By ADEM SARICAOGLU
ALTONA will not have a senior women’s team in Big V basketball in 2014.
In 2013 the Gators’ Division One women finished last on the table and could only muster two wins in 18 games.
Altona director of coaching Randy Shanklin, who led the team this season, admitted a lack of numbers was a factor in the decision to send the team back to the Youth League.
However, Shanklin made it clear that wasn’t the be all and end all.
“Numbers does have something to do with it but it’s more about the experience,” Shanklin said.
“We tried to do our best with what we had last season, but the girls are 21-years-old going up against girls 28 or 29.
“The experience difference was just way too much and especially coming from Youth League, even though we did well to get to the grand final the year before, it’s just like jumping up two different leagues.
“So it was just more based on that than anything and our depth in numbers is in our youth girls, so we decided to go that way.”
The 2013 season also marked the first time in six years neither of Altona’s men or women got to the finals.
For Shanklin, it was important to re-instil a winning culture back to the club after its disappointing 2013 campaign.
“It’s just something we had to do,” Shanklin said.
“It was a change for one season of a culture that we weren’t used to.
“We weren’t used to losing, we weren’t used to getting pounded by 30 or 40 points in games and really not being relevant in the league, except for those couple of times that we did compete against the top teams.
“So it really depends on how competitive we are. We would’ve stayed in Division One this year if we’d been more competitive.”
Shanklin said he has floated the idea fielding a women’s team in Division Two.
However it seems more likely the Gators will not have senior women for at least the next 12 months.
“That’s (Division Two) always still an option and it’s something we may still consider,” Shanklin said.
“But regardless, we’re only going to have one team.
“If there’s a possibility to change we might take a look at it and go to Division Two, but the Youth League is more likely at the moment.”
