The Orange Eagles made a perfect return to Basketball NSW's Spalding Waratah League last weekend and even though skipper Mitch Selwood is stoked with that, he knows his troops can improve and he's desperately hoping they don't rest on their laurels.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After last week's round one win over Dubbo, which came on the road, Selwood and his Eagles head to Wagga Wagga on Saturday to take on the Heat, who lost their opening game to the Sutherland Sharks last weekend.
"[Wagga] had a [69-54 loss to] Sutherland, I think they've had a few injuries but we can't take too much out of round one until we see everyone at full strength," Selwood said, although he preferred to focus on his side.
ALSO MAKING HEADLINES: Bushrangers hoping to reclaim throne as Tigers' taste of finals a driving force
Last weekend's comfortable 79-58 victory over Dubbo was Orange's first Waratah League clash in around 30 years, and despite being a "sloppy" game Selwood was reasonably impressed considering his side's limited training and lack of experience together.
"Our effort on the court (was really good)," Selwood said.
"It was a sloppy, physical game and we dealt with the physicality of it really well (but it was a) scrappy start with a lot of things left to work on, which we're practising and tying up loose ends.
It was a sloppy, physical game and we dealt with the physicality of it really well.
- Mitch Selwood
"(We need to work on) our execution and space in offence, obviously we had a late pre-season and we need to get our offence working. There's more pressure than at training and in a game you need to absorb that pressure, get the right people taking shots.
"We had a bit of trouble with their offensive screens and that's something we need to try and work on … Dubbo had way too many uncontested shots so we need to make sure we don't give [Wagga] open space and really contest every shot."
A big factor helping the Eagles' bid to improve and as a result score a second consecutive win is having Matt Chapman on hand, with such a young side Selwood says his experience is invaluable.
He scored just four of the Eagles' points last week but without him on the court youngsters like Kobe Mansell (13) and Zak Simons (15), who were superb on the fast break too, wouldn't have had such fruitful nights on debut.
ALSO MAKING HEADLINES: Blayney to Bathurst giving riders chance to qualify for Poland's World Championships
"He's a gun and has brought a lot of knowledge about the competition," Selwood said of Chapman, who is the only Eagle with prior Waratah League experience.
"He's played lot of games at this level, it's great that he can bring that to Orange."
The Eagles take on the Heat from 6pm at Wagga's Bolton Park Sports Stadium.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...