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Season 2 Episode 6: Basketball, Books and Bianca Dufelmeier
107 Plays6 months ago
It was a huge ANZAC Round for Rd 4 of NBL1 East 2024, with games played from Thursday-Sunday and teams criss-crossing across the state.
Lachy and Squin review the Central Coast Crusaders vs. CoE in the women's competition before chatting with the intelligent and hilarious Bianca Dufelmeier from the Canberra Nationals.
As always, the show ends with the Rd 4 All-Star 5.
00:00-01:56 Intro
01:57-10:21 Women's results and ladder
10:22-22:10 Men's results and ladder
22:11-56:10 CC Crusaders vs. CoE (W) game review
56:11-01:00:46 New and Gossip
01:00:48-01:51:04 Interview with Bianca Dufelmeier
01:51:05-01:57:09 All Star 5
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction & Focus on NBL One East
00:00:11
Speaker
She's got gained an unofficial podcast about the NBL One East competition for 2024. My name is Jacinta and with me as always is Lachie France, the voice of the Sutherland Sharks and part-time voice of the City Comets.
Round Four Recap & Exhaustion
00:00:26
Speaker
Lachie, how are you feeling after this monster round four? 14 games, each men and women is exhausted. I think exhausted is the right word.
00:00:39
Speaker
Yeah, it was a lot to get through. It was, we were blessed with some games that started on Anzac Day, Thursday the 25th of April, that followed all the way through to Sunday. So a lot of teams having double headers in round four. A lot of teams having to trouble, but it was a very eventful round for the men's and the women's. Certainly was. I mean, just trying to put together an All-Star Five for this weekend was absolute chaos. You know, so many games, so many big performances and
00:01:09
Speaker
When you have 14 games in one weekend, that's almost 10% of the season knocked off here this weekend. It certainly shakes up the ladder a bit. And perhaps in the back end of the season, some of the results of this big round four are going to feel the real impact.
Women's Game Correction & Results
00:01:27
Speaker
As we mentioned last episode, I stuffed up and covered the wrong competition.
00:01:32
Speaker
Last week, we took a focus on one of the men's games. So to make up for it this week, we will be focusing on one women's game together. But nonetheless, we'll still be running through the results of what was a large round four. And as always, we'll get into some news and gossip if we've got it from around the league and also we'll have a play interview as well. Take us through round four of the women's competition.
00:01:57
Speaker
I'd be more than happy to. So it all kicked off as Squint said on Anzac Day with Sydney comments taking on Norths at Alexandria and
Men's Game Highlights & Close Matches
00:02:08
Speaker
it was Norths getting up 66-53, despite a triple double from Comets to V to Dale, as Sarah Schicke grabbed 26 rebounds in 26 minutes of action in that 66-53 win. Hosby Karingui traveled up to Maitland and picked up a 74-62 win.
00:02:26
Speaker
as Ayana Bay grabbed a double-double and Jesse May Hall 15 points 9 rebounds and 5 steals to help the Hornsby-Karingai spiders on their way. Illawarra faced Sutherland in the Freeway Cup with Illawarra hosting this season and it was a 30-12 first quarter for Sutherland that set them on their way to a 67-58 win with Olivia White 16 points 17 rebounds and Vanessa Penusa's 12 assists alongside her 8 points.
00:02:57
Speaker
Bankstown faced Inner West at the Bruins lair on the Friday evening and it was Bankstown picking up an 84-51 win with five players in double digits and Keanu Davis-White picking up a double-double as did Maggie Robinson for the Bulls. Central Coast hosted the kids from the COE and it was COE getting up 69-63 charging home after a strong start
00:03:22
Speaker
from Central Coast, Michaela Dompkins with an almost regulation for Michaela nowadays, 19.17 rebounds. Bonnie Diaz matched her with 19 points of her own.
00:03:35
Speaker
Penrith faced Hills, and this one went to overtime as Talia Tupaya took over with 37 points in an 84-72 win after Hills stormed back in the final quarter of regulation, but couldn't quite put the game away, allowing Penrith to get the win in the extra five minutes. Moving on to Saturday, and Canberra faced Hornsby Karingai in the nation's capital.
00:03:59
Speaker
and it was Canberra Nationals getting up 100 to 78. Lizzie Tonks 24 points and 16 rebounds and Kelly Bourne also with a double double. Too good for a Hornsby side led by Jesse May Hall's 33 points, five rebounds to assist and five steals. Hills took on COE for each team's second game of the weekend and it was COE again scoring 69 this time defeating Hills by 13, 69, 56.
00:04:28
Speaker
Bonnie Dares again leading the way for COE with 14 points on this occasion as herself and Bivongi picked up four steals a piece. Manly Warringa took on Sydney Comets in the Alex Delaney derby and it was Alex Delaney herself picking up 22.17 rebounds and five assists
00:04:49
Speaker
in an 87-55 win for Manly Warringa, although Devita Dale, an assist shot of a 5x5 with 15 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 7 steals and 5 blocks, averaging 9 steals for the round as Devita Dale from Comets. Central Coast took on Maitland looking to a tone for that loss to COE and they did so with a 78-73 win over the Mustangs at home.
