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Season 4 Episode 6: Share, Stifle, Shoot with Issy Morgan (Norths)
61 Plays10 days ago
Lachy and Squin answer some discussion questions provided by fans before reviewing the very close and entertaining game between Hornsby Ku-Ring Gai Spiders and Maitland Mustangs women. They then share a pre-recorded interview with Issy Morgan (Norths Bears).
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Highlights
00:00:58
Speaker
Hey, hey everyone. Welcome back to East Scott Game where we give you the X's, the O's and the insights of MBL1 East. Thanks for joining us tonight live on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
00:01:13
Speaker
And remember, you can follow us on those platforms at East Scott Game or you can continue to find out episodes on your preferred streaming platforms as well.
00:01:23
Speaker
While you're there, make sure you check out Cut to the Jace. a podcast featuring the Bankstown Bruin himself, Jason Caddy, and It's a Coal World, a podcast by WNBL champion, Bet Cole, both brought to you by basketball.com.au.
Return of Lockie and Anzac Day Round
00:01:40
Speaker
Hello, Lockie. Hello, Squin. Lovely to have you back on the podcast after your sojourn last week Yes, blessed. Thank you. It's nice to be back. Thanks for holding down the fort while I was gone.
00:01:55
Speaker
i had I was lucky to be gifted two tickets to see David O'Doherty for my birthday earlier this year. So ah myself and...
00:02:06
Speaker
Our co-commentator and friend and co-podcaster, Mal Crawford from Ball Don't Lie Australia, kindly came with me to the show. It was good. was it It was a nice night out, i like break from basketball.
00:02:20
Speaker
Very nice. And how are you after this massive Anzac Day round? um Yeah, I'm great. it was a It was a big round. I was at Comets commentating, so...
00:02:33
Speaker
not Not a great week for my app for my team somehow. Comets men and women both went ohn two Sutherland men lost. sutherland men lost At least Sutherland women were able to ah we're able to get up. But, you know, can't exactly be mad about getting to commentate on Jazz Shelley and Izzy Morgan and all those other Norse players that I love
Sutherland Women's Team and Upcoming Games
00:02:56
Speaker
so much. So you take the rough with the smooth.
00:03:00
Speaker
Yeah, that's right. And is there any chance that those teams will meet each other again later in the season? the split? i don't actually ah I don't actually know. I think Sutherland will play Illawar again. I don't know about Norse and Comets.
00:03:19
Speaker
Yeah. um but I remember which teams I'm commentating, so I know I get to, yeah. Yeah. Don't really remember. Probably something I should think about. yeah focused on this Too focused on Sutherland Newcastle coming up this weekend. Oh, that would be a good one. ah Speaking of Sutherland women, we put out on Instagram on our stories today, anyone's got some suggested discussion points for us, one of them being that the Sutherland women are looking really, really good. ah Do you think they'll be able to bounce back after their loss against Norse pretty easily? Yeah.
00:03:57
Speaker
See, that's the thing. They're looking really good, but ah and but they did, you know, that was a pretty heavy defeat. 19 points they went down to against Norths. And I'm not sure, like, we'd look good in the wins they've had, but I'm not sure they've really played a lot of teams that you'd expect to trouble them. You know, Comets, you'd expect them to win.
00:04:21
Speaker
Maitland, expect them to win. Then they lost to Norths, and then... Illawarra you'd expect them to win. So I think this week against Newcastle is a really good litmus test for them, um especially Newcastle ran north really close earlier in the season. So, yeah, it'll be, yeah I think, and then they've got, and then Canberra um and Bankstown. So, yeah, ah those, all three of those games, especially if Katie Jones is back from for Canberra by now, its it would be cutting it fine at the end of German playoffs for her to fly back and play
00:04:55
Speaker
pretty much the same week.
Metro vs Country: Game Scheduling Benefits
00:04:57
Speaker
But definitely full strength Newcastle and Bankstown. But I mean, it's a damn good Sutherland lineup that they've got there. Nicholson, Curtin, adding Curtin and Dent to Nicholson, Fabbro, Douglas, Norris.
00:05:12
Speaker
um yeah Yeah. yes look at looking good, but taking care of business when they should and haven't and probably lost the game, they were you know expected to which was expected to be tougher. So happy with how it's going, but need more evidence.
00:05:34
Speaker
Yeah, so they so basically they need to be challenged and tested a little bit more, like you said, so that game against Newcastle will be super important. And, you know, it's great seeing Michael Turton back in such a head coaching role. um He's going to have plenty of experience and know what to do with such a talented roster.
00:05:53
Speaker
um But certainly looking like a, do you think a top four team or a top six team?
00:06:00
Speaker
Definitely top six. I just checked the draw after they play Canberra and Mason and they go to Albury the very next weekend. So really tough stretch of games. um And that will pretty much... i I would dare say that this stretch of four games could decide whether Sutherland end up in the top four or fifth to eighth.
00:06:20
Speaker
And very much think they are making the top eight, obviously, with that
Team Analysis: Hills Hornets and Hornsby Keringi Spiders
00:06:24
Speaker
roster. But yeah, the this stretch of four games will ah probably decide which half of the top eight they're in.
00:06:32
Speaker
Awesome. And as well, as we mentioned last week, Robbie Clayton, who is the colour commentator for the Hills Hornets and also the co-host and co-creator of the Throwback Hoops podcast. It's been running for a really long time. I think earlier in the year they celebrated their 200th episode. Yeah.
00:06:53
Speaker
which was massive. So, yeah, off the back of that episode, another suggested discussion point that came through on Instagram, our Instagram stories today was what was our take on the Hills teams so far this season? Now, truth be told, i haven't watched a lot of Hills games either men's or women's team just yet.
00:07:15
Speaker
um I'm familiar with both of their rosters. I've kept kept an eye on their stats a little bit, um but I don't think I'm confident with really giving a hot take just yet. What about you?
00:07:26
Speaker
i mean there i've mean, when you say Hills look really interesting to me, the first thing that jumps out to me is Ned Carr. ah Hills have had i've had some success with guys coming up from Big V. Ish Sanders, Meek Payne came from Big V, and now Ned. And the these are guys, Ned especially, he was end of the bench for Dandenong in NBL One South and then went to, think, Pakenham in Big V and just balled out.
00:07:54
Speaker
think he was putting up similar numbers to what Meek was putting up when he played in Big V. And they picked him up and he has slotted right in. He was great in that game. We, that Robbie and I broke down against Aubrey Wodonga. He put up 20 and 10 against Central Coast on the weekend in that 80 to 68 win. And yeah, they've added some good pieces. I think, um,
00:08:17
Speaker
ah we We always talk about Gunmadjack being underrated. Sean Stewart's good. Meek's still around. Liam Moss is there. I think he might be getting his legs under a bit coming off the bench.
00:08:29
Speaker
They've just got a whole lot of underrated pieces that are better than the nuisance that they've been in recent years. like you know They're actually you know starting to... ah really lay a marker down there three and two they got Norse coming up in their only game against Norse for the year which is make it make sense but anyway um but again probably coming back to uh that same term a good litmus test for them because I mean Norse are what six and one they got i mean they got rolled by Illawarra but they've dominated everyone else just about um
00:09:07
Speaker
And yeah I think I'm intrigued by Hills. And they've got some good young pieces coming off the bench when you think about it's got Saxon Orsini, Josh Payne, young Ben Williams.
00:09:22
Speaker
And they've got Pape Mamosio coming off the bench as well. So, yeah, a lot of lot of intrigue there. um And I really enjoyed watching them against Aubrey Wodonga in that game a couple of weeks ago.
00:09:35
Speaker
Awesome. And the women's side as well. I can see Shez is making a way back into the rotation. Yeah, i think once she gets her legs out, I think she played nine minutes first up and 15 minutes in her second game.
00:09:49
Speaker
Obviously, there's jia the more minutes that Cherie gets under her legs, the better. Just got to hope it it's quickly. Yeah. because there are, what what are they sitting at the moment? Two and three. Again, they've got North this weekend. So that's going to be very, very tough for anyone.
00:10:07
Speaker
um And, of course, still still awaiting the return of Piper Anderson. And the sooner that happens, the better as well. ah And they've just got a few things. that they've got So who have they got? They've got North, then they've got Comets. They've got Comets, Canberra doubleheader, and then COE and Maitland.
00:10:24
Speaker
So, you know, there's a few games there that they can definitely win and at least hover around 500 once we reach the halfway point of the season. And once they've got Piper back, able to If she's back for the second half of the season, watch out. Because I always think back to when Hills had two imports last year, they actually looked like a pretty solid team. It was just...
00:10:45
Speaker
For a lot of the season, they didn't have that and won like two of the other 10 games. So that was their ah that was their biggest problem. So, yes, to whoever said that Hills were an intriguing team or whatever the particular word was, on both sides, very much so. And they're just such a big association nowadays. I heard someone throwing around term that they manage 20 courts or something nowadays so across all their venues. So, yeah.
00:11:11
Speaker
They keep the team solid. there I mean, Laura Barrage has suggested they're going to have some good players coming through it. They've got, you know, that many players trotting out there every night on all those courts. Yeah, absolutely. I think it's, um I think it'll be great if we could review one of the women's games later in the season once they've got all their pieces back. You know, once Shez is playing ah some consistent minutes once Piper's back because I'm excited to see, you know, Shez, Piper, Kennedy Johnson, Jade Kurosame, like those are already four really great pieces to put together to have as your main, you know, four out of your starting five. And once they get their chemistry going...
00:11:50
Speaker
I think that would be a great game for us to review. Oh, definitely, yeah. they' it's I think it's what we've been waiting for is a Full Strength Hills because, yeah, we've all, I mean, look first of all, we were excited to see Shez back to full fitness, but, yeah, to see a Full Strength Hills is going to be you'll be really fun, I think.
00:12:09
Speaker
And then the last discussion point is something that you've brought up a couple of times in the past. I didn't say anything. yeah and we had and which is a good thing, and we had a couple of people um also suggesting this as a discussion point for tonight, but the Friday night games, people seem to be loving it, and I think you've been a big fan of the Friday night games for a long time.
00:12:33
Speaker
100%. In a world where doubleheaders must exist, I would much rather them on a Friday night than a Sunday avo. um Sunday avo... ah You've remember that the majority of your crowd is probably going to be polite people who are invested in the club with like kids playing juniors or things like that. And junior reps are on Sundays. So you're just eating into your crowd because half your junior reps are going to be at some other stadium playing.
00:13:04
Speaker
and Especially if you've got the home doubleheader, it just eats into it more because people will come out on a Saturday night. But if they come out on a Saturday night, they're probably not going to show up on the Sunday as well.
00:13:15
Speaker
Um, so at least on the Friday night, if they're, you know, Friday night, no junior reps on, uh, I understand, i understand some players don't like it. I think it, you know, the players working at nine to five, it's kind of hard, especially the women's players, you know, you work in nine to five and you turn up for 6 PM tip off. Um, yeah, I, I know some Sutherland players, like they are just madcap trying to get out of work early so they can get down to the stadium for tip. Um,
00:13:44
Speaker
So I know there's that thing, but if we're going to have doubleheaders, I would much rather them on Friday night than a Sunday. I know it probably wouldn't work for like Aubrey, Aubrey Wodonga traveling up or in the country teams.
00:13:56
Speaker
But with the Metro doubleheaders, chuck them on a Friday night. So much better. Yeah, I agree. And even for me, I've got to commentate a game on Friday night down in Logan.
00:14:06
Speaker
And for me, in terms of leaving work on time and getting down that far with traffic, um I'm already stressing and I'm just commentating. I don't have the responsibility of having to play.
00:14:17
Speaker
So i think that that can definitely needs to be taken in consideration, maybe just stretching it to like seven. But um friday night is Friday night games, especially in that for the Metro teams, are a great idea because it is – even though it's a Friday night, it's the end of the working week, sometimes people are a little bit tired and just want to go home and chill out. But if you can get that second wind or if you just keep rolling, it can kind of feel like the perfect start to a weekend if you're a fan, like a A great way to break the chain from the working week, go and watch some basketball, and you kind of feel like your weekend has already really started.
00:14:52
Speaker
i think you'll be I think it's definitely trickier for country teams, obviously, um especially all-brees that have to travel the furthest. um But even maybe for those that ah but the triangle of Central Coast, Maitland, Newcastle, I think a Friday night game would be a little bit tricky. But for the Metro teams, for sure. And the second part to that question that we actually got about Friday night games was, do you think the NBL one will introduce midweek games? Because...
00:15:22
Speaker
Going back to the the new look WNBL season that we just had, they used to they had some more midweek games. And from what I was told, they decided to put some WNBL games, say, on a wednesday Tuesday or Wednesday night um because they the times that they did that for NBL 1, they got really high numbers. Mm-hmm. So they were hoping that was going to transfer into WNBL. So that's okay for pro leagues because that's literally the players' jobs. ah They don't have to worry about going to work the next day.
00:15:57
Speaker
But midweek games, again, I think would only be suitable for Metro teams rather than the country teams. I think that would then add ah to the logistical nightmare of having ah to create a draw for NBL 1.
