After a one win season, some people would be sounding the alarm but the Japara Renegades camp are taking the positives out of their second-half of the year to springboard into 2022.
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As the Launceston Basketball Associations' lowest-ranked attack and defence there is plenty to work with on if the Renegades want to flip the script and target a finals' appearance.
What they say
After battling a poor run of results which was compounded by injury and life commitments, Renegades coach Brayden Appleby is looking at the positives for next season.
"There was a lot of improvement throughout the year, we were very undermanned through the later part of the season through injuries, work and studies, that sort of thing," he said.
"The group that we had played well together and I was very impressed with how we sort of got together at the end of the year and got some better results."
Breakout player
In a season where bright spots may have been hard to pinpoint, Renegades' young core was key with Henry Cox and state representative Jai Lette impressing Japara's onlookers.
"I was very impressed with Henry Cox and Jai Lette, they're both young guys but they still bring a lot of experience to the team and they gave their all each week," Appleby said.
"Definitely those two impressed me and I'd like to see them continuing a lot further."
Off-season wishlist
Basketball used to be the domain of the big man as teams targeted on the scoring in the paint and utilising the brute strength of their towering behemoths to secure vital post points.
Worldwide that trend has changed, as the game shifted away from the traditional big man and towards a smaller, swifter game which has bought guard-heavy rosters to the forefront.
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It's something Japara Renegades are aware of as they head into the off-season recruitment drive.
"Every coach would like a seven-foot person that could do everything, that's on everyone's wish-list but I am more than happy with what we've got," Appleby said.
"The game has sort of changed from the traditional big man's game and now I think it is more of a quick game, an athletic game and it requires a lot more brainpower to play.
"We'll be definitely looking around to see who is available and the NBL and the NBL1 seasons sort of shape our seasons as well so whatever we can get out of those we'll certainly take on board."
The big question
After finishing at the foot of the table, the key question is how will the Renegades rise next season?
READ MORE: Southside Rebels season review
For Appleby, team cohesion is central to those efforts.
"We knew it was going to be a building year to sort of keep those guys together because they haven't played much together before so they've formed a bit more of a stronger base which will definitely lead us into a stronger season next season," he said.
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