against Melbourne University from 8pm.
“We’re tired, we’re a little bit beaten up – six games with either eight or nine players all weekend, so it will be a really light week and we’ll prepare for game one,” Baird said.
Casey women didn’t fare as well in the tournament, finishing third in its pool to miss out on finals, despite new recruit Rebecca Magdich and returning trio Jess Szalek, Cherise Jacotine and Amy McFarlane.
The Cavaliers’ ladies will face the debuting Pakenham on home court from 6pm Saturday.
Casey’s Youth Men lost its grand-final clash against Altona 35-59 and will face Craigieburn on Sunday afternoon at home.
