Basketball: Wolves hungry for the kill

Sep 24 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

West Lothian Wolves

THE West Lothian Wolves are hoping to take a bite of the opposition this year as the county basketball stars’ new season tips-off.

Founded in 1995, the Wolves have gone from strength to strength and now boast a series of teams in a variety of leagues.

There are now Wolves squads at under-14 boys/girls level, under-16 girls, under-16 boys, under-18 boys, and Lothian Senior Women and Lothian Senior Men levels.

Traditionally the squads have competed at local and county level but this year both the under-16 and under-18 level boys squads will play in the national league.

The under-18s joined the national ranks last year and despite it being a quantum leap in standard they compounded expectations by crossing the finishing line in fifth place.

This year the under-16s are following in the bootsteps of their older club-mates by joining the national leagues. They were second locally last season and are keen to make an impression now at the top level.

In the Lothian League the senior men’s squad is looking exceptionally strong and a top-three finish is expected with a possible title challenge on the cards.

The Wolves are also looking to develop future basketball stars at grassroots level after revealing plans to start off all-new primary squads which they hope to have all up and running before next month.

Andrew Smyth has his hands full as he fills a multitude of roles on and off the court for the Wolves as basketball development officer for West Lothian Council, Head coach for the Wolves under-18s and senior men while also turning out as a player for the senior men's team.

But he reckons 2009 could be a campaign to remember.

He said: “This will be a big season for the Wolves as we have a lot going on.

“Our hopes for the campaign are for the under-16s to be in the top three in the league while we also expect progress from the under-18s.

“We’ve lost a couple of key players who have moved on to university so the squads will have to find their feet again.

“Also we want the primary squad initiatives to be up and running and embedded.

“We have some really talented players on the books. Ross Kohler was selected for Scotland under-15s last year and has a bright future while Matthew Keane is another player in the Wolves with big potential.

“He comes into the season on great form after winning an award in a pre-season tournament which was awarded by the other coaches.

“We are a fully accredited club with West Lothian Council and we’d like to urge anyone, regardless of age or ability, who wants to get involved with basketball in any capacity to get in touch.”

For more information contact Andrew.Smyth@westlothian.gov.uk