BLUES SHOULD HAVE FULL SQUAD FOR FINALS CHARGE Frankston Blues head coach Andrew Harms is confident his team will have its full squad available in the season’s final three weeks, as they aim to secure a playoff spot. The Blues have risen to fourth on the ladder, well on the path to make their first finals appearance since 2012. Frankston has been able to withstand numerous player availability issues during the year, with stars Dan Trist and Majok Majok both missing time due to trips to China (Trist with South East Melbourne Phoenix and Majok with the Australian NBL team). However, everyone is back in uniform and ready to get the Blues back into the postseason, according to Harms. “That was part of the drive we’ve had, about getting the club back to where it should be and part of that is playing finals basketball,” Harms said, via Leader Newspapers. “We should have our best squad to pick from. “I think we’ve only played two games as a whole team all year which is crazy, so all things being equal we should have everyone healthy for the run home.” Frankston has one of the league’s most balanced attacks, which was evident in their win over Albury-Wodonga on Saturday night, which saw seven players score in double digits – Damon Bozeman, Igor Hadziomerovic, Lachlan Barker, Trist, Najeal Young, Majok and Alister Macdonald.
Harms has been proud of how his side has been able to build cohesion as the season has progressed, saying it has helped the team get through the ups and downs of the NBL1 campaign. “Progress isn’t linear, we’ve got to realise we will have some dips,’’ Harms said. “It’s about maintaining that focus and understanding that if we continue to keep applying ourselves and doing all the little things we can control, then the bigger stuff will take care of itself and we build progress. “That’s what I’ve been most proud of about the group — its resilience.” Frankston faces Melbourne Tigers on Saturday night.