00:16:12
Speaker
Yeah, look, it's one thing to, you know, rush from work and play a Friday night game and then maybe you have a Saturday night game, maybe you don't. Whereas you play a midweek, you rush from work, you play a midweek game.
00:16:25
Speaker
ah like If you're the men's game, you're tipping off at 8, you finish at 9.30, 9.45. By the time you wind down, you're probably lucky to get to sleep before midnight and that's if you live close. um yeah And we've to remember, not every player in this league lives near the club they play for.
00:16:44
Speaker
No, so you've got like Sammy McCubbin and Sezi Matthews that still live on the Central Coast but play for them. And their coach, Will Granger, they all still live the Central Coast but are with Maitland Mustangs this season. And even for us playing social comp, you know, all have a game at 9.20 some nights.
00:17:03
Speaker
And that's just social comp. That's already enough to get us wired. So imagine doing the whole rigmarole of – having to play a ah full two-hour NBL1 game. Imagine if you had double OT on a Tuesday night.
00:17:17
Speaker
There goes your week. on. But back to the point, it does if you do it with Metro teams on the Friday night, it doesn't have to be a doubleheader. Take a game out of the Saturday and then there's just less,
00:17:29
Speaker
um like, fewer conflicting start time games on the Saturday. You you just don't have as many games, you know. People, you know, people, the neutrals who will, you know, just find a game to watch, you know, don't have to pick between five or six games. If there's one on a Friday night, they can watch as well. You're just basically opening it up. You're just giving that game, you know, free air, which can only be a good thing.
00:17:59
Speaker
mean, I don't think we want staggered start times all over the show because they're just going to overlap anyway with how many games there are, but. Just have that one game that gets free air is so beneficial. And as you mentioned, the the midweek tip on the WNBL, you know, it was the only was the only basketball on. it was In some cases, it was the only sport on.
00:18:19
Speaker
Yeah, and that was also part of the decision to put it midweek. And that's why they think that the random midweek games of NBL1 got such ah great viewership is because that some nights was the only sport that was on. So having those standalone games definitely helps.
00:18:35
Speaker
um But, yeah, more Friday games in metro areas. Like you said, free up the Saturday. Maybe it's more rest time. Maybe it's more um opportunity for players and coaches just to go be a fan if they've only got their standalone game for the round on a Friday.
00:18:50
Speaker
go and check out, kind of have that work-life basketball balance a bit better. go scout you Go scout next week's opponent in person instead of having to watch game film. Yeah, instead of having to watch film.
WNBA Preseason and Expansion Teams
00:19:03
Speaker
um Just before we move on, we've got SJ from Love of the Game giving you a shout-out, Lockie, for listening to your call and you calling Billy.
00:19:15
Speaker
games ah He says, games was crazy knowledge. Oh, yeah, so Billy Fichetti actually reached his 100th appearance in the NBL one season.
00:19:27
Speaker
this week against North on the weekend, and I did mention it on the call. Nice. Did anyone from the club or anyone give him a shout-out for his milestone?
00:19:37
Speaker
No, because I don't think anyone knows because he's done it across, like, five because he played for Mackay and then Darwin and then Inner West and now Comet. So ah it was just the fact I always write down how many appearances every player has in my notes each week.
00:19:52
Speaker
So, yeah. Yeah, according to the NBL1 website, Billy Fichetti now has 100 games. So congratulations, Billy. Did you get to tell him that after the game? Hey, by the way, that was your 100th game.
00:20:04
Speaker
No, I didn't. I'm not sure the mood was the best in the comments camp after the... ah Yeah, you're right. You're right. Read the room. Read the room. I wasn't there. After conceding 13 points in the first 18 minutes and going on to lose 70 to 59.
00:20:23
Speaker
I would like to know actually, of the like he he's got the NBL1 passport between all of those great clubs. I wonder how many other players across NBL1 have done something similar, like reached that 100-game milestone but had, you know, it contributed from multiple clubs.
00:20:42
Speaker
that would be cool to find out. But don't break don't break your brain over finding out, please, Lockie. I'm not going to, but there are going to be, like because we're in the it's 20 games a season and it's the fifth season. We're going to have a few players rack up 100 games just in East soon.
00:20:56
Speaker
o Yeah, we are. Yeah, we are. Let's keep an eye on that. Yeah. And SJ also says that we're making sense we have the keys to run the league now of having more Friday night games. But I think that's just because SJ also likes Friday night games.
00:21:16
Speaker
All right. Well, shall we? Oh, the only other discussion point I wanted to bring up, I can't remember. Well, obviously, I can't remember if it was brought up last week because I wasn't here. But I can't remember if it was the week before.
00:21:28
Speaker
Just um giving Amelia Hassett her flowers. Did we mention that already? we did. But now it's preseason. So she's actually stuff's actually happening.
00:21:39
Speaker
Yes, so she's you know scoring in preseason games for the LA Sparks. Our boy James Mullen from Waratah on VCR did a great clip of some of her highlights from when she was playing for Aubrey Wodonga Bandits in NBL1 all those moons ago. So it's a really nice fairy tale story for a young New South Wales country kid to now be literally playing next to Kelsey Plum.
00:22:06
Speaker
Yeah, that is. Like the top dog. Yeah. It's pretty cool. i mean, for a kid from Adalong, that is. That's out there.
00:22:20
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. so just probably worth another shout out. hope was I think with the WNBA preseason still rolling, there's a whole bunch of games still to come because some teams like Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, the two new expansion teams, haven't played just yet.
00:22:37
Speaker
I'm dying to know who's going to get cut and who's going to get waived. And I think the Mystics the only team that have started to make cuts. And the wings. The wings did did a couple.
00:22:49
Speaker
I just keep refreshing across the timeline.com. Just look at the player transactions every every morning. ah Don't worry about reading the morning headlines. Just refresh that page every morning. That's your headlines.
Game Preview: Hornsby Keringi Spiders vs Maitland Mustangs
00:23:04
Speaker
Pretty much.
00:23:07
Speaker
All right. Shall we get stuck into our game of the week? Yes, because it are took a little longer than most games. It sure did. And now, you know, us with our telepathic nerdy powers when we were trying to figure out which game to preview this week, this was both, this game was on top of both of our lists.
00:23:28
Speaker
I think for me what stood out was how close it was, who won, and who were the personnel that got it done. And for the winning team, who they did it without. Yeah.
00:23:42
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. um All right. So let's get stuck into it. Today we're going to be talking about the Hornsby Keringi Spiders versus the Maitland Mustangs women's game that happened on the weekend.
Game Analysis: Hornsby vs Maitland - First Half
00:23:57
Speaker
Lockie, take us from the top. So i think we've ah alluded to it pretty well, but it went to overtime and it finished ninety one ninety in overtime so and it was very close to being double overtime um obviously the big thing is jesse may hall out for the spiders with an eye injury which james milan was nice enough to actually mention during the commentary so we we all knew exactly what was going on but
00:24:31
Speaker
It was just, it was a really, really good game as well. I mean, as you would expect with a game that, you know, it was reasonably high scoring and close. You know, it was a good balance between offense and defense. And apart from Hornsby getting up by, I think, 11 at one stage, no one, you know, there wasn't any real big blowout margins and massive comebacks where one team just fell in a hole. Yeah.
00:24:58
Speaker
was a, it was, it was funny. It was, um
00:25:04
Speaker
the first couple of minutes I saw, you know, Hornsby just attacking the paint and mainly bombing away from three. And I was like, oh, okay, two diverging styles. And then they just sort of came back to each other a little bit after a while.
00:25:18
Speaker
and the um stat like the break uh the split of two point to three point attempts actually was pretty close between the two teams um the main point of difference being that maitland actually had 12 more field goal attempts than hornsby karingai but uh hornsby karingai shot the ball a lot better from two-point range so it was um yeah it was just a good game and The battle between Ayana Bay and Casey Newbert.
00:25:50
Speaker
Holy moly. They battled on four fouls apiece for what felt like an eternity. And it took until the last minute of overtime. But either of them to foul out.
00:26:02
Speaker
It was just, yeah, it was just really, really good basketball for 45 minutes. Yeah, I agree, especially what I liked. Okay, well, before I even get into the start of the game and setting the tone and things like that, is that Spider's logo at the half court? Is that new?
00:26:25
Speaker
that a new logo on there? i think yeah yeah it's Yeah, it's new. yeah Okay. it It's a completely different font. So I'm not too distant anymore from Ace. I can still recognise that that is a new logo on the court. Yeah.
00:26:40
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I love that. I mean, I don't know how long it's, I haven't thought about how long it's been there, but it's definitely a different logo to the one they used to have. Yeah. Oh, it looks great and it looks intimidating cause it's massive.
00:26:52
Speaker
Yeah, it's huge. It's massive. um But, yeah, I would go back to your point about how Hornsby from the tip were a very aggressive attack in the rim. Maitland found their range really early.
00:27:05
Speaker
I really loved, though, each possession from each team to open this game were like 10 out of 10. So we had... Hornsby getting on the rack, showing a lot of inside presence early, setting the tone that that was going to be a big part of their game plan. And that stuck the whole way through.
00:27:25
Speaker
And how was that opening play from Maitland? ah With the screens from Casey and Jess? Oh, perfectly executed. The screens. Sezi Matthews just waits patiently, throws the best pass. The defense obviously had their eyes and their their head turned away from the ball. They had no vision of the ball whatsoever. Reads that.
00:27:49
Speaker
Perfect pass placement. Just after those first two opening possessions, I knew. We're we're on here. We're on. yeah It's going to be a cracker of a game. Like each team came out very focused, very disciplined in what they were running.
00:28:04
Speaker
ah So I really liked that. um I think as well each team and the point that you made as well how they both set the tone of Hornsby getting inside, Maitland are going to win from the arc.
00:28:18
Speaker
But you're right. More and more as the game went on, it was just another one of those games where it was like for like.
Adjustments and Strategy in the Second Half
00:28:25
Speaker
And I hate to say it again I feel like I've said it already reviewing women's game earlier in the season.
00:28:32
Speaker
But it really was a like for like. You know, one team would turn over. The next team would turn over. One would get a layup. The other would get a layup. One would get the three. It was really back and forth like they were just imitating each other.
00:28:46
Speaker
um So it was so interesting how their styles of play ended up being really similar. But I think at the end of the day, despite Maitland putting up, you know, I think what you said, 12 more shots than Hornsby, I think for me it really came down to – who was executing their offense a little bit better and a bit better organized and a bit more confident in what they were doing.
00:29:13
Speaker
and But also I just think – And we'll get to it when we talk about fourth quarter, the twist of fate. As soon as this happened in the fourth quarter, I'm like, this that's it, the game's done. And it was still ages to go, but we'll get we'll get to that later. um But the other points I had from the first quarter was at 5 minutes 59, just say six minutes. I don't know why have to write down specifically five minutes 59. I do exactly the same thing. Yeah. The weak side layup that Hornsby got, that was just beautiful ball movement, great team play, um and it was just, yeah, really well executed. So I broke it down. Essentially, there was pick and roll on the left-hand side, and Sezi Matthews was guarding the person setting the screen, and then she was kind of just in no man's land. Like, she just stood behind the screener, but she didn't stand...
00:30:08
Speaker
ah perpendicular to the screen where she was between the ball and the basket. So that just opened that lane wide up. She was literally behind the screener, kind of like not doing anything. And then the person guarding the ball, I think maybe was Finney.
00:30:23
Speaker
and she and she played it she overplayed it so they couldn't use the screen but overplayed it too much that that lane became even more open. So once the ball handler was able to penetrate off that read, there was no other defenders in front of her and that weak side defender on the split line had to come over and help. But they helped too far and too early. So that left-hand layup was just wide open, wide open. Yeah, that it was I was watching and I was like,
00:30:51
Speaker
That screen just took two players out at once. But, yeah, like you said, it was because Sezi was, yeah, just made the wrong move. Both defenders just made the wrong move.
00:31:03
Speaker
Yeah, it was just like this chain reaction of, like, split second, not the best decisions, and then that's how that opened wide up. But I just kind of pulled that out because I was like, how did they get that so easy? And it was just that chain reaction. Yeah.
00:31:19
Speaker
And then we had Perkins with the O-board as well, O-board and put-back. I really like a 4 minutes 28. Shaq Riley, she had that step-back three, which sure she created great space just by the step-back to make the three, but it's what she did before that that actually created that shot for her. So she had it on the 45. She had some extra time. She actually dribbled up and away from the basket, and that forced her defender to take some extra space from her and then she was able to penetrate and get even more space off the step back so i thought that was a really nice executed move as well and it wasn't the only time she did it during the game not not the dribble back but the recognizing that she had the space to get up ahead of steam and rely on her deceleration to just get the defender sort of on their heels and have room for it um and like
00:32:18
Speaker
It's these players, like, if you... and I know I'm going to talk about S&C and mention Josie Ballman here, but these players who are in the weight room and know about S&C that are working on basketball-specific skills to decelerate like that have such an advantage just from the knowledge, not just the work they put in in the gym, but the knowledge to do the basketball-specific stuff all the time.
