PORTLAND is off to a strong start in the men’s 2022-23 Country Basketball League’s South West division, earning a strong 75-66 win over Colac Kookas at Bluewater Leisure Centre on Sunday.

The Coasters got out to a strong start, opening up a 19-7 lead in the first quarter, with the game being played on mostly even terms for the final three quarters.

Coach Rebel Noter was very happy with the way his side began their season, stating that it was exactly the start they needed.

“Given we went into it a little bit under-manned, I was pleased with how the game went,” Noter said.

“We moved the ball really well and shifted the defence… created some second-chance opportunities on the boards as well.

“There were moments in the second half where we forced some bad shots here and there…  but overall, it was a good performance.”

 Scoring-wise, the team was led by 20 points from star big-man Nathan Hardingham, while Jackson Dunlop, Sam Peters and Toby Oakley all hit the scoreboard as well.

But there was more to the team’s success than just the scoring, with Noter commending the team’s defence as a unit, as well as individual players on that end of the court.

“There’s some great players in Colac’s squad that I think we contained really well as a team… they’re a big side so we had to work really hard,” he said.

“Nathan was a force on both ends of the court… his mobility at his size is impressive.

“Toby Oakley stepped-up well, unfortunately he went down with an injury later in the game, so we’ll have to see how he pulls up.”

The next challenge for the Coasters will come in the form of a double-header this weekend, as they’ll host Mount Gambier on Saturday before travelling to Ararat to face the Redbacks on Sunday.

With the aforementioned injury to Oakley, along with a number of other potential absences, the key question for the moment will be how the side that Noter and co. puts on the floor is going to take shape.

Regardless, a strong start to this year was exactly what the side needed, and exactly what the side got.

Portland’s women’s side had the bye in the opening round, and will tip-off their season when they host Mount Gambier Lakes on Saturday night.

Round one games

Men:

Colac Kookas 67 defeated Warrnambool Seahawks 61.

Terang Tornadoes 77 defeated Surfcoast Chargers 68.

Ararat Redbacks 83 defeated Warrnambool Seahawks 46.

Portland Coasters 75 defeated Colac Kookas 66.

Women:

Surfcoast Chargers 77 defeated Terang Tornadoes 47.