00:05:15
Speaker
Leilani Mitchell, 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and Michaela Donkins, again, with a double double, 12 points, 12 rebounds. Aubrey Madonga faced Illawarra, and who else but LJ dropping 40 on the Hawks, 40 points, 12 rebounds, shooting 15 of 20 from two-point range. Well, a shout out to Asha Phillips, who's been electric for Illawarra since returning from college at the University of Idaho, putting up 18 points, whilst Michaela Pivock had 20 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
00:05:45
Speaker
for the bandits. Penrith took on Newcastle in a game that was an absolute barn burner. It was Newcastle getting an 80-75 win on the road courtesy of 39 points and 15 rebounds from Nicole Munger with Talia Tupiah putting up 26 points and New Import Mia Heider putting up 20 and eight for the Panthers. Canberra faced Bankstown on the Sunday and it was the battle of Lizzie Tonks and Kathy Morrow
00:06:16
Speaker
Lizzie put up 35 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and five steals. Cappy had 40 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists. It was Canberra getting the win 99 to 80. We rounded out the day, the weekend, sorry, with Norse facing Sutherland. We saw Eliza Favreau return to the starting lineup for Sutherland. We saw Maddie Norris get some playing time. Favreau had 20 points, but it was Norse picking up
00:06:44
Speaker
a comprehensive 81 to 53 win over the Sharks led by Matty O'Hare's 24 points, five rebounds and four assists.
League Standings & Anzac Day Advantage
00:06:53
Speaker
So an absolutely monstrous weekend of basketball as we previously mentioned. But if we turn to the ladder, we still see three teams undefeated. Aubrey Wodonga in Newcastle sitting six and 0 and Manly Waringa sitting at three and 0.
00:07:12
Speaker
Central Coast dropping that game to COE sees them drop back to 5-1. North sit at 4-1 and COE at 3-1. Then there's a bit of a log jam. 7th, 8th and 9th. Maitland, Illawarra and Canberra all sitting at 3-3 with only percentage splitting the teams. Sutherland sitting 2-3 which is still integrating their returning players. Bankstown 2-4.
00:07:37
Speaker
And then Hills at one and four, Comets one and five, Panthers one and five and Hornsby and Inner West both at one and six. So every team does have a win on the board at this early stage, but it's still starting to, uh, the top teams are starting to leave the rest behind with six teams still only having dropped one game. It's going to be very interesting when those teams start playing each other.
00:08:02
Speaker
as will happen when one was Central Coast take on undefeated Manly next weekend, which should be an absolute cracker of a game. Yeah, that one's going to be a real test, I think, Central Coast versus Manly. Yeah, definitely a lot of games to cover and it looks like across all the NBA one leagues, it was a big ground for everyone. It was really hard to keep up with the Anzac medal winners as well.
00:08:28
Speaker
Yes. I think Anzac Day being on a Thursday is just perfect timing. So you want to have those Anzac Day games in and it gives every team a good rest without breaking up the weekend. You can have games Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Works perfectly. Yeah. And I think if you try and get a big round like this out of the way early in the season where lots of teams are going to have double headers, it might save them at the back end of the season too. Like we said in the previous episode,
00:08:56
Speaker
If you're having too many double headers at the end of the season, you put yourself at risk of having injury or players out for whatever other reason. So yeah, I think having having a big double header now is hopefully in some teams favor.
00:09:12
Speaker
Yeah, I think it was two seasons ago Sutherland men had three scheduled NBA one East double headers. They're wildcard game against COE and then they're rescheduled game against inner west from when Callum Norris did his ankle. So they essentially had four or five double headers in the last six weeks of the season. That's a lot. And then rolling on to their finals and potentially nationals. I remember we spoke about it last season of East got game. Wow.
00:09:40
Speaker
If you're a successful team, it almost feels like a punishment at the end of the season, just going from double hitters into the final series, internationals, but that's what it takes to win a championship, I guess. Certainly does. All you can do is just keep winning. Yeah, just keep winning. It's not that hard. Gosh, come on guys, just keep winning. But harking back to Manly, you mentioned them only being having three wins. I will say I would rather have the wins in the bank than games in hand.
00:10:09
Speaker
Always. As good as being we are looking, I'd rather be in Aubrey with Dongruo and Newcastle's position at this stage. Yeah, definitely 6-0 is a very healthy way to start the season. All right. Well, I'm going to take a look at this men's competition. And again, started with the City Comets hosting the Norse Bears in what looks like a thriller in an 88-89 loss to the Comets. The Norse Bears just able to hold on despite a big 26 point quarter for the Comets in the fourth.
00:10:40
Speaker
Bewale Bowser really came alive in this game scoring 39 points adding five rebounds, three assists and four steals and shooting at a very nice click 59% overall. Whereas for the North Bears it was the import Mandrel Worthy who had 28 points and eight rebounds and four assists as well. So it looks like Mandrel is really settling into MBL1 East very nicely now. He's
00:11:08
Speaker
Two weeks in a row he's come up with some really good stats.
