Mt Riv Renegades
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The Mt Riv Renegades, also known simply as The Gades, are the premier basketball team from Mount Riverview, New South Wales, Australia.
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[edit] History
Established in early 2003 the Mt Riv Renegades started as a small, unsupported and unorganised basketball team playing in the Springwood and Districts Basketball Association (SDBA) domestic competition at the Blaxland High School Sports Centre.
Playing with borrowed generic uniforms and with little to no basketball experience between the foundation members the team quickly drew attention throughout the SDBA and attracted a large and supportive fanbase. While this fanbase grew and the Gades gained extra attention from local circles, they were able to expand and recruit new players, coaching staff and also purchase new and unique uniforms adding to the teams professional outlook.
[edit] Awards
During the 2003 season the Renegades were able to secure only one win in a 15 game season against some excellent competition. Although the winning performance has never reached double figures in any one given season, the Renegades are still a massive force within the SDBA and provide some of the best plays and moments the local competition has to offer. That said the Renegades continue to notch up numerous accolades during the regular season.
- SDBA Most Valuable Player Award,
- SDBA Most Improved Player Award,
- SDBA Sixth Man Award,
- SDBA Defensive Player of the Year Award,
- SDBA Rookie of the Year Award
The Renegades have also had the dubious honour of most fouls per season and most suspensions per season during the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons. With the trading and retirement of several of the more 'fiery' players the Gades have worked hard to lose the tag of being the most foul heavy team, while still keeping up their trademark tough and tenacious playing style.
[edit] Playing The Game
Part of the evolution of Basketball in general is the creation and perfection of specialized positions on the team. Typically the Gades are a much smaller and more agile guard laden team when compared to most others in the SDBA which is what creates their faster and more free flowing creative style of play as compared to other more rigid and typical style. Whether this is advantageous is highly debatable amongst certain basketball circles.
- Point guard: organises the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time. The Gades point guard is usually the only player to play a full game without being substituted.
- Shooting guard: creates a high volume of shots on offense; guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense.
- Small forward: often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more actively than that.
- Power forward: plays offensively often with his back to the basket; on defense, plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (in man-to-man defense)
- Center: uses size, either to score (on offense) or to protect the basket closely (on defense)
The above descriptions are very flexible. On some occasions The Gades will choose to use a three guard offense, replacing one of the forwards or the center with a third guard. The most commonly interchanged positions are point guard and shooting guard, especially if both players have good leadership and ball handling skills. The Gades tend to use a man-to-man defense, although have been known to switch to zone defence positions on occasion.
At the professional level, most male participants are above 1.90 meters (6 ft 3 in) as are most opposing teams in the SDBA competition. This is in stark contrast to the Gades who have an average size of around 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall. This height difference is the reason why the Gades play a varying mix of guards and running plays as opposed to typical post plays etc.
[edit] The Future
Having lost several players through trades and retirement, and one 3 time SDBA All Star player going to South America to play in the 2006-2007 season the Regegades looked to new rookies and veteran leadership to fill the gaps and step up for the 2006 competition.
So far in 2006 the Renegades have proven once again why they remain a powerhouse in SDBA competition by remaining focused and closely knit through adversity and loses.
Their current season shows them at 3 Wins for 12 losses with 5 further games remaining in the season.
