Pickert leaps into lead role

Star Horsham Hornet Tim Pickert will take over as the team’s coach for the upcoming 2019-20 Country Basketball League season.

Pickert, who was team captain last year under playing coach Cam Bruce, has previously coached the team, most recently during the 201314 season.

Pickert is coming off a stellar season, in which he was named the south west conference most valuable player.

The guard averaged more than 21 points a game and was in the top five players in the conference for made three-pointers.

It was his second consecutive MVP award after he won the same honour playing in the north west conference during the 2017-18 season.

Pickert will take the reins from Bruce after a season of transition for the Hornets.

The team lost to Bacchus Marsh in a conference semi-final but saw the emergence of promising young players Jeremiah Mckenzie and

Mitch Martin. With other team leaders s Damien Skurrie and Matt Lovel drawing towards the end of their careers, Pickert will have to balance a blend of youth and experience as the Hornets push for another grand final appearance.

Pickert’s signing represents the final puzzle piece for the Horents’ coaching staff.

Horsham Amateur Basketball Association coaching director Tony Sleep was announced as head coach for the upcoming Horsham Lady Hornets season last month.

Jon Fitzgerald and Nicole Lakin will coach the under-18 boys and girls squads respectively.

The under-16 boys squad will be headed by Scott Benbow, with Lakin to coach the girls under-16 squad.

Owen Hughan and Rebecca Mcintyre will coach the under-14 boys and girls squads, while Josh Friend and Cassandra Haskett take over as respective coaches of the under-12 boys and girls squads.

The 2019-20 Country Basketball League season will start in October.