Warriors pull together to claim CBL championship

The Warragul Warriors’ women claimed the 2020/21 Gippsland women’s CBL championship, defeating Moe 84 to 68 at Maffra last weekend.

In a shortened season due to COVID-19, the Warrior girls stepped up their game when the pressure was on, finishing the season undefeated.

Pre-season, Warragul struggled to find coaches and a team manager before some players stepped up to the task.

Led by coach Peta Rhodes, assistant Hannah McKenzie and team manager Mikaela Dickson, the team was made up of youth and experience with many players coming in from the under 18s squad.

Mikaela said the way the team gelled across the season was terrific to see.

“The way they came together and how the CBL girls gelled with the 18s girls, we just got along so well,” she said.

Riding their winning streak into the grand final, Mikaela knew they had to pull together as a team with a disrupted training week in the lead up due to other commitments.

“Our shots were off a little in the warm-up, I think that was the nerves mostly,” she said.

The team started well, with Mikaela and Tanarly Hood giving them a lead to help settle the squad into the game.

The team was able to consolidate the fast start and at three quarter time had withstood the challenge from Moe.

“There were times Moe pushed us, but we went into a zone and stopped them driving into the key. We all had our individual roles and we made sure we stuck to those positions,” she said.

As the final buzzer sounded, the celebrations began for the girls with Mikaela playing a big part, scoring a game high 27 points and being named the grand final most valuable player.