Long-serving Horsham Lady Hornet Caitlin Story has been enjoying a reinvigorated season in the Country Basketball League.
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Story has played basketball with the Hornets all her life, through the junior ranks and into the region's premier women's team.
Story said the 2019-2020 season had been particularly enjoyable so far, with Lady Hornets' new head coach Tony Sleep providing a different perspective.
"I'm just really enjoying the season. Tony has brought a wealth of knowledge and a breath of fresh air that we probably needed," Story said.
"He has a lot of different opinions and different views that have been really good.
"He just lets you play your game, and believes that we've got enough basketball knowledge that we can go out there and make the right decisions."
Story said that type of freedom was something she had always enjoyed about basketball. The sport offers a very different experience than her role playing netball with Laharum in the Horsham District netball league.
As one of the league's best goal-shooters, Story is mostly restricted to one area when playing with the reigning A Grade premiers.
"That's part of what I really like about basketball, and what I really miss when I play netball; rather than contributing in one little area, I like the freedom to play your game and make more choices," Story said.
"I really like playing defence, too. I pride myself on that and I make sure that comes first. In netball, I don't really get that option, so I do enjoy it."
A passion for defence is not something commonly associated with an amateur basketball team. But it is one of the many things that makes Story such a valuable player for the Lady Hornets.
"She is a very, very underrated basketballer," Lady Hornets coach Tony Sleep said of Story.
"She just quietly goes about her business every week."
Sleep also praised Story's team-first mentality. Story has top-scored for the Lady Hornets in their last two matches, but she was quick to avoid individual praise.
"I've been lucky enough to score some points the last few weeks - but I'm not the type of person that likes to stand out," Story said. "I just try to play my role for the team."
Story said she had also enjoyed being a leader among a young Lady Hornets team, and setting an example for the next generation of Hornets' basketballers.
Story is co-coaching the girls under-14 B team for the first time this season, alongside teammate Olivia Jones.
"It's been good to give back to the association and help out the younger kids," Story said.
"I went through all my juniors down there as a young kid, and the program is run really well by a lot of passionate people."
TOUGH CLASHES AWAIT IN ROUND NINE
The Horsham Lady Hornets and Horsham Hornets will play in two blockbuster clashes away from home across the weekend.
The Hornets travel to take on the South West Men ladder-leaders Geelong United on Sunday. United have lost just one game so far this season against Mount Gambier, while the Hornets have similarly lost just two matches.
Sunday's clash could be an early finals preview, and provide an indication of where each team sits.
Meanwhile the Lady Hornets take on the Warrnambool Mermaids on Saturday night, who they lost to by just four points last time out.
Lady Hornets' coach Tony Sleep said the side would be missing several players due to a junior tournament in Shepparton.
"It's going to make things a little tougher," Sleep said. "I'm expecting another fairly even contest."
Elsewhere, Ararat and Stawell will face-off in Ararat on Saturday night.
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