By JARROD POTTER
RETURNING to the Victoria Metro squad for another Under 20 campaign, Dandenong Rangers forward Mason Peatling is ready to step into the spotlight.
The new year starts with Australia’s apex junior basketball tournament and Peatling, 18, from Berwick, wants to make his presence felt the second time around.
While he was an emergency call-up who had limited court-time in 2015, Peatling knows there’s a lot more on his plate this time for Vic Metro and he’s keen for the opportunity.
“The expectation this year – I know I’m in the 10, I know I’m a much bigger part in our campaign this year than I did last year,” Peatling said.
“A lot more responsibility will be on me because of that and I’m looking forward to it and showing people what I’ve got.”
His looming departure for the American college system – after accepting a scholarship to Eastern Washington University – will put his Australian basketball journey on hiatus for the next few years and Peatling wants to finish this home-town chapter on a high note.
“For us it’s just about winning the national championship again.
“There’s six of us that are coming back this year and not a lot of teams have done that in the past,” Peatling said.
“For us it’s just about getting that back-to-back championship and for me personally I just want to play a bigger part in the team and have a bit more to do and have a bigger role this year.
“I’m not putting any numbers towards that, but I just want to make an impact.”
Peatling’s confidence in his skills was forged in breakout 2015.
After last year’s tournament Peatling starred at the SEABL level, stepping up when Dandenong centre Chris Patton sustained a season-ending injury, and he puts it down to his experiences on and off the court as a Ranger.
“I suppose I’m probably a little less star-struck this year,” Peatling said.
“Last year I was a year younger than a lot of the guys who were going around and I was just making my way into that group.
“This year I’m well and truly in that group which is really good for me and after spending a year in SEABL it makes things a lot easier.
“Just adjusting to the speed – last year was a real step up for me to play state level basketball, but this year I think I’m a lot better equipped for it which is definitely a positive thing.”
Vic Metro heads into the tournament as reigning champion, earned in last year’s thrilling double-overtime 105-104 grand final win over Tasmania.
Peatling will pack up and leave for America in June, but until then will play with Dandenong’s SEABL men’s team.
The Basketball Australia Under 20 tournament runs 14-20 February.