00:32:43
Speaker
And you watch that. Shaq can just stop on a dime because she's she puts in the S&C work because she knows about it. And it's brilliant to watch.
00:32:55
Speaker
um And it's probably one area of S&C that isn't um kind of respected enough or as much or maybe forgotten about, I should say, you probably forgotten about.
00:33:11
Speaker
I mean, I thought, i mean, we've already mentioned a couple of plays where, you know, teams have set screens. And honestly, both teams were really, i think for most of the first quarter, but really good at doing those little things, setting screens, good off ball movement. ah I did, I went and looked at the shot chart. Every Hornsby shot in the first quarter was either a three or was within nine feet of the basket.
00:33:32
Speaker
They had nothing even remotely close to a mid-ranger. Like, most of it was actually in the restricted in the restricted circle if it wasn't a three. Yeah. Yeah. And, I mean, um like ruby Ruby Perkins, she's just – She does things that belie her size. Like, through a skip pass out to... She dripped it all the way back out almost to the corner three and skipped pass to Lucy Meade on the opposite wing on one play.
00:34:03
Speaker
I think it was just before the midway point of the first quarter. And, like, Ruby Perkins doesn't look like she should be able to just fling that pass like that, but she can. um And it's... And it was perfect. And...
00:34:20
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, and it wasn't just that she, you know, we know she's got the speed, she's got the court vision and she, I mean, she kept doing it all night. She was finding players. She wasn't hitting shots or getting to the rack. She was finding players. and uh she just had a had a really good night um that was yeah those those were probably my two things was just the way perkins um was able to do so many things so well early and just yet that horns be not a mid-ranger in sight um may not be actually pretty good at that as well i think they only had a couple of mid-range shots most of their stuff was threes and layups as well um nothing apologies to the carmelo anthony fans in the house but uh
00:35:02
Speaker
Yeah, I'm sure the coaches will have been happy with the ah the efficiency of the shot attempts.
00:35:09
Speaker
Yeah, I think so too. I think the only one of the main notes I wrote down that Coach Granger would have been upset about is to close this first quarter. Perkins had an assist straight after the timeout.
00:35:22
Speaker
it And then she goes and she then goes and scores on the buzzer with the layup. And I was like, oh, Will's going to be so mad. I, well, i we mentioned it last week in the Hills-Albury men's game, how Aubrey just fell asleep on two end of quarter possessions and gave Hills easy layups and lost the game by two points.
00:35:44
Speaker
That hurts. That hurts. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah.
00:35:51
Speaker
um But, yeah, you're so right about that shot chart looking at Hornsby-Karingai shot chart from the first quarter. It is just textbook, either a three or it's under the basket. And it's cool that all the shots under the basket are actually quite varied, like they're pretty much – all over the charge circle and the three-point attempts are in the exact spots that the coaches want you to be except for maybe one is, yeah, it's deep corner and 45. It's a perfect placement on the floor as well.
00:36:23
Speaker
But we are talking about Shaq Shora here as the coach. He's really stepping into his own. he's He's been coaching with some of the best. I mean, we know that he came from Norse, coached with Rene Gallop for a while.
Overtime Review and Strategies
00:36:36
Speaker
There were lots of times in this game too when I was watching Hornspin, was like, this brand of basketball is very familiar. This is a brand basketball that we reviewed two weeks ago and that we really, really like. And because it works.
00:36:51
Speaker
Yes, it works. um and i mean, I think that's part of why we both enjoyed this game so much is it's the style of basketball we like. and when And because because it works.
00:37:04
Speaker
Because it works. And when yeah everyone sticks around for our special guest interview later that we pre-recorded, they're going to tell you the same. They are. but But, yeah, that first quarter, I think,
00:37:17
Speaker
was still quite like for like each team were still kind of establishing themselves quite a bit and i kind of got a sense that like it it was pretty much most of the theme of the game that kind of just kept rolling and then I started to make some more notes regarding Maitland come the second quarter so things like I just felt like Newbert needed more touches earlier in the game That's fair. think so. I think so was the way.
00:37:44
Speaker
right, go on. Oh, I was going to say she's a, because she's obviously a great threat under the basket to be a scorer, ah but she's also a great passer. She's not, she's not a, hole she's not going to be a black hole. You know you're not going to throw it in the post and never see it again. She will find the shooters. She will attract all the defenders. I thought ah she could have done with a few more touches.
00:38:05
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. I mean, I think she finished with four. She finished with four. I think one assist, four steals. Yeah, nine rebounds, 17 points. But yeah. Yeah. And then she ended up being seven from 16. I just kind of felt like earlier in the game, maybe a few more touches. But obviously it came good in the end. She having six, you know, seven from 16 was really good. And the time she started to score as well during this game was really important.
00:38:32
Speaker
Yeah. But, I mean, I think we are we can all appreciate a ah passing big. Especially, that I mean, Maitland do have shooters. right Yeah. They only got people to find.
00:38:46
Speaker
Yeah, they're certainly not sold out of shooters. So there's lots of people there that you can kind be confidently getting the ball to, to at least have a good shot on target. Both teams, to be fair, shot really well. I think there was only maybe one way would three point attempt in the whole game. And that was really early.
00:39:02
Speaker
i mean, other than the, the buzzer beater attempts, they don't count, but every other shot attempt within the regulation time was, um,
00:39:12
Speaker
They're all very well on target. Yeah. if there was If there was a shots on target statistic, it would be quite high. ah Second quarter as well for me, Maitland, I think.
00:39:26
Speaker
They had a little bit of trouble guarding the dribble penetration at at times. Like we said, Hornsby very obviously from the start wanted to get on the rack, whether it's through a post catch or someone like Perkins or Meade going to the rack.
00:39:41
Speaker
So I think they had a little bit of trouble of containing that at times. Yeah. it's particularly when that was their MO, maybe ah changing that a little bit earlier of the game could have helped lock them down a little bit and help prevent that 11-point lead they ended up having. And then I kind of thought as well the likes of Bay, you know, Bay matching up with Newbert was great and me being a big fan of a traditional power forward and a traditional centre, loved it.
00:40:11
Speaker
ah But then I thought Christina Moore, Because she's so versatile and she has size and she can play inside and outside. It didn't really occur to me until we started watching that because of her versatility, she could have been quite a handful for someone. Like, who are you?
Player Development and Community Impact
00:40:28
Speaker
But for someone from Maitland to guard her, you know what i mean? Yeah. Yeah. And it's interesting, when she's on the perimeter, she like she can shoot it. And she turned the corner on more than a couple of players. So even yeah in the position where you don't expect her to be as much of a handful, she was still um putting Haightland in two minds on a lot of occasions. Yeah.
00:40:55
Speaker
And it's it's, I mean, it's a luxury. It's probably a good problem for Shaq Shora to have exactly how to use Christina Moore. um But yeah, it it isn't is an interesting one because yeah ma Maitland in their you know in their starting lineup, they're not they're not the biggest outside of outside of casey No, it's almost like they needed another Sydney. They needed Sydney Hunter as well and then the map she could match up against Christina Moore because Christina unfortunately got into some foul trouble and ended up being fouled out.
00:41:28
Speaker
So she only played 28 minutes and I only say only because, you know, last season we were used to seeing her play the full 40. um But she still had 16 points and four rebounds and she still shot five from 12. So like you said, good luxury to have.
00:41:45
Speaker
Yeah, so just checking her. So it was three three and six and two of six. Yeah, it did feel like she shot a lot of threes. She was given – she was, you know, not quite dared to shoot, but kind of like a half closeout a little bit, just a little bit of sag.
00:42:01
Speaker
um And then there were other times where defenders would get right up on her and she'd just take them on and beat them for a combination of speed and speed entry. You have to remember that Christina Moore was an Oceania – I think discus, yeah, discus thrower.
00:42:19
Speaker
So, you know, that that takes a lot of foot speed and agility to do. So even if she doesn't do it anymore, it's still a skill set she possesses.
00:42:30
Speaker
And it's, yeah, it's the kind of thing that does translate is, you know, moving your feet in in small spaces because that discus circle, it's not big. No, no, it feels big when you're at little athletics under nines. Yeah.
00:42:43
Speaker
But when you're an adult, it is small. yeah I think the only other thing I had for Maitland in the second quarter was I just found it interesting that they played behind, like defensively they played behind the post, like they were allowing the post catchers.
00:43:00
Speaker
So if you think about in the context of the whole game, and we love the matchup between Hubert and Bay, Bay pretty much was allowed post-catches most of the game. And it was just interesting that the interesting decision to have ah the defense play behind rather than fronting or half fronting to put more pressure on that post-catch.
00:43:22
Speaker
that's a... um consequence of who is throwing those passes in? do you go like Is Ruby Perkins going to be able to drop a pass in where only Ayana Bay can get it and just go up to straight up, yeah almost dropping it over the back shoulder where no one else is going to be able to get it? Because he did it once or twice.
00:43:46
Speaker
I think even Lucy Mead had a couple of great dimes as well where she just perfectly placed a pass over hands for Ayanna Bay to catch. I get that risk, but I wonder even if it was still just a half front, right,
00:44:02
Speaker
and And then it just still puts the doubt in the passer's mind a little bit rather than like having someone like Bay who's already great in the post high post, low post, um and just really good at finishing despite not being, you know, the the the tallest of centres in the league.
00:44:22
Speaker
I just wonder if that could have just put a bit more doubt the mind. But maybe it was more... um Maybe they didn't want to risk Casey Newbert getting more fouls earlier by having that wrestle in the post. Maybe that was the thought behind it.
00:44:38
Speaker
that's Yeah, 100%. Yeah, I can 100% see that. Yeah. So rather than fighting on the post catch and getting those fouls, just then waiting to add the pressure. And maybe Newbert had a bit more length to put that extra pet pressure on Bay as well after the catch. But, yeah, I just thought that was an interesting thing. Yeah.
00:44:59
Speaker
Yeah. What about you for second quarter? ah First thing I noticed was that Maitland had seven second chance points and it probably could have been more. They did get more than a few offensive rebounds. And their bench really came up big, especially Abby McGregor hit that three. And then, okay, she blew the two-footer on the next possession, but she got she got up there quickly. Yeah.
00:45:23
Speaker
And then she, um and Sophie Williams as well. They both, yeah, they both did some good things. um And I mean, Hornsby threw back on off the bench with Nikki Sainsbury. I mean, there was even one play where James confused Nikki Sainsbury with Ruby Perkins, which shows how welsh she was ah ah well she was doing when she um got the ah trip to the free throw line.
00:45:44
Speaker
um And I also noticed... um Maitland were able to utilize a few backdoor cuts, not to get to the rack, but they would backdoor cut and then either kick to the corner or even just drop it off to the player like in the dunker spot. I think that was maybe how McGregor got one of those um one of those close range baskets. But it was just something that Hornsby didn't really lock in on because there were a few of yeah There were a few times it happened. I don't know if they were more concerned with patrolling what would happen after that player got the ball, but it just did really open things up a little bit, um especially coming from the left-hand side, which I found which i found interesting.
00:46:28
Speaker
um And i do feel like it's probably something that Shaq Shora was talking about at halftime because it did dry up a bit as the game went on.
00:46:39
Speaker
Yeah, and looking at some of the statistics from the second quarter, both teams were shooting at a really high percentage. Hornsby was shooting 50% from the two-point range and 66.67 from the three.
00:46:52
Speaker
And Maitland rounded up to 46% two-point range and from the range. so Yeah, but they were rolling. it was almost like the first quarter was great to establish themselves, warm up a little bit.
00:47:06
Speaker
By the second quarter, both teams were really rolling. Yeah, I mean, it was yeah it was a 30 to 26 second quarter, so ah which was easily the highest scoring. Yeah.
00:47:19
Speaker
when you think about When you think about the second quarter being the highest scoring, it probably means defence forefront of both coaches' minds going into the half-time break, which probably explains a lot about why it ah it slowed up a bit in the second half.
00:47:33
Speaker
Yeah, it really did. Like the number of attempts certainly slowed up. um And I guess the percentage didn't change too, too much. Like I think from the three-point range for Hornsby, it certainly did in the third quarter. It went back down to 25%.
00:47:51
Speaker
And then interestingly, Maitland didn't make a three in the third quarter either, given that they were... you know firing from the arc very early on in the game. um Second quarter too, Hornsby had nine points from the bench and Maitland had the seven points from the bench. So, yeah, that really helps support what you were saying before about ah how everyone from the bench was stepping up. Even James said in the commentary that both coaches doing a good job of getting their full squad on the court for this game.
00:48:24
Speaker
Yeah, I think they both ran small. um They were both short-handed. They both nearly had nine, but all nine got on for for both teams. Yeah, Kate Love, 11 or 10 and a bit minutes.
00:48:37
Speaker
Daila Walker, 23. I imagine that's probably a bit bit more than she would ah usually play. at um And even when you look at someone like Charlotte Coogle, who didn't have a point in her six minutes, but...
00:48:49
Speaker
We'll get into it later, but she in the fourth quarter, but when she came on, and I think it was in the fourth quarter, she did some really good things that just don't show up on the stat sheet.
