BENDIGO Braves’ star Jeremy Kendle says there’s no great secret to what’s behind the purple patch of form that is the talk of the SEABL.
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The answer is simple – preparation.
For the third time in the past four weeks Kendle has been awarded the SEABL’s men’s player of the week award.
The only time he missed out on the award during the past four weeks was when the Braves had a bye and didn’t play on the weekend of July 9-10.
The 28-year-old’s latest recognition came for his efforts last weekend when he combined for 66 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists and four steals in a pair of wins over Dandenong and Kilsyth.
Kendle’s trio of player of the week awards encompass five July games against Geelong, Nunawading, North West Tasmania, Dandenong and Kilsyth in which he has poured in 178 points.
He has scored at least 30 points in all five games, during which he has shot the ball at 54.4 per cent (66-of-121) from the field and 72.9 per cent from the free-throw line (27-of-37).
“I believe that confidence comes through preparation and I’m feeling that physically, mentally and spiritually I’m preparing the best I can day in and day out,” Kendle said on Wednesday.
“The shots that I’m taking in games, I’m practicing them and getting hundreds of reps up weekly… some of them may look a bit crazy, but I try to prepare myself for any situation on the court.
“Physically, I’m in better shape than I was at the start of the season. I’ve lost a few kilograms over the past six weeks and getting to where I want to be physically, and spiritually I’m just trying my best to be a good person around the guys and lead them in the right direction on and off the court.”
While Kendle’s outstanding patch of form has created plenty of SEABL headlines, he says his team-mates are deserving of equal credit.
“The team is playing well and the past few weeks have been good personally, but without the way the team has been playing then I can’t do the things I’ve been doing,” said Kendle, who leads the SEABL men’s scoring with 27.3 points per game.
“It’s definitely a credit to the team, coaching staff and club as a whole with the way the culture is.
“It’s a very special year for us and I’m very happy to be a part of it.”
The Braves are on a 10-game winning streak and with their 18-3 record have secured top spot on the east conference ladder with three matches left in the regular season.
The Braves are at home to Sandringham (8-11) from 8pm this Saturday night at the Bendigo Stadium in their first match-up of the season.