This week in “From the Bleachers” I look at some of the more impressive interstate recruits the League has seen join the ranks in recent years.

 

On the back of the impact Perth Lynx players Stacey Barr, Klara Wischer and Carley Mijovic have had this season, I thought now as good a time as any to look at other recent interstate recruits to grace the SBL in the last few years. Now since I myself only arrived in WA in late 2009 and had my first season in the SBL in 2010, I feel it would be best to keep the time range to the more recent spectrum and comment only on players that arrived during my time in the SBL. Of course, no doubt there are many others who may have arrived before my time, and accomplished many great things (Mel Sinfield comes to mind) but for this column I think it best I comment on those that I came across during my time in the League. I’ve also limited my selections to include Australian-based players, hence leaving out our good friends from over the ditch.

 

In the past few years, interstate players have arrived in WA in search of opportunities with the WNBL franchise, but this year has seen a change, a change where the recent crop of interstaters are hanging around after being recruited by the WNBL team. I see this as great for the local league, not only in increasing the depth of talent, but also exposing our local athletes to more players who can play at a high calibre. All things going well, the presence of increased talent will challenge our locals and help push their game to newer and elevated levels.

 

In no particular order, here are some of the interstate players that have graced our shores and plied their trade in the WSBL during my time in the League.

 

Michelle Joy (NSW)- I recruited Mish to WA in my first season to play for Stirling and the conclusion of her two years at the AIS. Mish and I had go back to our earlier days with the Sydney Uni Flames, where she had been a development player as a 16 year old. Mish was a standout junior who had played for NSW junior rep teams as well as the Australian National junior team. A dynamic power forward who was blessed with speed and athleticism rare in a post her size, Michelle ended up playing 41 games, averaging 18 ppg and 10 rpg. She was the equal leading scorer in 2010 and 2011. Her impact on the league saw her make the West Coast Waves WNBL team after her earlier stint with the AIS. Mish moved on and made her way back home to Sydney at the end of the 2011 season where she played for her Sydney Uni Flames in the WNBL for two years. Most recently she also played in SEABL with the Sandringham Dragons.

 

Lara Napier (Qld)- Perhaps one of the more unheralded interstate imports to arrive in the SBL, Lara had been a member of both the Logan Thunder and AIS in the WNBL before coming to play for Willetton. While not a being a stats dominator, Lara for mine is solid across all areas- a player that can hit the open look, a good passer, terrific team player and a very good defender. Every coach looks for a player that is reliable across all areas and Napier is just that. Even though I’ve never coached her in one of my teams, she definitely is one of the opposition players that you know will produce a performance.

 

Sheraton Flood (NSW)- Sherry spent one year in the SBL after coming across as a 17 year old to trial for the Perth Lynx WNBL team, where she was successful in landing a roster spot. While the kid didn’t light up the stat sheets with averages of 7ppg, 4rpg and 3apg, Sherry was more renowned for her competitive edge and toughness, which rattled and alienated many an older opponent. Let’s face it, how many 17-year-old girls actually play with the intensity of a driven, hungry and at times almost possessed veteran? The kid was tough, but had also had plenty of talent- she was a member of the Sydney Uni Flames squad as a junior was very close to being contracted then as a 15 year old. She also represented NSW Junior teams before committing to NZ and playing in their National junior team.

 

Rachel Lisch (NSW)- I recruited Rachel in 2011 for my then Stirling Senators team after previously coaching her in the NSW Waratah State League. Before arriving in WA, Rach was a standout junior having been a member of numerous junior representative teams, spent time as a key player for Division 1 Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma before coming home to Sydney to play for the Sydney Uni Flames. While I was convinced Rachel would dominate the SBL, a shattering achilles rupture early in 2011 season put an end to what would have been a terrific 1-2 punch in her and Michelle Joy. Rachel left Stirling and played two seasons with the Perth Redbacks and her hard work post injury was rewarded when she made the WNBL West Coast Waves. Rachel’s final season in the SBL was 2013 and not long after her and husband Kevin Lisch left WA as Kevin explored overseas playing opportunities. After spending time overseas in France and Spain and two kids later, Rachel is currently back home in Sydney with Kev and their two kids and recently made a comeback in the Waratah State League with the Illawarra Kitty Hawks.

 

Lyndal Gardner (NSW)- I first crossed paths with Lyndal when she was playing for Newcastle Hunters in the Waratah State League back home in NSW. Back then she was just a fresh-faced rookie and it was pleasing to see her blossom into a solid and respected SBL player over the years. Lyndal played with my 2012 Stirling Senators group and with the late roster changes that team experienced just before the season, she was elevated to be our “go-to” player. She responded with her best season to date averaging 14ppg, 4rpg and 2apg. Lyndal is the type of person you want to have in your team- a terrific person and fabulous team member. I thank Glenn Ellis every time we talk for putting her name forward to me when he could have easily added her to his Perth Redbacks team in 2012.