Team Strategies & High Scoring Matches
00:11:12
Speaker
And then we headed to Maitland where they hosted the Hornsby Coringa Spiders and won that one 95 to 69. Maitland with four very high scoring quarters. The first being their lowest with 20, but 20 points a quarter is still pretty good. Maitland had quite a few scorers across the board, looking like they had six players in double figures. So no one really still outstanding for Hornsby
00:11:38
Speaker
Karingai top scorer was Brian Anoshia Bowa with 19 points and 4 rebounds. Then Illawarra Hawks and Sutherland Sharks met at the snake pit with Illawarra Hawks going down 69 to 107. Sutherland Sharks had a massive first quarter scoring 35 points to Illawarra's 10 and top scoring for Sutherland was Brian Williams with 22 points adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
00:12:05
Speaker
And for Illawarra, it was Riley Abercrombie with 21-9. Bankstown Bruins had the inner West Bulls at home and they lost that one 63-77. That was the game where I was hoping the Bruins would pinch from the inner West Bulls, but perhaps the Bulls had heard me and went out to prove me wrong, which is fine. I think I also said that I'm happy to be wrong. Big Championship quarter from the inner West Bulls winning that one 25-11 in the third.
00:12:33
Speaker
Banks down did storm home scoring 24-18 in the 4th but it just wasn't enough unfortunately. Leading all scores for the game was Alexander Higgins-Titcher with 21 points and 17 rebounds shooting at 50% overall. Back on the sunny coast, the Central Coast Crusaders battled out with the COE at home and they clinched an 85-80 win.
00:12:57
Speaker
with Robbie Heath for the Central Coast Crusaders with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. And for the COE, the top scorers were James O'Donnell with 24 and 20, which I think included quite a big dunk for an end one play in that game. And also Luke Vanell with 24 points for the COE. Then we headed out to Panerith where they hosted the Hills Hornets and Panerith lost that one 78 to 109.
00:13:27
Speaker
Another big first quarter, this time with the Hills Hornets scoring 63 points to the Paneras 19. Ben Cairns led all scorers for the Panthers with 29 points and added eight rebounds, four assists and two steals shooting at 56.25% overall. But it was Ishmael Sanders or Ish, I should say Ish for short from the Hills Hornets. He had 36 points in 27 and a half minutes.
00:13:56
Speaker
and shot at 50%. And he was well supported by CB with 23.3 rebounds and two assists. The Canberra Gunners then had a Hornsby Corringi Spiders for their second game of the round with the Canberra Gunners winning that one 90 to 54. And for regular MBO1 East viewers, you could see that this was another game played at Tugranall Stadium.
00:14:22
Speaker
I have it on good authority from someone deep inside the Canberra Gunners camp that they had to play at Tugrenong because Belconnen is getting their court resurfaced. But look, I don't mind it. I mean, it's kind of nice seeing Tugrenong back on the screen and getting some love. And leading all scorers for the Canberra Gunners in this game was Glenn Morrison, who had 20 points and eight rebounds. And Hornsby, unfortunately, struggling on the scoring front, hence the 54 points for the game.
00:14:49
Speaker
It was the Nathaniel Chapel that led their scorers with nine points and seven rebounds. Hill's Hornets backed up in this round and played the COE at home. Clinching a one point win, 77 to 76. Another exciting game in the men's competition for round four. Ish Sanders backed up and had 22 points, five rebounds and three assists. And our voice DB with 26 points and eight rebounds.
00:15:19
Speaker
The COE was Josh Dent this time with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, and he shot at 66.67% overall. Then it was Manly Men's turn to host the Sydney Comets at home, and they clinched that win 96 points to 73, also scoring four pretty big quarters, and able to limit the Comets just to 14 points in the third quarter. Matthew Eldridge, also a king of the double-double with 19 and 11,
00:15:49
Speaker
But Mason Bragg had a huge triple double in this game with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 16 assists. That's some Davo Hickey numbers, that is. And for Sydney Comets, it was Obie Che who shined the brightest in this game with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Obie Che recently in the media or in the talk of NBL Free Agency,
00:16:15
Speaker
Apparently he's been approached by confirmed one MBL club to make the return. So look, we're all for it here at EGG. You go OBJ. And then the Central Coast Crusaders and Maitland Mustangs met to have their second game of the weekend against each other, but down at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium, home of the Crusaders. And it was the Stangers that absolutely steamrolled home, winning 70 points to 96. Robbie Heath, again,
00:16:44
Speaker
with a big game for the Crusaders scoring 30 points and adding eight rebounds and four assists. And for the Maitland Mustangs, again, a lot of great scoring across the board, so a true team effort. Top scoring was Christian Little. The brand new import with 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals. And he also shot at 50% overall. Really great shooting percentages this round in some of the men's games, particularly those with the high numbers.
00:17:13
Speaker
Then we had it all the way down to Aubrey Wodonga to the hideout, where Ilora Hawks took on the bandits. And the bandits won this one 113 to 91. Aubrey Wodonga's top scorers were Sean Montague with 25 points and four rebounds, and he shot at 68.75% overall, and Kavion Blaylock with 24 points and 12 rebounds, and also Davo Hickey, another triple double,
00:17:41
Speaker
So when we say they're day row picky numbers, I mean, we're not exaggerating. He had 21 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and five steals. I mean, now he's just toying with the quadruple double, which is ridiculous. And for Illawarra, they had four players in double figures, a lot better on the scoring front in this game compared to some of their other rounds. So good job to the walkies. Bradley Ballinger leading scorers with 18 and eight.
00:18:09
Speaker
Then it was time to head out to Panerith where they hosted the Newcastle Falcons and the Panthers went down at home 65 points to 80. Top scorer was Brody Schwartzer 18 points and four rebounds and two assists for the Panthers and Ryan Beasty for the Newcastle Falcons again with a double double 18 and 16 and added three assists, three steals and four blocks.