00:49:00
Speaker
Yeah, and it shows the trust, obviously, that the coaches have in these players, but also is a great reflection of these players knowing their roles when they come on because the game, despite whoever was on court at the time, you know, coaches putting on the right combinations, obviously, but also those bench players when you're going deep in the bench, both teams were still able to play with a similar level of consistency. So that that's reflective of how well the bench players know their role as well in these in these teams. um
00:49:34
Speaker
I didn't have too many notes for Hornsby for the second quarter just because I felt like they just kept doing what was working for them. So if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Yeah. um yeah i mean i had you know a few little you know little things that happened but i don't think anything that really um created a pattern of
Inside NBL1 East: Player Interviews
00:49:56
Speaker
change um yeah yeah i mean i mean you're right yeah they just kept yeah doing this when i look at look back at my notes it's probably mostly stuff that i've uh mentioned the only thing is that yeah need to clean up clean up the glass better and when you've got
00:50:14
Speaker
My Anna Bay and Christina Moore and you but on your line-up, you should probably, yeah, it's probably something you should be probably, I say focused on, but it's probably something that just you should be able to do.
00:50:27
Speaker
It looks like that probably turned around, though, in the second half, given that Hornsby ended up winning the rebound count forty eight to thirty nine and So dominating possession in the end. i think a lot of that probably came from the last, what,
00:50:42
Speaker
four minutes of the game, including overtime, when it was just kind of like rebound and opportunity and back and forth between the two teams. Yeah, 100%. And, I mean, the teams combined for two second chance points in the entire second half in overtime. So ah even if they were giving up any offensive rebounds, they weren't giving up points off them.
00:51:07
Speaker
No, definitely not. ah But, yeah, rolling into the third quarter, Typically in these games come third quarter, this is where the teams wobble. This is where it all kind of like started to come apart for both teams. This was the the part of the game where everyone needed to get their mistakes out of the way to prepare for the fourth quarter. Yeah.
00:51:30
Speaker
It was just quite scrappy and dysfunctional. There were longer periods of time in the third quarter where no one scored or nothing really happened. um I think Maitland sometimes just needed a few more possessions where they worked the ball a little bit more or like that one extra pass or that extra, extra pass just to try and execute that little bit better in this third quarter.
00:51:55
Speaker
But they were hustling even more for the boards this quarter. And I wonder if that was in response to Hornsby coming out and upping the defensive intensity. Yeah, that's that's, I mean, it's funny you mentioned though i've literally the third third line on my third quarter.
00:52:13
Speaker
Low scoring start to the quarter because it was, i think it was three minutes and there were about two baskets. um And, know, it's a,
00:52:24
Speaker
I do like the point, yeah, of upping the defensive intensity because I feel really felt like they did. um They also upped the physicality on offense and it led to Christina Moore getting two very quick offensive fouls and they were blatant.
00:52:42
Speaker
One where she just... One where I... she got She got Casey Newbert when she was going to the basket and gave one of these. But I think in... i' make For those of you just listening, I'm making the ah flop warning sign.
00:52:59
Speaker
And then that moving screen that she did about 30 seconds later was just... That was less a moving screen and more just, ah yeah, but a body check. Yeah.
00:53:13
Speaker
Yeah, so just a couple of fouls that didn't really need to happen, and it took her to four fouls. And, I mean, shout out to everyone who ended up on four fouls in this game because they played well without fouls afterwards when they did come back. Yeah. But it did mean Christina had to spend a bit of time on the bench.
00:53:33
Speaker
Yeah, that's right. That's right. That was a real kind of dampening to the Hornsby Keringai Spiders, especially in the third quarter. Everything was getting a little bit messy and a little bit dysfunctional, and that kind of added to it. Yeah, so it was unfortunate. But yeah the rest of the team were ready to step up, and the the level didn't really drop, despite having to take some more time on the bench.
00:53:55
Speaker
There was just one little stint for about 90 seconds in the middle of the quarter where both teams decided to turn it into a track mate. And it got very, very messy. ah Just turnovers, blown layups, one and done shots.
00:54:10
Speaker
And then someone, and then nothing. that No, I don't think anyone scored. Warnsby just were like, oh, we need to stop doing this. And Iana Bay passed out of the post to Dale Walker in the corner.
00:54:24
Speaker
And then both teams like, oh, okay, we got that out of our system. Go back to actually play what we've done for the other 25 minutes of the game.
00:54:34
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. ah That's, yeah, it was just an all a bit amiss this third quarter. ah Battle of the Bigs continued and ah it was, um I think what I also liked Hornsby in this quarter is that they were up by nine and they did a really good job of controlling the tempo.
00:54:55
Speaker
So taking the taking the air out of it, they didn't have to rush anymore. They were up by nine. There were times where Ruby was literally just walking down the court and you know, taken taking a quick rest. So I really, really liked that from Hornsby, being able to recognise, hey, we're up, let's just slow it down a little bit and take some time off the clock. um Then at 2 minutes 44, the Hornsby commentators, you know, Rachel Williams did a classic Rachel Williams step through move on the left-hand side, you know, defying the laws of physics and going into the matrix. Now, you and I are used to that. but I wrote that classic Rachel Williams move.
00:55:34
Speaker
And the commentator's like, how did she get that? And like, that's just, that's what she does every day. Yeah. Did you have any more points from the third quarter before we head into the fourth and overtime?
00:55:48
Speaker
Well, i yeah, this where I want to talk about Charlotte Kugel. Oh, yeah. Just, it was late in the third. It wasn't in the fourth. It was late in the third because Christina Moore got her fourth foul, 354 in the third quarter.
00:56:02
Speaker
and it was fighting with Kugel, trying to fight over Kugel's screen and she pretty much just wrapped her up and threw her away. Which, given the size difference, yes, she could do, but it's kind of in contravention to the laws of laws of the game.
00:56:17
Speaker
so So it was a good screen from Kugel. And then she had the screen I'm sure it was Maitland's next basket or not long after.
00:56:30
Speaker
um she screened in the paint for Kate Love to get open and get the pass from Shakira Riley to lay at home. So again, bench working, Kate Love coming off the bench, Charlotte Kugel coming off the bench, both players doing their job. And yeah, Kugel, zero points in six minutes, but you just in that two minute stint, she got Christina Moore a fourth foul and pretty much had a screen assist on a basket. So for the young player who played, I think, 40 minutes total for Newcastle last season, yeah originally for Cross Harbour, she's a Not as big not as big a opportunity in this one, but she's definitely getting her opportunities and taking them when they are when they arrive.
00:57:08
Speaker
aye You know I love a Coffs Harbour Flower. Yeah, awesome. That's really good to see. Hopefully she can just stick around and continue to develop there at Maitland.
00:57:22
Speaker
And now getting into the fourth quarter, obviously where most of the, well, lots of the excitement happened and then obviously we'll have overtime as well. ah Yeah, credit to Casey Newbert. She was on four fouls um with six minutes to go in the fourth.
00:57:41
Speaker
Yeah, and she got a real cheapie late in the third as well. can't remember exactly what happened. It was just a nothing burger of a foul. So, yeah, have her fourth, six minutes yeah six minutes to play. And she had to be out there.
00:57:56
Speaker
If they take her off, that game's over. yeah yeah yeah for sure um so yeah credit to her for staying in the game as long as she possibly could think sarah matthews kind of went missing for me in the second half i would have liked to have seen her utilized a little bit more in the third and fourth quarter maybe running some pick and pop for her to get her hot again get her some three-point opportunities um And then the Rachel Williams dime at 3 minutes 18 where she just dumps it off to Nugent again on that left-hand side was in such a small space with such a fraction of like a small fraction of time, beautifully executed from Rach. Yeah.
00:58:42
Speaker
Yeah. i It's so good having her back and fully healthy. She just runs this team so well. Like they've got players who can, you know, kind of slot in at the point if they really have to, but just having Rachel Williams there opens up so much more for this Maitland team.
00:59:02
Speaker
And then for... Hornsby, Ruby stepped through at 5 minutes 12. That stepped through on the right-hand side. Oh, my gosh.
00:59:13
Speaker
Like you can tell this kid has been building herself to be an elite baller yeah for such a young age. Her read and react is just outstanding, and it's almost like it's programmed in her. She just has this natural ability to stay composed, read and react,
00:59:31
Speaker
and then have the ability to finish like that at all levels she plays at. It's just so impressive. Yeah. i And it's one thing to have the vision or have the skills to do that. It's another thing to have both.
00:59:45
Speaker
And, yeah, she's just – ah does she Does she really have to go to college? Really? Yeah, no, can you stay? this is And that was the other thing I was thinking about with this Hornsby team. It's so lovely that she and Jessie may want to play that one more season together before they both go to college. But also Lucy Meade's going to go to college too next season. She's going to go to North Colorado. So i really hope that for this season,
01:00:13
Speaker
young, exciting group that's really bringing Hornspear to the forefront in the women's competition can have, like, a really great, a successful season as possible as a bit of a swan song for these three that are going to go off to college.
01:00:27
Speaker
Yeah, because, I mean, a lot of WNBL players do play NBL 1, but i think they're I think they're looking higher.
01:00:41
Speaker
Yeah, for sure, for sure. I think the only other criticism I might have about Maitland is that couple of their last possessions, they just kept um resorting to Isoball.
01:00:53
Speaker
And I was like, it hasn't worked for you all game. Don't do it. Yeah. and I mean, what, Hornsby didn't score for the last two, it was 82-80 when Christina Moore fouled out in the, with yeah, with 235 to play.
01:01:11
Speaker
They were in the bonus at the time and they didn't score another point in regulation, which i've found I found, mean, I obviously knew it was coming watching the replay, but I did my notes, but um yeah, it'd be 82-80 up with 235 to play in the bonus, Iana Bay in there in the paint.
01:01:30
Speaker
That's wild. um And what – yeah, neither team scored in the last 67 seconds once um Casey Newbert just reeled in that pass. That was so close to a turnover.
01:01:43
Speaker
It deflected off the defender's hand. And Casey still managed to i reel it in. I was like, oh, this could be game. and ah Yeah. It was –
01:01:56
Speaker
There ah there were moments late on that, are yeah, either team could have ah could have done a little something. Leia Hartman put on the line with 12 seconds to play.
01:02:08
Speaker
Yeah, heels on the sideline. Oh, they call it a coach killer for a good reason. Yeah. But it was interesting, like statistically Maitland shot a hundred percent from the three point line in the fourth quarter, 43% from the two point range.
01:02:26
Speaker
And while the, while this whole game review, we've been talking about Hornsby's focus on getting the ball inside or getting on the rack. It was actually Maitland that had more points in the paint.
01:02:38
Speaker
They had 36 points. Maitland had 36. Hornsby had 26. And 12 of those 36 came from the fourth quarter. Like they were going home win today. and twelve of those thirty six came from the fourth quarter like they were going home with a wind today Like they were really, really push putting everything they could in the fourth. And I just think, again, like was just a couple of possessions where if they stuck to their principles of ball movement, getting like ball reversals, inside, outside change sides, all those cliches that we liked and didn't resort to some of those iso ball possessions, they could have clinched this.
01:03:13
Speaker
Yeah, they 100% could have. Yeah. Yeah. um yeah Yeah. Going to look at that quickly at the Maitland shot chart for the fourth. Yeah.
01:03:25
Speaker
Lots of great looks inside. That was all the 12 points in the paint. Yeah. Two from two from the three point line. And in the third quarter for Hornsby, zero from four from the three point line.
01:03:38
Speaker
And I think, yeah, a lot only three of their shots, I think four of their, um I should say eight of their points from under the basket just to hold on. Yeah.
01:03:50
Speaker
Yeah, and interesting that Maitland won the fourth quarter 15-21, six-point difference, those six points being the two threes that they made. Yeah. ah But, yeah, then we get into OT.
01:04:07
Speaker
Yes. Bornsby still had some left in the tank. i yeah, probably.
01:04:17
Speaker
It was back and forth. It's hard to say a five-minute period could be back and forth, but it was this overtime. um um Yeah. Although, I mean,
01:04:32
Speaker
mean Maitland's first possession was disastrous. I think they thought Dela Walker was actually still playing for Maitland the way they threw that pass. Yeah, that's ah ah just a momentary lapse in OT. Yeah.
01:04:45
Speaker
Yeah. But, I mean, they... And then, my I mean, Maitland, they got Ruby Perkins to try that step through that wasn't... That was probably a bit far out.
01:04:57
Speaker
um And then Hornsby, I mean, you play 40 minutes of basketball. We can... ah You know, they looked quite lethargic in transition defence, giving up that three to Shaq.
01:05:09
Speaker
um It's about a minute and a half in. But, ah um yeah, then... I mean, it was Maitland, midway through OT.
01:05:23
Speaker
And it kind of felt like after they had that disastrous first possession that Maitland might go on with it. But,
01:05:35
Speaker
yeah, like you said, Spiders got a bit in the tank the last couple of minutes. Yeah. Yeah, so I should say, going back to your point about that transition three from Shaq, I should say that Maitland's transition game was really good all game.
01:05:51
Speaker
That was certainly one of their strong points. They got a lot of points in transition. Probably won't say it as fast break points on the box score because notoriously NBL1 doesn't.
