Leading by example: Jayden Coke in a huddle with teammates Tom Frame, Josh Kooiman, Lachlan Kego and Devin Thomas.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
After being promoted to Big V’s top league, the Championship, it was unknown whether Shepparton Gators would have enough to be competitive at the next level.
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With the top-placed team from last year first up in the season opener before three consecutive road games, it looked like it might be a tough start for Shepparton.
After three games it sits fourth of 12 on the ladder, with two wins on the trot.
On Saturday night, April 13, the Gators travelled to Boroondara Sports Complex to take on Camberwell.
Camberwell was looking for a bounce back following a defeat in its first game, but Shepparton dominated it with a 100-79 blow-out.
Canadian import Jayden Coke came out cooking in the first quarter, setting the tone for one of the round’s most dominant individual performances.
He put Shepparton on the board by tipping in a Josh Kooiman lob before hitting a tough step-back three.
Coke then drove to the rim and finished through the contact, with a chance to add another point at the free-throw line.
Lights out: After just nine points in their last outing, missing all four of his threes, Jayden Coke dropped 31 making four of his five threes.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
He then cashed another three before captain Matt Bartlett came off the bench to sink two triples in the quarter’s final 90 seconds.
Just like that, Shepparton had a 10-point lead.
Coke continued to pad his stats in the second, pressuring the rim for layups or drawing contact and converting free throws before splashing another three to close the first half, racking up 11 in the quarter.
He put up a stunning 31 points and 14 rebounds in the win.
Coke credited his team’s spacing for his high numbers.
“Individually, I had a good game,” Coke said.
“My teammates found me in the right spots and I took advantage of what the team’s defence gave me.”
In the third, Coke was joined by Kooiman, Tom Frame and Dylan Wilkie as Shepparton continued to run up the score and pull away from the home team with a 23-point lead heading into the fourth.
Top performers
Jayden Coke: 31 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 4/5 from three
Lachlan Kego: 14 points, 11 rebounds
Josh Kooiman: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2/3 from three
Wilkie made three threes in the final quarter before Kooiman put the exclamation point on the win, pulling from close to half court with a few seconds left to put the Gators in triple digits.
It was that kind of night for Shepparton.
Coke said after two rounds the squad was starting to click.
“We are moving the ball more fluently on offence and figuring out what works for us,” Coke said.
“Our defence was also a big factor.
“We are starting to get stops and big defensive rebounds.
“If we keep playing like this I don’t think anyone can stop us.
“The one thing I like about our team is that we are only going to get better as time goes on, so we are definitely going to be a scary team to go against.”
Speaking of scary teams, this weekend the Gators travel to take on the reigning champion McKinnon on Saturday night, April 20, which is undefeated at the top of the ladder.
They will then return home to welcome Bellarine to Shepparton Sports Stadium on Saturday, April 27, at 7pm.
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