00:18:35
Speaker
and shooting at 77.78% overall. So certainly worthy of the Anzac Day medal in that game. Then the Norse Bears and the Southernland Sharks for their second game of round four met at the Bear Cave with the Norse Bears winning this one 78 to 62. So it was a very successful weekend for the Norse Bears. They opened it up with a 10 point lead in the first quarter, winning that one 24 to 14.
00:19:01
Speaker
and were able to hold off the Sutherland Sharks who had a huge fourth quarter winning that quarter, 26 to 30. Mandrel Levy for the North Bears again showing up with some big numbers, 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists. And for the Sutherland Sharks, it was Lockie Hutchinson with 29 points, three rebounds, six assists and three steals in what looks like a little bit more of a quiet day for the Sharkies.
00:19:28
Speaker
And finishing off this huge Anzac Day round four of MBL1 East in the men's competition, Canberra with a double header at home took on the Bankstown Bruins, winning that one 81 to 69. Again played at Tugranall, huge first quarter for the Gunners, winning that one 30 points to 10. Leading all scorers for the game was Will Mayfield, number eight from the Canberra Gunners. We had 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists and nine steals.
00:19:57
Speaker
So almost a double double with steals. And he was well supported by Glen Morrison who had 15, five and five. And for the Bankstown Bruins in this game, Hayden Blankley had 21 points and six rebounds and 30 minutes of play shooting at 47.06% overall. So if we have a look now at the men's ladder after round four, Maitland Mustangs continue to sprint ahead of the competition
00:20:25
Speaker
sitting pretty with six and O on the top of the ladder. In second place is now the inner west bulls with a six and one record. Third place Canberra Gunners with five and one. Fourth place is Aubrey Wodonga with also a five and one record. But again, going back on percentages, the Gunners are ahead.
Men's Competition Rankings Update
00:20:45
Speaker
In fifth place is the Manly Waringa Sea Eagles with a record of two and one.
00:20:50
Speaker
Norse Bears now in sixth position with a win-loss record of three and two. Hills Hornets in seventh with three and two with only 4.3% between the Norse Bears and the Hills Hornets in the sixth and seventh position. And in eighth position is the Central Coast Crusaders who are at three and three. They're just ahead of the Sydney Comets who are in ninth that are also on three and three.
00:21:18
Speaker
but the Crusaders are ahead by 0.7%. And that lucky was round four of the NBA One East men's competition. And I think I need a sip of water after that. I don't blame you in the slightest because that was absolutely massive. It was massive. It was a huge round. It was like we said at the top of the episode, very eventful. Some teams like the North Bears certainly getting some really important
00:21:48
Speaker
on that round. So I'm sure that coach Angus Burke will be really, really happy with those two wins. I mean, if they were two losses, they would be down at the bottom of the table. But to the flip of that, the COE coming away with two losses on that double header.
Women's Game Analysis & Strategies
00:22:06
Speaker
All right. So as we mentioned, Lockie and I will be reviewing a women's game from round four. And as you probably guessed from the last episode,
00:22:18
Speaker
The game we had our eyes on was the Central Coast Crusaders versus the COE. They're at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium. This game was on April the 26th on the Friday night. So Friday night game at Breakers is a little bit unprecedented, I think, and it kind of showed in the crowd as well.
00:22:40
Speaker
Yeah, it wasn't even really filling up even at the end of the women's game. I don't know if everybody, I did, I must say I didn't watch the men's game, but, um, yeah. Need to get the word out. The Friday night hoops is on at Terrigal. Yeah. Did it clash with some footy or something? Or maybe everyone just wanted to listen to Hamish and Mikko. Yeah, that's right. Just stay at home, listen to Hamish and Mikko. Why not?
00:23:09
Speaker
Before we go through a quarter by quarter locking, what was some of your overall impressions of the game or what was some of your overall expectations going into this game?
00:23:19
Speaker
I didn't expect crew to commit 23 turnovers. That was one thing. That was the main thing was the turnovers and the way COE, especially in the fourth quarter, the way COE would just poke the ball away from much more experienced players who you'd expect to do much better with the ball. And it was just with ease. Early in the game, I got what I thought I'd get from COE in that at times
00:23:48
Speaker
they look like a bunch of very talented kids looking for a leader. But then at other times, someone stands up and goes, all right, we got to get this, we got to get this show on the road. Siena Harvey did it a couple of times, Bonnie Diaz did it a couple of times. Which is what you need, what they really needed against the team that is
00:24:10
Speaker
I've got probably five players who have been leaders of a team on court against them. That was the main takeaway is that when COE got it together, they looked really good, but they're kids. And it doesn't always happen for 40 minutes. I thought Crew could have done
00:24:30
Speaker
Crew, it's tough. Mikko said it during the call. You can't outrun youth because those kids can run. They can run for 40 minutes and it showed. Um, but I thought crew could have matched them for longer periods. So getting back on D-trans was really good, especially. Outrunning is one thing, but the way they get back on D-trans is where the point of, point of difference was for me. That didn't look tired at all.
00:24:59
Speaker
Yeah, I really agree with your point about COE lacking leadership and that was, you know, purely because they're kids and it is a brand new squad compared to the last two years of COE. So the likes of DS and Harvey are going to have to step up into those leadership roles now because they are two of the three who I think played last season with the COE and just natural progression. And both of them coming off really successful under 20s tournaments as well. So probably.