01:06:03
Speaker
Really? Oh, hold on. Eight fast break points. Okay, that's good, including that three in overtime. But, yeah, their their transition was really good all game all game. I think they could have pushed that a bit more. um that the The extra that Hornsby had, I shouldn't say ah extra in the tank, but more tricks up their sleeve, to use another metaphor. They started to blitz and double the pick and roll.
01:06:25
Speaker
I don't think Maitland were expecting that. i thought that was a really smart move. It caught them completely off guard. ah It kind of helped... Hornsby get that second wind about them in defense. Like they were able to maintain some intensity despite getting fatigued in overtime.
01:06:44
Speaker
um And they all played really clean. Everything was like clean hands, body straight up, all on every trap, every rotation. Second and third line of defensive rotation was really good for Hornsby. I think that really, it started to rattle Maitland. But then, yeah, like you said, they Maitland started to,
01:07:03
Speaker
um you know, have that four-point lead. And it did look like they were going to take it away until this particular point of the game where this is where the dominoes all started to fall. And it wasn't anyone's fault. This was purely, to me, an example of how the cruel fate of basketball works.
01:07:27
Speaker
do you Can you tell what moment in overtime it was?
01:07:33
Speaker
I'm not sure. There's a couple I'm thinking of, but go on. This is how i read it. And this, again, this is no one's fault. This is just the domino effect of the fate of basketball. So Maitland were up by four.
01:07:49
Speaker
Momentum was in their favour. ah Shot clock was winding down and Shaq had this awesome drive on the right-hand side. She beat her player baseline. She had this open drive. It was on target and it just rimmed out.
01:08:04
Speaker
This is at 1 minute 21. Just rimmed out. Newbert does the right thing, contests the rebound, and she gets fouled out. again this is where it starts to crumble.
01:08:18
Speaker
yes that okay we're on the same page because i think that thought i've got written down is the is the just that i didn't have the part about shax drive but i did have the new bit the new bit foul and oh man shax drive was so good she worked so hard and did all the right technical things to get around that play because she was she was a good step from the three-point line.
01:08:40
Speaker
Time was not on her side. She found a way. She had a beautiful drive. And someone up there in the basketball heavens just swatted that ball away and didn't allow the layup to sink. Had that layup sunk and putting Maitland up by six, they were going to win this game.
01:08:57
Speaker
But it missed and Newbert fouled and then Hornsby had free throws and then it just rolled into Hornsby's favour. Oh, it was really sad. Yeah. I just felt so bad because it's no one's fault.
01:09:12
Speaker
ah But, i mean, personally, I mean, credit to Hornsby because, i mean, obviously credit to Hornsby. They won the damn game. But just on their next defensive possession, Iona Bay went one of two at the line two times in a row, by the way. So it could have been she did further out.
01:09:30
Speaker
um But then on their next, Maitland's next possession, Hornsby deflected passes out of bounds twice. which meant Maitland only had, by the time the second one got out of bounds, they only had eight seconds to work with to actually make something happen.
01:09:49
Speaker
And that was the play where Iona Bay just walled up on Sophie Williams and forced to travel.
01:09:57
Speaker
Yep. So, i mean, you've got to just credit the Hornsby Korean defence on that entire play. Yeah.
01:10:08
Speaker
And then Ayana went two of two of the line. So she went four of six in the space of about 40 seconds to put Hornsby career guy up two. And i don't want to talk about the last little bit because I like the player that went to the free throw line.
01:10:26
Speaker
Oh, yeah, I know. i know. Again, no one's fault. It's just someone in the universe decided that it wasn't Maitland's game today. It wasn't anyone's fault. It was just all cruel twists of fate. Yeah. so and and like but And games are never won. Like you can't say that games are won and lost in those situations because there were obviously the other 43, 44 minutes of the game as well.
01:10:54
Speaker
Exactly. um Yeah, that was gut-wrenching. And, yeah, they were tied at 98 all with 54 seconds to go. Maitland did have the two shots of the free throw line and only made one.
01:11:07
Speaker
And Meade's, Lucy Meade had that great dime with 22 seconds to go as well, I think, for a catch on the inside. But, yeah, it it ended with Maitland only making one of two and Hornsby scraping in.
01:11:22
Speaker
I shouldn't say scraping in. That that's puts in a bad act. Hornsby ended up with the win, being able to come up with great clutch free throws in the end. Yeah. If they had secured a rebound on that missed free throw by Maitland at the end, it wouldn't have been so... The last four seconds wouldn't have been so ah so exciting because um Maitland did have chances after that free throw miss. They did have a couple of chances to put one up.
01:11:48
Speaker
But, yeah. I mean, 91-90 in overtime. Yeah.
01:11:54
Speaker
I think as well what stood out for me in this overtime period is that, and especially i should say in the stretch of the game, but more so in this overtime period, Hornsby just looks a lot better organised and understood what they were supposed to be doing. And there were lots of times where you could see Ruby was calling out plays as early as possible.
01:12:15
Speaker
Hmm. There was even one possession where she held, that it was in the half court, she held it for long enough and then just put up a symbol and was like, oh, this is the time we're running this.
01:12:25
Speaker
Everyone got organised, like clockwork and off they go. Then one of the last possessions in overtime, it was a, backcourt inbound and before the ball was even touched the inbound, Ruby was looking down the court and pulling her shirt saying, this is what we're going to run. I think that also made the difference in the end because I don't know what Maitland was supposed to be running in those last few possessions. Were they just supposed to be running motion? um I mean, they went away from the pick and roll because I guess they were being blitzed yeah earlier in in the overtime period. And so they had so many scorers but no leadership.
01:13:00
Speaker
Yeah. And they... And also, how good is it that you've got a player who's not even going not even at college yet who you can trust to call the right play during overtime?
01:13:16
Speaker
there There are many players much older with much more experience than in that situation the coach is calling out play.
01:13:26
Speaker
Yeah, she's... She's very special. I am i keep saying on on socials, I think I've even said it to a mum, I'm like, I'm i'm buying her Opals jersey when it's available. Like, I'm waiting for the day to have that ah Perkins Opals jersey.
01:13:43
Speaker
Yep. can get it Get in on the ground floor. The but the bandwagon has many, many seats available. Yeah, yeah. It's going to need a lot of seats. Yeah, it is.
01:13:55
Speaker
But, yeah, I'm really stoked that this game was as entertaining and as high basketball IQ as we wanted, um especially because the Hornsby women's program has come a long way in a short period of time and I so can give them nothing but praise for investing in that program and the people like Shaq Shora and Shaq Shora's ability to coach really well and recruit really well.
01:14:23
Speaker
So full credit to them and also full credit to Maitland who are just always consistently competitive, great team culture. Granger now with his expertise, putting in the right things and also being able to recruit people like Sezzy Matthews. I mean, just hats off to both of both of these teams. It was a shame that they both couldn't win.
01:14:48
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. mean, love... i love this is a wider point beyond the game itself. I just love how Maitland have been able to make themselves a home base for players from all over country New South Wales.
01:15:03
Speaker
Like, it's not just North, like, you know, even talk about Charlotte Coogle, we talk about Lexi Plato from Coffs Harbour, Monique Rutter from Port Mac. But like, Isaac Testonis from Griffiths, you know, it's not just Northern New South Wales.
01:15:17
Speaker
I think they were represented by 11 associations when they were here at Sutherland a couple of weeks ago. It was their men's and women's team. All country.
01:15:28
Speaker
um Well, two of two of them were, well, two of them were Olverston and Launceston. They don't really split it for Tassie, but it's not Hobart, so. and the And the other nine, I think, were all New South Wales country.
01:15:42
Speaker
You know, you've got Cooper Crowe from Mudgee now. Obviously, Sezzy's from Bathurst. You know, he's got Maitland and then I Cherry from Newcastle is kind of a bit different, but I mean, it still still counts. um But yeah, just so many, you know, they've just become a home base for South Wales country and more power to them. they say If they've obviously...
01:16:05
Speaker
found what works, what these players want or need in a club. And, you know, it's great. mean, not every country association can have an NBL one team.
01:16:17
Speaker
I mean, my two Lakers aren't even going to have a Warratah men team anytime soon. So, you know, these players have to go somewhere else if they want to play at the highest level. More power to the Mustangs.
01:16:29
Speaker
Once upon a time that used to be Newcastle when they were the hunters, they used to attract a lot of the country kids and develop their programs. So, you know, in the era of Lara McSpadden, Cass McLean, um,
01:16:43
Speaker
they were recruiting a lot of great players around that age group from other areas as far as Dubbo and Wogger and stuff. So, yeah, good on Mayland. And I think Crew have had some success, especially at junior levels with some players.
01:16:56
Speaker
um I think Emma Matthews played, well, she played for Crew in NBL1, but she also played for them as a junior at points. Just some of those names I remember seeing on the the honor boards of the ah successful, oh, I guess they were Gosford City Rebels, not crew teams mostly, but yes, that I've seen on the honor boards.
01:17:15
Speaker
Long live the Gosford City Rebels. it's okay to dead name the Gosford City Rebels.
01:17:24
Speaker
Gosh, that's a whole other podcast episode. um But any final any final thoughts on this game before but before we look to the round ahead? um I mean, Maitland will see it as one that got away, especially no Jesse May Hall.
01:17:41
Speaker
Hornsby will be stoked that they got the win without Jesse May Hall because I think... um A kind of win could be the difference between, but just looking at how Hornsby are doing so far, if we are.
01:17:55
Speaker
Check the ladder. Hornsby now three and two. Mustangs down to two and four. You know, wins like this that you just pull out can be the difference between you having to worry about whether you're in the top eight or not in the last couple of weeks of the season or whether you're just fighting for position in the top eight. um So, and not sure if the Spiders play the Mustangs again this season, but...
01:18:17
Speaker
um
01:18:19
Speaker
regardless they're up as far as the tie break goes, whether they play each other again or not. So we just quickly scan through the schedule for the rest of the season.
01:18:31
Speaker
eight No, it doesn't look like they play each other again. So yeah, split split in hand. Yeah, that's good to have. ah Certainly, you know, again, even even extra flowers to Hornsby proving that they are a great team beyond Jessie May Hall. Like Jessie May Hall is part of a great team. She doesn't necessarily make the great team.
01:18:56
Speaker
Exactly. And but li we don't have news on how long she's out for. we've We've heard that it's not too long, but we don't have the exact exact time. So, yeah, they're going to have to.
01:19:09
Speaker
They're to have to win without her. Yeah. So, yeah, Hornsby now seventh on the ladder with a 3-2 win-loss record and they play Sydney Comets in the next round.
01:19:20
Speaker
ah And Maitland a doubt have dropped to 11th position with a win-loss record of 2-4 and they go away to play against Bankstown next round.
01:19:33
Speaker
So that's going to a tough one. Yeah. and then... and then they travel to albury the week after that so and then newcastle oh wow i mean we've we've talked about this there are just some teams that whether in the men's or the women's and it's because you know the men's and women's teams aren't the same strength um sometimes teams do just get a tough run in either the men's or the women's league and just falls that way sometimes but everyone's got to do it everyone's got to play through them this league
01:20:08
Speaker
It has a lot of good teams in it, so you've got to play them sometime. That's right. And you've got play them all and you've got to beat the best to be the champions. Exactly.
01:20:20
Speaker
Excellent. So, yeah, very good game to to watch and review. And if you have time out there, listeners, go back and watch this one. You won't be disappointed. ah But shall we get into our athlete interview for this week, Lockie?
01:20:33
Speaker
Oh, the player who told me that she blew 12 layups on the weekend. Yes. you know That's kind of reassuring that they that players like this still miss layups because me being competitive, me misses 12 layups at social mix comp on a Wednesday, getting pretty down on myself. So if someone like our guest is still someone that can miss layups, then that makes me feel a bit better. I'm missing my layups too.
01:21:00
Speaker
Well, they got the win, so that's okay. They got the win. That's the main thing. So ahead of this interview, this interview was recorded last week. ah just for the sake of scheduling. And this is a person that we've been trying to chat to for a long time, that we're both kind of good big fans of also for a long time. Definitely Lockie has been a ah fan longer than i and um that I will wear that. You have more deep cuts, I will wear that. ah
01:21:30
Speaker
But, yeah, this this was an interview that was organised ages ago, finally found a time where we're all available to sit down and have a chat And, yeah, it was great. was probably one of my favourites that we've had in a while. we've Yeah, we've had two great young female athletes back-to-back now that I've really enjoyed.
01:21:49
Speaker
yeah All right, so I'm going to bring to the stage our interview.
01:21:57
Speaker
that was a preview of it. um of I'll take us off stage and we'll now live stream our interview with Izzy Morgan from North.
Izzy Morgan's Basketball Journey
01:22:09
Speaker
enjoy
01:22:13
Speaker
all right all right welcome back to a very special interview episode of escot game where we have a returning star to the league who played a little bit last season but is back with her beloved north bears she has represented her state she has represented her country She has been at NBA Basketball Without Borders Camp.
