By JARROD POTTER
THE plaudits keep coming for Keysborough Cougars’ Youth Men’s basketball team with coach-player duo Craig Smethurst and Staci Richardson receiving Big V monthly awards.
With Keysborough advancing to the grand final on Saturday night – hosting Coburg Giants at Springers Leisure Centre – it was little surprise the July awards would go to the coach and guard/forward – honoured by Big V with Youth Men 2’s Coach of the Month and Player of the Month respectively.
Richardson’s award was no surprise to Youth Men’s coach Smethurst – as the future Umpqua Community College player has been unleashed and given greater rein after a season of diligence.
“People are just getting to see how special a player he is,” Smethurst said.
“First half of the year it was important for us to make sure everyone was involved and we got the chance to see what each player could bring.
“Staci bought into that and filled whatever role we asked of him and come the last month we took the shackles off and he has exploded.
“What makes it more impressive is that it came against the top five sides and not against the lower half of the competition.”
Smethurst on a personal note was thrilled to receive the coach’s accolade, but believed his reward belonged to the hard work of his players who have accepted the Cougars’ strategy and are reaping the success.
“It’s great – the recognition is good,” Smethurst said.
“Essentially I guess it means that the boys have bought into our system and are executing well enough to be successful.
“End of the day they are the ones who go out there and get the job done.”
The Cougars square off at 8.30pm on Saturday night against Coburg in the Big V Youth Men 2 grand final.
Keysborough’s senior men have a must-win Big V Division 2 Men’s second semi-final against Shepparton at on Saturday night.
If the Cougars win on Saturday night, the series will go to a third-and-deciding match on Sunday afternoon at Shepparton.