00:25:29
Speaker
being able to transfer some of that experience and leadership now into their COE season. Between Harvey, Deas and Babongi, gosh, they are quick and they slice the defense on their penetration like a knife. Like, as soon as you watch Manik Babongi try and penetrate and try and score, you immediately go, oh, I can see why this kid is in this program.
00:25:55
Speaker
Like, and obviously we know how talented they are, you know, we know they're in Australian squads, they pop up, you know, the regular appearances in all the top stats at nationals, but then to see them all together, you know, when they're stars of their own state is one thing, but when all of the stars are in one team, it's harder to shine. But those three, and Sienna Harvey's ability to finish under the basket on some of those tough drives has improved immensely in 12 months.
00:26:23
Speaker
Um, and especially her decision-making, she had four turnovers, but 12 months ago, that could have, that would have been eight. So her development in the last 12 months has been really huge. Um, Crusaders. Yeah. So like you said, and Mikko, like you said, Mikko did make the point, you can't beat a young team like that with Pace. And Pace was the huge theme of the game because they didn't let up. They were pressuring in the back court and they were running in transition.
00:26:52
Speaker
and they were penetrating hard. They did not let up on their pace. Crusaders obviously aren't going to be able to match that and very few teams, if any team are going to be able to match that. I wonder what would be an alternative. The only thing I could think of is perhaps trying to wear out a quick team like the COE with physicality. So making it really hard for them on defense, like bumping them every time on defense, bumping them every time under the basket when you're contesting your rebound,
00:27:22
Speaker
just grinding them down with physicality and ultimately you've got to beat them on smarts. Experience over use is IQ that's going to be your strong point. Yeah. And I thought, especially considering like Crook and Fagan, two of the younger players in the program, I thought Crew might've looked to dominate in the post a lot more than they did. I mean, the first play of the game went to Hutchins and I thought, all right, here we go.
00:27:52
Speaker
It didn't really turn out that they didn't go there that often at all, really. Yeah, it really halted in the second half, I think, going inside and looking for targets like Hutchins. And again, not necessarily the score, just being a target for whatever else, whatever other offense can come out of it. Jade Crook though, she looked really good. You wouldn't be able to tell that it's her first season with COE. So all the hard work she has done over the years in Aubrey and
00:28:22
Speaker
With LJ the last two seasons are obviously coming to fruition. Fagan is obviously very raw, but she has incredible lengths and incredible height. She had a pretty successful under 18 internationals as well. And so I can imagine in 12 months time, she's probably going to be one of the best players in the COE team. I mean, there was that play where she clubbed Hutchins in the fourth quarter.
00:28:50
Speaker
where it looked like she was going to take a mark over, over Hutchins head. She got that high up. Yeah, she did. There was, there was that play and there was also a play where she blocked Donkins as well under the basket. And yeah, there's a great photo on social media of Zetaya Fagan's block on Donkins. If you go ahead and follow MB photo media events on Instagram you can see the, the one that we're referring to, but yeah, give it, give it 12 months.
00:29:20
Speaker
And the COE also had a few injuries, so there's also Sienna Lennon, Sophie Taylor as well, who were out injured. So adding them when they're fit and healthy, the COE can be looking pretty good. Before we start, I have an important point to make. Look behind me. That is a St Mary's jersey that once belonged to Jasmine Forcadilla.
00:29:42
Speaker
Ah, very good. Very good. Too bad we don't film these episodes. So people can see a really cool Jersey collection. You might have to put a photo of it on Instagram. Jersey of the Week. Jersey of the Week is jazz folkadilla St. Mary's training jersey. I love a good training jersey as well. It's authentic. So yeah, going quarter by quarter, like you said, Lockie, it opened up with the Crusaders getting hutch with the reverse layup to open up the scoring.
00:30:10
Speaker
Crusaders had eight points in the first minute, backed up by a quick Michaela Duncan's three-pointer and a ley-lining mutual end-one play. And it was the pace and it was still pretty physical and defense throughout, but that standard was certainly set from the tip-off.
00:30:28
Speaker
Oh, 100%. Eight points in a minute and COE, some really sloppy turnovers in that time as well. I mean, there was one where Harvey and Crook collided on half court and it ended up being an over and back violation of an inbound pass that was basically on the halfway line. That was a, yeah, that was not an ideal start, but it turned out to be a thing for both teams in the first quarter, really.
00:30:56
Speaker
Yeah, it did. It was a high turnover rate in the first quarter for both teams and each team having four to five turnovers by the five minute mark. So I don't know if that's a reflection of the pace as well, is that everyone was going a little bit too quick for their own good. But some of those turnovers early by COE.
00:31:14
Speaker
We're a little bit cute because it always looked like some kids that were just learning to fly because they were very silly. But it was interesting. Um, the turnovers that crew committed, they're all deadball turnovers. It was a step out of bounds and over and back, a travel, a another travel. It wasn't allowing, it wasn't even allowing COE to get out and running.
