HUDDERSFIELD Heat basketball club have made an encouraging start to the 2012-13 season, both in the men’s and ladies divisions.
The men, playing in the vCars.co.uk Division III North Championship, opened up with a 75-68 victory at Sefton Stars, one of the Championship favourites, and followed up with a comprehensive home win over Sheffield Stars, 80-65.
In addition, Heat progressed to the third round of the National Shield for the first time with a tough away win at Newcastle Under Lyme Knights, winning 70-67.
However, it has not just been good news for the men, as the women too began their second National Founder Cup campaign in style with a fantastic away win at Derby Ladyblazers.
The 52-46 success put them top of the standings.
The new additions of experienced national league veteran Karen Dean and young prospect Georgina Gilchrist Roberts, from Bristol Flyers, have added some quality to a developing squad.
The men’s team has changed considerably since last year, with coach Eduardo Perez Medina having retained only seven of last year’s 16.
Guards Kristo Kraus, Eugene Andrew, Kingsley Walker and James Quinn remain, along with forward Luke Stanger and veteran centre John Huggett.
Medina’s first move this summer was to appoint an experienced assistant coach, Pedro Garcia Rosado, who came to Huddersfield from one of the biggest professional clubs in Spain, Unicaja Malaga.
“Pedro’s addition was key to what I wanted to achieve,” said Medina. “We have known each other for several years now and finally we were able to work something out for him to come over and work with us, so it’s fantastic”
There followed four more recruits, all with origins at Unicaja.
The first was Salva Mendez, a combo guard from UCAM Murica, while Osama Perez Choubiki is another combo guard. Pedro Ramirez Morales is a shooting guard while Javier Perez de Los Reyes is an 18-year-old centre from Malaga’s top junior club, El Palo.
On top of that Heat have also recruited Mark Rangeley who played at Iowa Lakes in the USA and previously had stints with Manchester Magic and Leeds Met Carnegie.
Huddersfield hope to announce a new, closer, home venue soon.