 

Nikita Martin (SA)- Nikita came across to WA to play for the West Coast Waves for the WNBL 11/12 season under then coach David Herbert. She has since stayed in WA and played for only one team in the Joondalup Wolves. Nikita has made a name for herself in the League for her competitive edge, scoring ability and equally as important, being a down right legend of a girl! Nikita was a Championship winner and Grand Final MVP in 2013 and continues to put up consistent numbers in the League after several seasons. She is also one of the most loyal people you will ever meet. Nikki’s career averages of 16ppg and 6rpg for a versatile wing-post are impressive, considering she played with other capable scorers in her team over the years. She shows no signs of slowing down and to date, is averaging 18ppg, her highest in the time she’s been in the SBL.

 

Kara Hargreaves (SA)- Kara also moved to WA to play for the Waves and ended up playing two seasons for the South West Slammers before returning home. She again was a talented player and a crucial member of the 2012 Championship Slammers team but her best feature for mine is her competitive edge. You won’t meet too many players who are as driven on the court. She reminds me of Sheraton Flood, in the sense that both are players who will never back down. In fact, the bigger the challenge, the greater she seemed to rise. A lot of Kara’s work won’t be seen on the stats sheet but then again as coaches will tell you, a lot of the “intangibles” seldom appear on the stats sheet. I actually tried to recruit Kara in 2012 for the Senators but history says she chose the Slammers- what a choice that was!

 

Chelsea Burns- The Victorian came to WA in 2013 and was vital member of our 2013 Championship success with the Joondalup Wolves. Most will remember Chels as defensive specialist and she indeed she was. She had a great ability to read the play defensively and often looked like she was two steps ahead of the offense. She was also a dynamic defender who could defend a point guard in the backcourt and also the versatility to handle a post in the block. Having coached Chels for the three years she was in WA, I was also privy to her leadership skills that didn’t take long for her teammates to recognise when she was named co-captain and captain in 2014 and 2015. She returned home to Victoria at then end of 2015 along with her partner and genuine good good guy, Kennedy Kereama.

 

Marita Payne (Victoria)- Marita is a very well credentialed Victorian who spent time in the WNBL with stints in Bendigo Braves and Adelaide Lightning as well as Division 1 College ball at the esteemed Auburn University. She played with the Perth Redbacks in 2010 before moving to the Cockburn Cougars in 2014. Her SBL averages read an impressive 16ppg, 11.6rpg and 3.3 bpg. Marita was a multi-dimensional player who could score both inside and outside the paint. While her talent and performances were worthy of WNBL play, we were unsuccessful in getting her to commit to the Waves during my involvement with the franchise between 2011-2014. As well as her presence on court, am sure many fans also miss her beaming smile that was evident before, during and after games.

 

Lauren Jeffers (Victoria)- LJ was another player that I brought across to WA in 2012 to lead my then Senators team. Since then she has stayed put and continued on to be solid contributor in the SBL. LJ spent the 2012 season with Senators before moving to the South West Slammers for 2013 and since 2015, now calls Perry Lakes Home. I was always impressed with her work ethic and intensity, Jeffers is a great trainer who understands what it means to train hard and play hard. She has an incredible athletic physique and is very strong for a guard her size. When I recruited LJ it was with a view to helping her make the West Coast Waves roster and despite the Senators team of 2012 only winning 4 games that season, her hard work, commitment and skill level were recognized in being handed a contract by then Waves Head Coach Kennedy Kereama. Previously, LJ had spent time in the WNBL with the Melbourne Boomers as well as SEABL with Frankston Blues.

 

Special Acknowledgement- Deanna “Doccy” Smith- had I arrived in WA a lot earlier, towards the top of the list would be the one and only Doccy. The Victorian was a star in the WNBL long before she arrived in Perth to play for the Perth Lynx Mark 1, dominated for the Perry Lakes Hawks in the SBL, left our shores to return to the east coast, and was then tempted back to the western shores to play with the West Coast Waves, player-coach Cockburn into the finals, before returning this year with the Perry Lakes Hawks.

Other note worthy mentions who were from interstate but me here include: Ashley Gilmore, Cortney Hargreaves.

That’s it for now... keep screaming From the Bleachers!

Article by Vlad Alava
Photo by Sebastian Komatsu