00:31:37
Speaker
it didn't have as big an affair. It obviously stopped crew's offense dead in the water, but it at least didn't allow COE to just barrel down court at 100 mile an hour as they all want to do. Probably half the reason the crew were able to maintain a lead. Yeah, that's a really good point actually. It was high number of turnovers, but it was those types of turnovers that COE couldn't turn around and turn into points because I'm sure if they were steals in the backcourt or front court,
00:32:07
Speaker
COE were making layoffs every day of the week. Also in the first quarter, I just really liked how the COE applied the backcourt pressure. It's probably one of the few games I've watched this season where teams are actually playing defense in the backcourt and applying pressure. For me personally, maybe I'm
00:32:26
Speaker
being a little bit angry man yells at cloud when I say this, but that should be the standard for any NBA wanting. You should be applying some kind of backcourt defensive pressure the end. Even if it's just some 50, 60% passive channeling, just do something.
00:32:44
Speaker
semi pros and that should be the bad one. Just a token player up there. Just do something, you know, at least you can maybe, you know, force them out of getting to exactly their spot in the bad court. Yeah. Or at least, you know, try and deny the inbound pass and then adjust once the ball's in play. Just something a little bit more. Maybe I'm being greedy, but I just think that should be the standard. So I was really pleased to see the COE
00:33:11
Speaker
Um, apply that backcourt pressure that they applied all game to be fair. And something that I really liked from COE, which is probably to be expected was that they were all in the correct floor spots because I'm sure that they probably have the word floor spots yelled at them multiple times all day, every day. So if they're not in that floor spots, I'm sure the coach would be telling him about it. But, uh, fair play to them as well. They were pretty tough and they were crashing the old glass really well.
00:33:41
Speaker
probably using their speed and athleticism to their advantage. So they put a lot of pressure on the Crusaders on the rebounding aspect as well. I actually noted down that, you know, if they weren't playing a team with Michaela Dompkins in the starting five, the offensive rebound numbers might have actually looked pretty darn good for COE after a quarter of action. To be fair, they only lost the rebound count 46 to 50 as well. Crusaders had 16 offensive rebounds and COE still had 13, so.
00:34:10
Speaker
Not too bad of an effort at all. Not in the slightest. I mean, in a game where Duncan's played 38 minutes, so I was still able to grab 13 oat boards. No small feat. No, no, definitely not. Especially when COE, they still had some size about them, you know, and Crook and Fagin and Zara Russell, but Fagin only played 17 minutes. So it wasn't like she was a
00:34:35
Speaker
focal point for their team. Jade Crook certainly was at times, especially to be a facilitator. But yeah, it wasn't like that they were going inside to Fagin too much and that she was on everything on the glass. And Fagin, I think at Junior National, spent a fair bit of time out on the perimeter, just not on the low post in general. So
00:34:58
Speaker
It's interesting to see how that transpires if, you know, COE, what kind of player COE Caesar as, if state team coaches and national program coaches can offer, have a differing of opinion as to where they think a player should play. So obviously good enough to play to be in the team in either role, but we'll see how it transpires further.
00:35:17
Speaker
Yeah, you're right actually on reflection on that one game I saw Queensland South play where Fagan was featured at the recent under eight international. She was outside a lot more than expecting. So I'm expecting her to be picked in the under 17 World Cup team. That's going to be held later this year. So it'll be interesting to see where Coach Garlett puts her. The only other point for quarter one I want to make just goes back to one of your initial points is that how much the Central Coast Crusaders went inside
00:35:46
Speaker
for their offense. So still looking at Hutch to be a deep catch or a scoring option. Still looking at Donkins to go inside as a scoring option. Probably a lot more penetration and ball reversal as well. And they, Crusaders were looking really good in that first quarter. But yeah, I thought a pretty decent emphasis on the inside pretty early on for the Crusaders. And I thought that was going to be their edge of the COE. Yeah, I noted down that only
00:36:15
Speaker
two of their field goal attempts in the first quarter were not in the paint or three pointers and one of those was the ball just fell to cranny late in the shot clock because you just had to put up a long two so yeah you take that but that that came off a shot that i think might have been in the paint so you know they definitely had a an mo which was you know get into the paint or shoot the three nothing nothing mid-range which
00:36:41
Speaker
Analytics, but I mean why not with you know, the players that can get downhill and shoot it in that team? I mean, Leilani Mitchell is killer at both. Jazz Walker-Diller can shoot it and get to the rack. Doneka Rope can shoot it and get to the rack. But take me through quarter two. Did you have any other significant points to make from quarter two or observations?
00:37:05
Speaker
What I've really noticed in the second quarter, which was a lot better for CLE on the scoreboard was how often they would drive and kick to the corner was something that just didn't happen in the first quarter. I think that's when they started to realize we can really outrun this team. Some of the players, probably a smart idea to not take on some of their opponents in the paint there, but just really good, really good work from players knowing their spots. You know, it's always, you know, if you're in front of the ball,
00:37:36
Speaker
go to the corner, be behind, go to the wing. And that's what they did. And I can't fault them for the decision, but the execution of the actual shots was lacking to say the least from COE. And that was all night. I think they shot three of 21 from three point range.
00:37:56
Speaker
for the diet and I don't, it wasn't like, it wasn't like three points in the one of four, like that were one of four, 25% in the second quarter and 20% in the third quarter. So, you know, not exactly hitting a lot, but certainly getting, certainly getting open and early in the second quarter, they looked, they looked
00:38:15
Speaker
much better just getting the ball in the hole. Not from three, but from two point range. I think their shooting percentage for the second quarter was up near 60% for two pointers. Executing much better, starting to get out and running. I don't know if they had to feel their way into the game in the first quarter and then once Coach Herbert had a couple of minutes to go over some things, he's got a pretty good head on his shoulders. There's Dave Herbert, so I'm sure he would have noticed 20 in that quarter time break.