01:22:37
Speaker
She has played college ball with a bunch of Aussies and she's just off her first season in the WNBO with the Sydney Flames. It is one of my personal favorites, one of Squintin's personal favorites, and I'm sure one of your personal favorites, it's Izzy Morgan. Welcome, Izzy.
01:22:54
Speaker
Hey. Thank you guys so much for having me. Big fan of the show and what you guys do and of the page. So, yeah, I'm really excited to get chatting. yes thank you so much for coming on and as i'm sure you know we like to bookend our conversations with the two same questions so the first question as always is where and how did your basketball journey begin so i don't come from a basketball family whatsoever my family's very much like afl so that's like all my dad knew growing up so mine was actually playing like
01:23:30
Speaker
PE doing sport at primary school and then my PE teacher was essentially like, oh, look, you're a lot taller than all the other girls. You should go try out for reps. So I think it was top age under 12s.
01:23:42
Speaker
I tried out for reps at the Bear Cave and then the rest is history.
01:23:49
Speaker
you were taller than all the other girls. Yeah, I was, I was. All my, all, everyone else I went to primary school was tiny. I think I was like a really early bloomer and I was also a lot more built than all the other girls. For some reason I was just like a really muscular child, um which gave me a little bit of an athletic advantage. So yeah, they um put me into basketball and then luckily I had some really good coaches along the way that actually built my skill up a little bit later because i wasn't very skillful early on, but yeah.
01:24:18
Speaker
really developed that as I went along. So who was your first rep coach? My first rep coach was actually Jam. He is iconic. I don't know where he's at now. I haven't seen him in a while, but yeah, he's absolutely iconic. Like made love basketball. So much fun.
01:24:35
Speaker
Yeah.
01:24:38
Speaker
I can't remember his last name. can't remember his name. It's Jam someone. I can't remember his last name. was so long ago.
01:24:46
Speaker
So what position did you play when you first started? Well, i guess when we first started, there weren't really positions. So I was kind of just like charging through everyone, very physical.
01:25:00
Speaker
I guess I just, like i don't I wouldn't even know, maybe a guard. And then I quickly, like once I started playing reps, everyone was kind of similar size to me. And then I kind of really slotted into the guard and then started playing point guard probably. under 16 onwards once Tom Gallup started training with me.
01:25:20
Speaker
Yeah, I was going to ask about your positions growing up because I think we've met a few athletes in NBL One East who did start as like even a forward or a centre and then naturally stopped growing and had to develop their guard skills, but then it provided them a little bit of versatility.
01:25:38
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And I think it was really as I was really young that I was probably a bit oversized and like maybe it was more width than height, if anything. But um no, it's good. I was definitely playing guard early on, um didn't know how to shoot whatsoever. So I was like probably more of like a, you know, power forward kind of thing.
01:25:58
Speaker
um And then luckily had some really good coaches like Daniel Fish, Alec Karenko early on, who really worked with me and then started doing like some serious training with Tom Gallup and he was my under 16 rep coach and he really changed the game for me.
01:26:12
Speaker
How was the transition to go to point guard because point guard is arguably the most difficult position. and sometimes people are naturally born into that position, like they already naturally have ah some skill sets and leadership skills that go into being a point guard. So how was that transition, especially at 16 when it's a pinnacle age to put you on a pathway to play for Australia?
01:26:36
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. I mean, i think in under 16, I definitely did have like a big leadership role within the team. So I felt very comfortable kind of moving there. But I think skill-wise, like for me, the really big part was like getting in shape because it's very tiring playing the one and defending full court and being able to push pace and then really like honing in on my handle, like tightening up my handle. And those are still things that I like me to work on every single day and like make sure um those things are like really, really refined and, and you know, I'm doing well at them.
01:27:13
Speaker
And so when you coach kids, do you also say to them, hey, if you actually want to be good at basketball, you still need to practice skills every day. i still practice skills every day. Absolutely. I'm like a big believer in like the more work you put in, the more confident you are, the better you play. So I get most of my confidence from am I doing enough work outside of team trainings, outside of games? Renee does such a good job doing so many extra individuals with us every week. um just like vitamin kind of things. Like i I need those to like feel confident, feel good, feel refined. So yes, absolutely. i definitely um am instilling that in the younger players that I do individuals with for sure.
01:27:56
Speaker
And what age were you when you decided to pursue basketball as a career? I think when i was in under 16, I decided that I really wanted to go to college.
01:28:07
Speaker
um So I guess that's not necessarily a career, but that was kind of like when I realised I really want to take this seriously and I don't have any other interest in pursuing anything else right now.
01:28:18
Speaker
um And as I went on further and further, obviously I grew up watching the WNBL. And so as I got older and I started loving basketball more, I started training more. It was probably around under 16 when I thought I really want to do this.
01:28:35
Speaker
for as long as I can and play at the highest level that I possibly can.
01:28:41
Speaker
Did you have an instinct or did you kind of had ah a bit of an inkling at 16s? Because it it sounds like under 16s was such a turning point for you that you could make Australian teams and make basketball without borders and the WNBO one day. Like, did you have that instinct or belief?
01:28:59
Speaker
Yeah, definitely not at the beginning. Like I think growing up, I was always kind of like a fringe kid, like kind of good enough and like really good in reps, but maybe not that great on state teams, yada, yada, yada. And then as I reached under 16s, I actually had a really good nationals and my confidence started building. And then um i actually started believing in myself a little bit more and like setting higher goals, to higher expectations of myself. And then I was just really lucky to be surrounded by the right people in the right program who like really helped me um be able to achieve those goals. Because I even remember this is going a long time ago. i think you were maybe bottom age 18s or 18s, but there was talk of you already in the mix or like being seen by
01:29:50
Speaker
Australian coaches and COE coaches and Renee actually pointed you out and was like, oh no, we've got a Norse kid. She's injured at the moment. She's going to be really, really good. Like she should be making Aussie teams. And it was you. so that was so long ago that Renee's already pointed your potential out where she's like, that kid is going to play for Australia one day. Easy. That's so cool. And yeah, Renee has been like one of the most motivational people I've been around. So She's unreal. So when she tells you like she believes in you, like you really believe her and it makes you believe in yourself even more. So yeah, she's unreal.
01:30:28
Speaker
And you, we have already mentioned it a couple of times, you did go to basketball without borders camp in 2019. tell us about that experience. Yeah, that was so much fun.
01:30:40
Speaker
um It was unbelievable experience. I think it's so cool. I've never played with people who didn't speak English before. So it was such an unreal experience, like learning new ways to communicate. And I kind of loved how basketball is such a universal language.
01:30:56
Speaker
Like we didn't speak the same language, but you could kind of tell what people were trying to tell you or like, we all knew what we were running. We all knew like kind of what we were asking of each other. and then Yeah, we would just like find ways to talk to each other, which was super cool. And then there were a couple of other Aussie girls and New Zealand girls who were there.
01:31:15
Speaker
and it was so much fun. We were in Tokyo and I'd never been there. We also got to do cool stuff off the court. We went to a baseball game, which was unreal. But yeah, that was super cool. That was definitely like my first taste of international basketball.
Challenges and Success in International Basketball
01:31:29
Speaker
But yeah, that was unforgettable. One of the cool coolest experiences ever, for sure. And I guess You said it was one of first experiences of international basketball. How how did you adjust to like the level that you you played alongside and against over there?
01:31:48
Speaker
Yeah, it's definitely an adjustment. International basketball is so fast, particularly in the Oceania region. um so that was really cool. But yeah, it's just it was just different.
01:32:02
Speaker
um we We played a lot. We did a lot of like skills work as well. um So yeah, it was fun. It was just like playing at a quick pace, being able to take care of the ball and then playing with like a bunch of people that you knew you didn't know, knew nothing of, had just met. Like obviously everyone I'd played with I knew of, or you know, you have trainings together and you, um you know, you get to build chemistry, but this one, it was kind of just like, oh, you have to figure it out with all of these people. And that was like a really cool challenge.
01:32:33
Speaker
And is that something you could take into joining new teams or state teams or national teams, anything like that? Yeah, definitely. Like learning how to play with people quickly and like picking up on, you know, what your role in a team is or what you can do for a group or like how to even like, I'm a big, I always like, I'm a big, have a big emphasis on like connection, like a team connection, especially like on the court, off the court. So it's like cool trying to find ways to bring people together. when you don't have much in common, because like you always have basketball in common. But yeah, that's something I definitely try to bring to every team is like, how do I like make us feel as connected as possible on and off the court?
01:33:16
Speaker
And do you still talk to any of those athletes now? Definitely not like in touch, but we still all follow each other on Instagram. heat So it's super cool. So like I know a lot of them are still playing, so they'll always come up on my Instagram here and there. And I'm just like, oh my gosh, I didn't always yeah take me back. And I'm definitely still in contact with the Aussie girls that went, which is awesome.
01:33:39
Speaker
And this is more logistical question, but I'm always interested to know, like, how do they contact you to invite you to camp? Because, you know, when it's like state trials, your your club will put out an announcement or your BNSW will put out an announcement. But if someone was to call me from MBA Global Academy and say, hey, do you want to come to a camp in Tokyo?
01:34:00
Speaker
Like how do how would I not know that someone is just playing a ah prank? Okay, this is what I was going to say. i actually got an email and I was like, I'm being scammed. Like this is ridiculous.
01:34:12
Speaker
Like fully thought I was being scammed. And then one of my coaches must have told me like, yeah, no, like they this is a real thing. And I was like, oh my gosh, I couldn't believe it. i was so excited.
01:34:23
Speaker
Yeah. because it And how did they scout you? Like, did they see at nationals or was it like, did someone put your name forward? I think it might have been nationals. And I think potentially what it was, was they, I think I'd recently just been maybe cut from an Oz camp. And so a couple of the girls who kind of just didn't make that camp, they gave that opportunity to go to the Basketball Without Borders.
01:34:49
Speaker
um So I think that's maybe how they scouted it And, you know, some of the Australian coaches were like, oh, these girls didn't make this camp, but really good players. You should, you know, give them this opportunity, which I'm so thankful for.
01:35:02
Speaker
Yeah, that's really nice, actually. Like the bittersweet side of being cut from an Aussie roster, but you get to go to the the global camp. And it's also like, hey, how how did you get my email address? Like, yeah is there a data breach?
01:35:16
Speaker
No, that's really like, who gave you my email? But no, hey, one door closes, the window opens, or whatever the thing is. Yeah, super cool. Very cool, very cool. And it did set you up on the right path to make the FIBA GEMS team two years later. So you got to play at the World Cup, I think, was it in Budapest that year? Yeah, it was in Dubrasen in Hungary.
01:35:41
Speaker
yeah what So I was in Hungary, just not in the one that I ignorantly know. We did go to Budapest on the last day, so we were there. Okay, good. I did see, i was going to say, I saw Budapest somewhere. but Yes, it was close, very close.
01:35:57
Speaker
Yeah. But you got to play with some like unreal people in that team, including Jade Melbourne, Izzy Borlase, Nadio Potch. They're all like currently in WNBA training camps. Yeah. but Being amongst that squad, and as you just said, you got cut from the Aussie squad and made the U19 squad. What was the atmosphere and the feeling like for you being back in the mix with people like that? Oh, it was so exciting. I mean, i've obviously grew up playing against all those girls at nationals. Izzy Borlase not so much, but she was double bottom age making that team, which is insane in itself.
01:36:35
Speaker
um Her Dallas and Nards were all, double bottom age making that team, which is crazy. And they were all like huge pieces of our team. So that was super cool. But it's so fun, like being on a team with girls who are like your rivals growing up, like Jade Melbourne, like I've never been on the same team as her growing up. But I got to know a couple of the girls going to like ADC camps and like the Oz trials and they're just such good humans. Like it was such a fun group to be around, like a really, really great culture, super professional, but also like, very welcoming and I was actually the only girl who wasn't living at the AIS who made that team. So it was actually quite daunting for me being like, oh, you know, you feel like a little bit of an outsider and whatnot, but it like didn't feel like that for one second. Like as soon as I like um moved into the AIS to start training with them, it was so much fun. And then yeah, the world's environment is just like so different, like standing there hearing both national anthems, like
01:37:39
Speaker
the energy, the nerves, it's just, it's so much fun. It's such a cool environment to be a part of. And what was the selection process like at the time? Because, you know, we we know now with the current schedules of various women's professional leagues across the world, someone like the Opals always have very limited preparation time ahead of an Olympics or a World Cup, but it might be different for juniors. So what was your experience with the selection process? And then how long did you have to stay at the AIS?
01:38:09
Speaker
Yeah, so this experience was really unique because it was COVID. So the selection process in itself is just terrifying. We had two trial camps. So the first camp and then a couple of people would get cut and then we had the second camp. And there was actually talks about three days before the second camp that Canberra were going to shut off their borders to New South Wales because of COVID. So me and Kitty Henderson, who was another New South Wales girl, were like,
01:38:37
Speaker
we have to leave like three days early just in case they close their borders because like we have to go to this camp. um So we literally got in the car, arrived at the camp like days early and like stayed with my godmother and then went to the camp, only did the first day in the half day and a half of the camp and then the manager came in and said all the New South Wales girls like you need to go home right now. Like they've just like done a recall of like if you've been in New South Wales for the past, you know, in the past seven days like you need to leave immediately. And I was absolutely crushed. I thought, there it goes, like, there's my chance. Like, that was my last chance to make a junior Australian team. I was so devastated on my way home.
