LOVE AND BASKETBALL

When I was asked to write this article I was instantly overwhelmed with emotion – how do you reflect back on a 20-year career?

My first SBL game was at the age of 14 for the Perry Lakes Hawks and we were playing against Mandurah and our coach Rick Morcom told me I was going on with about three minutes to go. I was so excited I pulled my playing shirt off with my warm up top. Not only was it my first minutes but I was playing on my idol – Brooke Ryan. For those who remember that far back in the league – she was dynamite and still to this day is a person I will always treasure as a mentor. Your first minutes always stick with you.

I started SBL during a time that feels like a lifetime ago; and since then the league has changed so much. There are few people left from that era - Casey Milo being one and still destroying girls on the court, so I’ll jog your memory on how things used to be.

I come from a time when the pre-season tournament was an all out war and extremely competitive, we played halves instead of quarters, when Stirling and Wanneroo tested out bodysuits (thankfully bloomers were also out by this age), when joking with the refs was the norm, when Perry Lakes Stadium was home to so many, girls didn’t wear black shoes, when defensive assists existed, when you did your time on the bench as younger players without question and just did whatever the older girls told you to do, when the Grand Finals were on the same night and Perry Lakes Stadium had the atmosphere of a Wildcats game.

I absolutely miss how things 'used' to be.

There are few people who get to experience all the game has to offer, which is why I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I have played with the best (Mel McClure, Kim Morcom, Jenny Marsh, Tanya Kelly…. absolute legends in my mind), won multiple championships and individual awards, as well as being coached by the best in SBL and WNBL.

My mum taught me all the basics as a junior for the Tuart Hill Tigers and WABL with Stirling before moving to Perry Lakes and again in my best individual season at East Perth. Rick Morcom gave me my first go at SBL (and WNBL) and still to this day is one of the most knowledgeable, supportive and firm but fair coaches I have had. His success is well deserved.

Since then I had three very influential coaches, who again, have success records that are second to none. Murray Treseder (WNBL and ITC), Craig Friday (ITC, State Teams and WNBL) and Glenn Ellis (State Teams and Perry Lakes/Stirling SBL). I was admittedly never the easiest teen whilst on the court and was very passionate (that is the nice way of putting it), however, they all got the best out of me on the court and I am thankful for their contributions to my development and the role they play in developing female basketballers. We need to continue to thank the people in our sport who have dedicated so much time and effort into our games survival and development, especially female basketball.

Nobody stood out in this league as much as Melissa McClure (now Sinfield) – an absolute leader and fierce competitor. From the age of 14 through to about 20/21, Mel was so hard on me in my eyes – she smashed me around at training constantly, and I always left thinking "why me and what have I done wrong". It is not until you develop as a player that you realise it was necessary to be pushed to our limits and it was the best thing for mine and other junior’s development. It worries me today that, we as older players cannot be as hard as we need to be, because we might offend our juniors or make someone cry.

In my first five years of SBL at Perry Lakes, we won two championships and I was ready for more. I moved to East Perth to once again play under my mum, Kerry. Anybody that has ever had their parent as a coach knows this comes with its own added challenges, but I was also playing with my best friends. A time in my life that was some of the most enjoyable and as it turns out, individually successful by winning the league MVP and Top Scorer Awards. Still to this day I was sure I only won because Rohanee Cox did her knee mid-season… but I will take it. By this time, I already had four years of WNBL experience under my belt by the age of 21.

There were a number of local girls just like me, who were part of the Lynx and Waves era that was commonly deemed as unsuccessful years for the club. We might not have chalked up the wins like the Breakers or the current Lynx team, but I know the games we played together meant the world to all of us. How often to you get to say that you played Lauren Jackson (and won against the Capitals), or individually guarded Penny Taylor and got your butt kicked? My years were played whilst juggling full-time university and part-time work, but many others juggled motherhood and full-time careers whilst still playing, training and travelling around Australia week to week.

An achievement in itself – and a timely reminder of how brilliant it is our current Lynx team are now in a different position and can 100 per cent commit to basketball as a career. I think this is only a positive for the WSBL if we can keep the Lynx girls playing in the league will hopefully strengthen it back to the heights of years ago.

There comes a time in life where you have to make choices – mine came after completing my Dip Ed in PE teaching. I was offered an opportunity to start my teaching career in Geraldton, and with that, play in the inaugural Lady Buccs team. It was a win win, however, my WNBL career took a back seat.

The four years I played in Geraldton were some of the best, yet some of the toughest. It was difficult to instil the work ethic and commitment I had coming off five WNBL and eight SBL seasons to girls who were not exposed to the regime I was used to following. None the less, we did it, with wins and losses, and meeting people I still call my family. Once a year teams go up to Geraldton and Kalgoorlie for their annual road trips – our roadies were fortnightly and some of the funniest moments of my life. It is a shame the team folded, but keeping girls in the town when there is a hugely talented netball program and the lure of moving to Perth for study are two huge factors that will always be there.

The dreaded R word. For me it is dreaded. How do you 'retire' and stop playing the game you love, when you are still starting and playing effective minutes? For some I guess you know the signs and I have been waiting for that sign. For the last five or so years I have questioned whether I can just walk away. One year I tried it, and I lasted until it was two weeks before the season. I was literally sick with sadness of what I was missing out on, and that wasn’t just playing and training, it was being around like minded people, it was the community, the family, the fitness – plain and simple, it was my life and all I have come to know.

Glenn Ellis was the coach who revived my love and I fell back in love with the game. After 16 years I still wanted a challenge, I wanted to learn and most of all to win. I think if you are not willing to learn then your time is up.

The club and the playing group at Stirling were the most welcoming I have ever played with, and I will finish out my days knowing that they are the girls I want to finish my career with. We don’t fight - we support each other, we win and lose together and most of all – we are 'as one'; even though our year has not reflected that way on the ladder. The facilities the club has are amazing, not to mention an on-site physio, who as it turns out has been my physio since I was 17 – Andrew Stanford has gone through it all with me.

This year unfortunately those 'R' signs started flashing. I worked really hard in the off-season and committed to F45 to get fit and know this would likely be my last crack – unfortunately a long standing back injury didn’t like it and set my start of season back. Just as I was starting to get on my feet again and play like I can, we played Perry Lakes (how ironic), and tore the cartilage of the lateral condyle in my knee. Of course, anyone who knows me well knows my injuries are always a bit different to the norm – and I didn’t even know I did it until the end of the game.

When I heard the words "you need to consider your long-term future" I became emotional and somewhat resentful, as that decision was meant to be mine, not a stupid injury. I have been on the sidelines for three months now, and again, my inner passion for the game is alive – but at 33 – reality sets in.

I miss playing in my #9 so much. I love basketball, I always have, always will and what part of my future is basketball related or not is all up to me – just the way I like it – my way.