00:38:43
Speaker
I don't think the Crusaders with the roster that as good as Leilani Mitchell and Michaela Donkins are, I don't feel that the crew should have been as reliant on them in parts as they were. They've got enough other really good players that it doesn't just have to fall into the Donkins Mitchell game, which it did on occasion and that's when it kind of got a little bit
00:39:07
Speaker
maybe predictable, a bit stagnant. So we sort of knew what was coming and started to adjust. I think, I don't think Leilani had as open attempts from three point range in the second quarter. But she can always, one of my notes is a Leilani Mitchell Bayley up three is always an option. And that's going to make crew dangerous in any situation.
00:39:30
Speaker
Yeah, but if those bailout threes aren't as accessible as normal with the COEs great on-ball defense, then you've got no bailout in the end, unfortunately. And you're right. You were completely right. I did also feel like from this second quarter, and I'll probably talk about it more a little bit at the end, they did start to rely a little bit too much on Mikayla and Lei working together in a two-man game, whether that was a screen and a re
Player Performance & Fatigue Impact
00:39:57
Speaker
-screen.
00:39:57
Speaker
I kind of had the thought in my head where I was like, they don't need to rely on each other as much as they did last season when they played for Inner West Bulls. So they're probably so used to relying on each other, particularly after their season last year. But they don't need to do that anymore. They are loaded with so many shooters and they are supported.
00:40:16
Speaker
by a team and a core group that have now played with each other for about three seasons. Probably a little bit more trust and utilization of the rest of the talent from the Crusaders roster probably couldn't have gone astray. I did write, one of my notes for the second quarter was that they did look inside a little bit more after the successes from the first quarter, but sometimes it stopped ball movement. So they ended up spending too much time
00:40:42
Speaker
than looking in there, rather than making that one to one and a half second decision of if it's on, it's not kick it on or drive. So sometimes that kind of stopped it. And then when the ball movement stopped, I noticed that their scoring started to slow down a lot more too. So Crusader still though shot 40% from the two point range and 50% from the three point range in that second quarter, but
00:41:05
Speaker
had their most successful scoring quarter in the second, scoring 20 points to the Crusaders 18 and they shot at 58%. So that was really where the COE kind of snapped out of it and we're like, all right, here we are, let's go. At certain points, it was less than the second quarter, but some of the shots getting into the paint that COE were putting up were bordering on pinion at the glass. But in the second quarter,
00:41:32
Speaker
it was a lot more controlled. Yeah, there's a lot of energy and a lot of muscle coming out of some of those shots from the COE. Some of them look like the Cessie Matthews lefty hook, but they're not Cessie Matthews. The only person that can do a Cessie Matthews lefty hook is Cessie Matthews because, as you were saying on the broadcast, that's essentially a patent and copyrighted move by now. Yes.
00:41:59
Speaker
The other thing, though, for crew in the second quarter is that they were up to 11 turnovers, which is an ideal. You only want to have 10 to 12 turnovers a game, so 11 by half time or by the second quarter was not ideal. What was Nico talking about with his budget? If you're a guard, you get one turnover for every 10 minutes. If you're not a guard, you get zero. That's right. If you're not really on ball handling duties, you don't really want to be. You don't have a budget for turnovers.
00:42:26
Speaker
I thought that was really interesting and a really sound point, but it would be one of those things where if I was a player or a coach, I would probably overanalyze that way too much and then start doing some kind of stupid percentages and math that's above capacity. And then just make myself too anxious. But essentially, I think that's a really, really sound concept. And then I'm going to be honest with you, Locky.
00:42:51
Speaker
I didn't write a lot of notes for the third and fourth quarter purely because I feel like the game didn't change heaps in the second half. There were probably some small changes that made big differences, but otherwise I felt like the pace of the game stayed the same, the defensive intensity and the physicality stayed the same. And for me, it was just about the COE peaking at the right time. What did you think? Talking about things staying the same, my first note is
00:43:21
Speaker
They went back inside more of this place for crew. Yet the pace remained. Crew went full court defensive a couple of times to see a Harvey just barrel pass them or went straight to the basket. So that was sort of proof of concept there about the quickness that some of them have off the line. COE continued to really not be able to hit threes until Bonnie hit one. I think it was the last shot of the quarter and it gave COE their first lead of the game.
00:43:49
Speaker
put them up 53, 52. But you're right. Yeah, especially the third quarter, not a lot happened. I did notice that that was when COE's transition defense kind of ratcheted up a bit. It was one situation particularly early in the third where thought they had a break on like a long outlet and COE just
00:44:12
Speaker
they were back, they were back there faster than the ball could get there and broke it up. And I think maybe a case of once bitten twice shy for crew in that situation. You know, you realize, okay, these teams are going to get back. But you're right, particularly in the third, the main thing to come out of the third is that crew just couldn't put the ball in the hole. Nope. Nope. It just dried up. It just dried up. I felt like that was due to again, COE, very good defense. They probably were even a little bit better.