01:39:18
Speaker
um And then a couple of days later, I got a call from Herbie, David Herbert, who was the coach, and they told me that I'd made the team. And he was so funny. he like, at the start of the call, like, started to make it sound like I wasn't going to make it. And so I was, like, really sad. I was like, no, yeah, i'm sad I understand. I understand.
01:39:37
Speaker
And then he like, you know, that all you've made it and I just started sobbing my eyes out. like I was sobbing my eyes out on the phone call. Like I genuinely couldn't believe it. That was one of the happiest moments of my life.
01:39:49
Speaker
And then literally a couple of weeks later, were like two months out from the tournament and then they were like, oh, you need to pack up all your stuff and come to Canberra right now because Otherwise, you're not going to be able to come with us because New South Wales were getting really strict with the COVID rules.
College Experience and Sydney Flames
01:40:06
Speaker
um And I was also planning on going to college right after World. So like I had to apply for an emergency visa to go get my stuff ready for college. I had to pack up all my bags and get ready for college as well because I was going straight from Hungary to college.
01:40:21
Speaker
So literally had to drive to Canberra like the night that they emailed me and then stayed at the AIS and trained with the girls for about two months leading up to the tournament, which was awesome. I'm so bad. I did that, but it was definitely very hard because I wasn't expecting to leave home so soon.
01:40:39
Speaker
I will. i I just want to say, because this is a cool little thing. When you, when you mentioned Kitty as well, um because 2020 under nationals, maybe 20 nationals.
01:40:52
Speaker
Yeah. was sitting. yeah i was sitting my career I was sitting next to Herbie for one of your games. Oh, at the bottom age of 20s?
01:41:03
Speaker
Yeah. So, and even then he had his, um, he had his program out and I saw what names he was circling. Crazy. And I was like, and he just had yours and Kitty's name circled. And this was like January, 2020. And I was like, oh, crazy.
01:41:22
Speaker
ah oh how and crazy That's weirdly like one. i love basketball gossip, but that kind of gossip when you happen to sit next to a scout at a junior nationals and you can see who they're marking the program, that is like in my top three favourite type of basketball gossip. Yeah, that's why. That's I want to go to everyone.
01:41:43
Speaker
so funny. Yeah. But also Herbie, come on, mate. Like why you got to play with the emotions of these? Teenage athletes like that.
01:41:54
Speaker
Gosh. Yeah, no, you didn't tell anything lucky. would have been thrown but ah Herbie was notoriously a smoke bomb as well at our 2024 NBL1 Nationals. He came to the sunny coast as a commentator and we had a really great group and we'd hang around and then all of a sudden he'd smoke bomb and leave and it would take us ages to realise like, oh,
01:42:20
Speaker
Herbie's gone. oh that's hilarious. Mysterious man. Yeah.
01:42:27
Speaker
That's so good. But you did mention you went straight from the World Cup to college at Davidson. Yes. Put the jersey on.
01:42:39
Speaker
Let's go. but Thanks to Under Armour for screwing up the initial order and having a spare set give me. Exactly. Everything happens for a reason. But it is a place with obviously significant connection significant connections to you know, starting with assistant coach James and working through from like Cassidy Gold and Adelaide through to now with Asher and Emily and all of you in the middle, Millie, Charlie, yourself, Rosie, Katie. Have I missed anyone?
01:43:11
Speaker
Is that everyone? I think that's it. Yeah. Great job. And Sharni. Sharni now as well. Yes. So there we go. But... Did you always want to go to a college program with other Australians? Because I know some Aussies are like, if I go somewhere with Aussies, I'll just hang out with the Aussies and we'll get the same experience. But was it something that mattered to you?
01:43:31
Speaker
It didn't really matter to me either which way. Like, I, yeah, I'd heard that other people were like, I don't want to go to a college with other Australians because, you know, I want to make it my own experience and I don't want to, I don't know what the reasoning was, but I never felt really passionately one way or another. But A really big thing for me is like community, like feeling like I'm a part of a community and like feeling like I have a really strong community around me. So if anything, that was definitely um something that made me want to go to Davidson. particularly Obviously, moving away from home felt very daunting, especially I'm a big family girl. like I have a big family. like um I love my family. I love being close to them.
01:44:14
Speaker
And so that was a big decision. And then having other girls there who were in the exact same position as me, who just had such good feedback and are having such a good time, that obviously made me realise that I was definitely making the right decision, which was amazing. So yeah, definitely, definitely was, I'm very glad I went to a college with other Australians for sure.
01:44:37
Speaker
And I guess, how does, how did that shape, shape your college experience? I think it was just cool that i had people who could kind of take me under their wing and have people who really related to me. So that definitely helped with the homesickness. It helps with the even the style of play adjusting. Like Cassidy Gold was especially like a really great mentor for me. She was a senior when I was a freshman. And so she just like always had advice to give me. And then Rosie Deegan as well was like became one of my best friends so quickly. So that really helps like feeling like I had people that I immediately really connected with because sometimes it is easier to relate and connect with another Australian than is an American. um But the Americans on my team also ended up like becoming my sisters, which is amazing down the line. But no, it's great to have an Australian tell you, okay, in your first college game, you're probably going to travel seven times because they're really strict about calling travels in America. And it's not so much like that in Australia. So like, little things like that, having people who are like, oh, I also did that my freshman year, or I also struggle with this my freshman year, who could really help you along the way. I thought was so amazing.
01:45:43
Speaker
And how many times did you get called for traveling in your first game? Probably three, so not too bad. Actually, when when I was over there, it was one thing I i did notice watching.
01:45:54
Speaker
Yeah, no, it was tough. Well, Rosie, I think she said she got called for like five travels in her first game. So yeah, that was a learning. That's just cause her feet move too fast, you can't tell. oh that's too so true, that's so true. She's too athletic for her own good.
01:46:11
Speaker
It's such a weird rule over there too, calling a travel so, like being so whistle happy with a travel. yeah And it kind of makes me feel weirdly a bit better because way, way back in the day,
01:46:22
Speaker
me and your coach Renee went on a trip to America and we got to play against some schools and some junior colleges and stuff. There were times where where we would penetrate and we would like, you know, glo and like have a little bit of a glide to what we were doing. Like take our two steps and have a glide and then call it travel.
01:46:42
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. It's just the most mind boggling. because like also Like how have I done this my whole career and all of a sudden I'm not allowed to do it anymore. Like that's what hurt my feelings. i was like, I got here doing this, so now you're not going to let me do it anymore. Like, what do you mean? Yeah, it's just upsetting, but it's okay. you You adjust and you move on. and Russell Westbrook can walk up the court with a ball under his arm while he adjusts his shorts and waves to the crowd and wipes his sweat and whatever, that's fine.
01:47:11
Speaker
<unk> So stupid. double sta yeah They don't want the Aussies to succeed. yeah yeah no no it's like we're gonna hold them back yeah so did you when you was it a tough oh sorry you go no you go you go soon oh okay sorry i was just gonna ask um when it came to picking a college because it was one of your goals since 16s was it a tough decision to go with davidson
01:47:40
Speaker
i mean yes just because i like without any hindsight like if i'm actually bringing myself back it was definitely a difficult decision um because I didn't even really get to go on many other visits because of COVID. I was really lucky I got to visit Davidson because I was over there on Aussie Travellers with Tim Hill and Lauren Curtin on a little basketball tour. So I was really glad I actually, that was one of the only colleges I got to see in person who were actually recruiting me. But I felt really like i had a really good gut feeling about it. And I also just like Tim Hill had said to me, he was like, I think Davidson would be the most perfect school to you for you. And the way he said it, I was like,
01:48:19
Speaker
I believe you, like I really believe you. So I kind of always had a really good gut feeling about it. And I'm so glad I went there. Like everyone who knows me knows how much I love Davidson and even like how hard it was to leave. So I just think that, yeah, I'm so, so thankful that that was the decision I made.
01:48:37
Speaker
You say you say you love Davidson. do you love Davidson enough to have a Davidson tattoo? Well, actually we always said that if we won the conference championship, we were going to get tattoo. but never happened so that was definitely in the works oh my gosh i forgot about that look yeah when you sent me that the first time i thought it was fake i literally thought everyone did way like he's got a yeah danny guerrillo was like that's so funny oh my gosh yeah no that's that's real davidson love right there you're better than me well one tattoo for every game commentated at davidson Heck yes. I love that.
01:49:23
Speaker
It's such a big bucket list, like tick off the list too, Lockie, like commentating there. That's perfect. That's so cool. Yeah. And also i mentioned earlier in the episode, Izzy, you have completed your first season in the WNBL with the Sydney Flames as one of the local heroes in the squad.
01:49:43
Speaker
What have you brought back from that season that you're bringing into NBL 1 this season? I think the experience of playing against that level of players oh is um unbelievable. Like the type of athletes we were competing against, like the, yeah, it's just a different type of physicality, a different type of pace, um which is super cool. And then I'm lucky enough to have Renee coach me for both teams. So I just am so lucky to be able to kind of continue to develop my game. We have like a really clear vision on like, this is what you need to get better at. This is what you're good at right now. Like, let's keep improving on that.
01:50:22
Speaker
um So I think it's kind of just the never settling with where you are. It's like, there's always something you need to get better at. There's always something you can get better at. So that's something that I'm trying to bring in. Like, I just, I want to,
01:50:35
Speaker
get better every single week this off season during the flame season, next season. Like I just, I want to keep getting better. i want to keep getting better. And Renee's really like emphasize that and instilled that in all of her players. But yeah, that's definitely a big thing I'm hoping to keep getting better at.
01:50:52
Speaker
i think it's important that you, you recognize that NBL one, isn't just something to roll through in the off season. It actually does have a it lends itself to what you want to do again, going back to the flames, as you mentioned.
01:51:05
Speaker
Absolutely. Yeah, no, like every single game we've played in has been unbelievably competitive. Like the NBL one, especially the East, like it's a tough league and there are some unbelievable players and also like a lot of teams who have played together for a really long time. And so playing against experienced teams who teams who know each other really well is always really challenging. So no, I'm so excited. think that I'm hoping I'll get a lot of really good development, a lot of good basketball under my belt. through this season and then hopefully do some really cool things with our team this season.
01:51:39
Speaker
Yeah, we talked to Zoe Miller only a couple of weeks ago, actually, and asked her a similar question about her WNBL experience. And this was the week after, or this was a few days after the round where they played against Hills. And there was that highlight clip of Zoe just like bowling someone over to make a play. So funny.
01:52:00
Speaker
so i'm funny i Literally, especially because Zoe and I were like in the weight room together for the first time and she's so funny like she obviously hadn't really lifted that much before and so we would always make jokes like oh Zoe's got the 10s again like Zoe you can lift heavier than that which why I literally commented on that video I was like okay 12.5 it's like let's go like yeah it's so good but yeah Zoe's unreal she's got speed so she really builds up some strength and like oh the league's in trouble Yeah, well, yeah, we we we mentioned to her, we were surprised by that highlight because normally she isn't like, obviously she can play with and against physicality, but she's not usually the one instigating it. and Yeah, you know, that's, but that's, to say yeah.
01:52:44
Speaker
So good. Yeah, that's, that's the WNBL difference. Like you have to have that kind of, you know, mentality. So yeah, that's awesome to see if from her. And look, that's no shade on Zoe either about her in the weight room because she openly admitted it as well when we interviewed her. She's like, I've never really go to the gym before.
01:53:04
Speaker
there not But you can show that she's been in the gym, which is awesome. Oh, yeah. Yeah, so good. Oh, yeah. And now she's all about it because she saw the how much it improves the game. Yeah. So, yeah, now she's all about it.
01:53:17
Speaker
And then but with um but the Flames next season, you're going to be reunited with Charlize Dunn. Oh, I know. i'm so excited. so You're excited.
01:53:27
Speaker
yeah okay you know Yeah, that's unreal. she is I just think she's awesome. She's a great human, elite player. She got drafted, which is unbelievable.
01:53:38
Speaker
oh I'm just so happy for her. She like deserves all the success that's coming her way. so But I'm so excited to be playing with one of my best friends again. going to be so much fun. And I can't wait to see what she brings to the Blames team.
01:53:54
Speaker
ah Did she give you a heads up that it was happening or did she have to wait for the announcement like the rest of us? Oh, not a little bit, obviously. Like, you know, I'm getting the tea in the background, but she said, no, I'm talking to a couple of teams and then obviously I'm there. Like, that'd be so weird if you went to the Flames. That would suck. Like, definitely shouldn't do that. Like, I was trying to get it here. So I was doing some background recruiting. But, yeah, I'm so glad she made that decision. Definitely think it was the right one. So,
Team Chemistry and Personal Insights
01:54:23
Speaker
yeah. Yeah.
01:54:26
Speaker
But in the in the moment, Norse flying high, 5-0, and you've played a pretty solid schedule. You've played Newcastle, you've played Bankstown, Albury, and Sutherland.
01:54:38
Speaker
Knocked them all off. despite You've had a bit of change. It was a bit of upheaval in the roster. know, you lost Carla, lost Ruby. Yeah. Brought in Jazz, brought in Talia. Taylor Wirtz was there, wasn't there? Oh, my gosh. The off-season, like, import news was blowing my mind.
01:54:56
Speaker
I mean, how does, how do you maintain, I mean, you've got a good solid core of players, but how do you maintain chemistry bringing, you know, you've changed 40% of your starting lineup really.
01:55:07
Speaker
Yeah, this is true. I think, I think Renee has a real talent for recruiting chem for chemistry. Like she can recruit elite players, but she'll recruit players who are elite players who she knows will fit really well within a group.
01:55:24
Speaker
And I think, Renee's coaching identity is so cool and she knows kind of what kind of players will fit the play style as well as who's going to actually like be able to connect with our group.
01:55:36
Speaker
um So I just think so much credit to her being able to kind of build the team that we have right now. But I do think it really does start with like that core group of Norths girls that have been there for like a good couple of years now, i like Caitlin, Emma, Peggy. um So many of the young North juniors, like Rebecca Donnelly coming up.
01:55:57
Speaker
um So it's like a really strong North core. And then I think, you know, me coming back from college as well, like I grew up playing at North, it's like I just immediately felt really connected there. And then, yeah, Renee being to like, being able to add those pieces, like jazz coming,
01:56:15
Speaker
is was unbelievable and she's just she's fit in so well um she's just the easiest person to get along with like she's so much fun off the court she's so much fun to play with um and then she's we've mostly brought it out in our import talia as well who i played against that college um so i think it's cool like everyone's still kind of connected in some sort of way like it's not like talia came in and didn't know anyone like she'd you know had an australian on her team before who like recommended she came and played so you know jazz jazz and I played against each other in the WNBL and kind of knew each other a little bit off the court. So it's kind of cool everyone having a little bit of a connection and then being able to really just like grow it really quickly because you have the right people in um in the right group in such a good environment that you can connect really quickly and build chemistry really quickly. Like it feels like we've all been playing together for a really long time, even though we have like some brand new pieces.
01:57:09
Speaker
I mean, Squinn and I mentioned It looks like you've played together for a really long time. We watched Norse versus Aubrey. Jazz would drive into the paint and she'd throw a pass out and she'd just know that someone was going to be there. That's the kind of thing that not everyone can do.
01:57:27
Speaker
yeah no, I understand. And then I think like you just have girls who are going to get to the right spots and you have five people on the court at all times who are willing to move the ball and willing to hunt for an elite shot. like ah Jazz is such an incredible creator. Caitlin is an incredible creator. And then you have like so many other people who are just always going to be at the right spots, make the right play. Obviously we're not perfect, but everyone just like has the intention of we're going to get a great shot and we're going to do it by getting the ball through hands and by playing with pace. And I just think when everyone has the same mindset and everyone's so bought into the type of play style that Renee wants to play, just great things can happen for us. So we're really just looking to elevate that and keep taking that part of our game to the next level.
01:58:13
Speaker
And you've got a roster as well. Lachie and I mentioned it as well when we reviewed your game against ah the bandits. You've got a roster as well where everyone can score.
01:58:23
Speaker
Everyone can kind of go off for 20 when it's their turn, but no one on your team seems like they care who gets 20 or not. yeah Like no one's selfish. There's no ego about it. It's just as long as you are disciplined and stick to your non-negotiables and win, that seems like the only thing that actually matters to your team, which is so good to see. 100%. It's just we have a team full of people who really want to win. And I think another thing that really speaks to our culture is we have a team full of people who love playing defense as well, which I think is also one most one of the parts I've had so much fun playing with this team is like everyone,
01:58:59
Speaker
is up and in. like Everyone really takes pride in their defense. like Especially when you have Kaitlin Martin terrorizing the ball handler and you have Jazz Shelley who's ready to pick off any pass. And you know you've got Peggy who's just like, no matter what size the big is, like Peggy will be there 40 minutes like putting in work. And then, yeah, everyone's just like willing to really put in the work there, which also makes offense really fun because you can get stops, you can get out and play in transition, you can play fast. So yeah, our defense is something where we really want to have big, like be a big part of our identity. And that's something we're definitely still working on because we definitely have a long way to go there. But it's just having everyone with that mindset that wants to work hard on both end of both ends of the floor and be selfless on both ends of the floor is really special to be a part of.
01:59:50
Speaker
I love hearing you talk about defence because think the first message James ever sent me about you was just, defence first kid. Yeah, no, 100%. That's literally me. So it makes me so happy being on a team with people who also play defence. It just makes me so happy.
02:00:09
Speaker
I mean, Jazz literally guarded Caitlin Clark at March Madness. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, no, she can guard anyone. She's unbelievable. She has like the quickest feet ever. Like she yeah she's just somewhere and then I blink and she's on the other side of the court and I'm like, how did you get this with us? So yeah, she's been a pleasure to play defensive.
02:00:31
Speaker
yeah And Caitlin Martin does everything with a smile on her face. i don't think I haven't seen her not smile, even when she's like, mid-game doing something she's it looks like she's smiling yeah it's got to be the scariest thing to play against and it's also like she she can do it all the at the quickest pace she's so strong like she's a gym junkie like she's just she's worked so hard and she can do it for 40 minutes like she can guard your full call for 40 minutes and she can push pace for 40 minutes yeah she's an unbelievable player to play with i love playing with her
02:01:09
Speaker
Because and you mentioned, you know, we've talked a lot about your on-court chemistry and you mentioned before we started recording how you also just really enjoy spending social time with your team too. We we always talk about the manly women's team, about how they're like the epitome of really loving each other.
02:01:27
Speaker
off court and you can generally see how much they enjoy each other's time and the how much that translate on court but they've known each other since they were kids right like yeah yeah like that definitely helps but you've mentioned a similar kind of connection off court with your current north squad yeah yeah your your instagram is basically the is an izzy and jazz show now it's not just izzy morgan it's izzy and jazz for real i mean we both uh have a similar schedule. I'm lucky enough to like not be at uni or anything right now. So we've got some good free time, but I'm trying to show and Talia around Sydney. So anytime anyone in our team has a free day, we'll try and take them to a new beach or hang out. But it's been so much fun. Yeah. And like you said, Jacinta, I just genuinely get so much joy being around the girls. like I get so excited to go to training every day, not even just to compete, because I'm like, oh, just can't wait see everyone.
02:02:20
Speaker
um So, yeah, they're just the the most brilliant group of humans. And, yeah, I'm just, I really trust the work that we're going to put in, the work we have been putting in. And um'm I'm really hoping we can do something great this season because I just know we have the group that has the potential to do it.
02:02:39
Speaker
Yeah, for sure, for sure. ah We're hoping that um some of your Norths teammates will also stick around for WNBL perhaps, or at least love it so much they'll come back to NBL one East and play the finals next season. But I'm probably getting ahead of myself given there's only been three rounds.
02:02:58
Speaker
I know. And that's, well, it's only been three rounds, but we've already played five games. Like it feels like we've played so many games already. Like yeah. yeah And we've got another double header this weekend. So it's been a busy start for the Bears, but no, we've obviously got a long way to go and like,
02:03:14
Speaker
you know, hopefully we can keep building at this rate. Like, I think, you know, people have been saying like, wow, it's really impressive how you guys are moving the ball this early in the season. And so obviously we all haven't been playing together for that long with this whole group. And Talia has only been here for one game. So I'm just so excited to keep training, keep being able to get better with our group and like see how good we can get.
02:03:39
Speaker
It's a basketball nerd's dream watching the fundamentals and the ball movement and the and everything. Like, it's just, yeah, it is it is awesome to watch. It's definitely my favourite brand of basketball to watch.
02:03:53
Speaker
Yeah, that makes me really happy to hear. Yeah, it's it's so good, so good. Like, that game we reviewed against the bandits, I was just like, this is how it's meant to be played. Like, it doesn't, we don't need. And it works. Yes.
02:04:07
Speaker
Yes. It works. We don't need a team of James Harden's mucking around with the ball and doing all these fancy things. It's like pass it, shoot it, or penetrate it. That's it. whether make Quick decisions, get the ball to your hands. Yeah. Share, shoot, stifle.
02:04:23
Speaker
Yes. Nice reference. Very good, Lachie. There's our episode name. Good job, Lachie. Yeah. And we are as you know, Izzy, we always like to bookend our episodes with the same questions and we love to know more about our athletes off the court. So to finish up our interview today, tell us more about Izzy Morgan off the court. um So I think probably the biggest part of my identity is my family. i have four brothers, so a really big family. and then biggest thing about myself is I just love being around people like I love feeling like I have a community. um I love feeling like I just like, I don't know, I'm in a place where I know everyone, i connect with everyone. That's like the biggest thing about me. So if you see me, I'm probably like hanging out with someone or hanging out with my family, stuff like that. But yeah, definitely hooping most of the time. But other than that, I'm really just trying to hang out with people. I love going to the beach.
02:05:31
Speaker
And then yeah, it's spending time with my family and my dog, ah my highlights. So yeah. And then I've also got into a bit of coaching. So I'm doing coaching for my school team. i also love to do individuals with a lot of the North Scales and then yeah, assistant coaching a rep team at North as well. So just once again, trying to broaden my community and like get to know everyone at North, trying to connect with everyone. So yeah, I'm a big connector. I love to feel connected to people and Yeah, feel like a big community feel. Which is also why I love playing at Sydney.
02:06:04
Speaker
Because I actually feel like I love Sydney. Yeah. what Which rep team you assistant coach for? The Under-18 Girls Div 1 team.
02:06:16
Speaker
So, or I mean, head coaching. So, watching a masterclass there. It's been a lot of fun. Yeah. It's great team as well. Great girls. North's 18 Girls Div 1 is a great team. Jeez, I'm shocked.
02:06:29
Speaker
yeah yeah i know surprise surprise yeah happy that for sure shit and what do you like to do for downtime are you uh bit like do you like to binge watch a tv show go to the cinema always your downtime pretty much when you're asleep i love the cinema um my downtime is so i don't love time by myself that much. Like if I'm having downtime, I'm probably going to call Rosie Deegan in Perth. And I spend a lot of time on the phone with my boyfriend who's in America as well. So we're doing a bit of long distance right now. So my downtime is usually like, I don't know, I should be lying on the bed on the phone or going for a walk on the phone.
02:07:13
Speaker
Or yeah, definitely I like to binge watch TV shows, but I only like watching TV shows with other people. Like I don't like watching them by myself because I'll have something to say and then I don't have anyone to say it to. My thing is probably I don't shut up, so I always need people around me to bounce off and talk to.
02:07:29
Speaker
Otherwise, I'll just go crazy. So, yeah. Ultimate extrovert. Is he Morgan? Yeah, probably. Yeah. A bit too much sometimes, for sure. is What number are you in the siblings from one to five? I'm middle child. So I've got two older brothers, two younger brothers. I'm the middle child, but it cancels out because I'm the only girl.
02:07:51
Speaker
So I was actually probably the most loved child growing up, which is awesome. Definitely the spoiled one, absolutely spoiled. I'm the girl with four boys, so that was amazing. loved child.
02:08:02
Speaker
I love you. just like I had four brothers completely neglecting what two of them did a couple of weeks ago. oh my gosh. Let me actually say this. So my little brothers actually just won a Div2 national championship with Gannon University, and I was able to fly over and visit them. So yeah, they are like my little inspirations.
02:08:21
Speaker
I love watching them play. just I'm so proud of them. yeah They're little hoopers. then My older brothers are just excelling in their in their AFL and finance domains. So yeah, I'd love to see it.
02:08:33
Speaker
Love it. High achieving family. Morgans. and I know, so proud. Go Morgans, literally. So good. Well, like you said, you do have a double header this weekend. Anzac day, Saturday, you're playing away against the Sydney Comets and then backing up Sunday, 26th April.
02:08:54
Speaker
playing against the Illawarra Hawks in the Snake Pit. So Izzy, best of luck for another double header and thank you so much for making time to be a guest on ESCOT Game. it has been a very fulfilling and insightful conversation. I feel like I learned so much about you and it's definitely been one of my favourite interviews we've had in a little while.
02:09:16
Speaker
Stop, I'm very blushing. No, thank you guys much for having me. It's such a pleasure to talk to you. You guys are awesome. So I can't wait to keep seeing you around. of Of course, probably a lucky you more than me, given I'm... Like literally this Saturday. Yeah.
02:09:32
Speaker
Heck yeah. Heck yeah. Awesome. yeah
02:09:41
Speaker
All right. Well, that is our show for the night. Thanks again to Izzy Morgan for jumping on last week and being our very special guest. But otherwise, remember, you can find our regular episodes on all your streaming platforms, YouTube, Facebook, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and keep an eye out for this week's All Star Five that will be posted sometime this week to reflect round three.
02:10:05
Speaker
But in the meantime, just remember, ah Don't sleep on the East.