00:44:41
Speaker
the third and fourth really able to lock down the main ball carriers from the crusaders being able to disrupt those horn sets and yeah the crusaders just they started to look inside but once the COE were able to lock down those ball carriers on the perimeter they were I think all the options on the inside perhaps dried up and crusaders had to settle for a lot of outside shots and they were getting pushed quite a
00:45:08
Speaker
quite a distance back from the three-point line, and so their whole half-court offense was really disrupted. That's when Fagan really started to come into her own as well, was in that third quarter. I think she got, felt like she got a lot more playing time as the game wore on. They started to realize, I mean, Jade Crook had a great game, but it was Fagan they turned two down the stretch as well. You know, we mentioned before her massive block, her flying in on Hartrude.
00:45:33
Speaker
They said, they said she got a knee to the head of Hutch. I don't know if it was quite that high, but Hutch was standing almost upright at the time. So. Yeah. Hutch is tall. Yeah. Hutch is tall. Um, 18 to nine quarter for COE. Put them, put them ahead for the first time heading into the fourth.
00:45:56
Speaker
Yeah, crude is really struggling to get good shots. And I wonder if fatigue was starting to play a bit of a part as well. COE, like the energizer bunnies, just showing no sign of getting tired and crusaders perhaps with the fatigue in the legs, but also sometimes fatigue catching up with decision-making as well. As everyone knows, when you get a little bit tired, your decision-making isn't as sound as it could be.
00:46:24
Speaker
No, you can look at my DoorDash order from about 9.30 on Friday night to know that being tired doesn't always mean good decisions. What did you order? Just some snacks, but I think it's the price more than anything. Okay, so what was the decision of I'm going to impulsively buy some stuff for convenience and then deal with the high price a little bit later? Pretty much.
00:46:50
Speaker
Oh, look, no shame, mate. We've all been there. You're not doing it every day, are you? No. That's okay. That's okay. I wouldn't be able to afford to buy all these jerseys if I was. Yeah, so you've got your priorities right. Jersey's over late night, expensive door dash snacks. That's right. That's how they get you. We digress, but yeah, the third quarter, essentially,
00:47:19
Speaker
COE up the defence. Crusaders are probably a little bit suffocated and struggled to get some good shots off, unfortunately. What was the other point I was going to make that with? Oh, yeah. And just going back to your point, so I don't sound too hypocritical about how I believe that the standard of MBL 1S is some kind of backcourt pressure.
00:47:52
Speaker
did come out with a little bit of a press in parts of the second half. I think a press is great, but for the Crusaders in terms of using their spots and wanting to conserve their energy, it would have been cool if they tried a press where instead of applying direct ball pressure, they put the pressure on the ball carrier in terms of the decision making. So taking everything a step back, but clogging up all the lanes. So just taking that time off the clock, I thought could have been a little bit handy.
00:48:10
Speaker
And while the Crusaders
00:48:22
Speaker
Just so I don't sound like an idiot. A bit of a hypocrite when I talk about that stuff. But yeah, like you said, it was a three pointer that put the COE up by three with a minute 16 to play in the third. And I think that was essentially the turning point for COE to then take out the rest of the game. What do you think?
00:48:42
Speaker
I think so. I think, you know, when you spend that long chipping away at a lead, pressure relief, you feel three points or two points of difference. But you just, you feel like, okay, we've got there. We've got to the point where you need to be at. Now we just have to stay here. Because until you get even or ahead of the opposition, you haven't completed the comeback. If you think going from double digits to single digits is a big psychological benefit, it's nothing compared to actually finishing off the comeback.
00:49:12
Speaker
Yeah, I completely agree. And so the fourth quarter rolls in. COE, like I said, really peaked at the right time because once they kind of had the lead, I don't think they really gave up the lead. So going into that fourth quarter, winning the fourth quarter 16 to 11. So yeah, it was pretty much peaking at the right time and just riding it out for the fourth. Again, they're sticking to what was working with them. Really good defense, crashing the boards.
00:49:41
Speaker
driving like a pair of sushi knives and dishing out to, I mean, saying dishing out to shooters, I think what ended up being a bit of the saving grace for the Crusaders that this was still a close game is that COE shot very poorly from the three point line. Like it's three from 21 all game, which is 14.29%. That's not expected from a COE team. You said driving in like a pair of sushi knives. I mean, my first two notes are,
00:50:10
Speaker
Leilani with a three to put crew back up and then my second note is Sienna Harvey getting in too easily because she did twice in a row, just went straight through. I think my favorite note of the game is it just says, says he left arm to exclamation marks, scout to exclamation marks. You've just got to know it's coming.
00:50:36
Speaker
Uh, when you know, everyone knows you're a lefty and your signature is a left-handed bookshop and it's so well known that it's, you know, the commentators are saying it's a patent pending, uh, thing. Um, yeah, you've got to know your scout, but yeah, just going back what you said about Sienna Harvey strives. Obviously it's difficult when she's going at such pace and with such great ball handling skills to defend it, but I'm always.
00:51:00
Speaker
in awe of players like that of like, how are they able to make such quick decisions to get around defenders and then to score an open shot? Like, how is your brain and your cognition keeping up with what your body wants to do? Yeah, you're recognising there's a matchup, you like this room in the paint and you got to get the shot off and then you got to do it all. Yeah, and then I'm just gonna
00:51:22
Speaker
finished like it's, you know, a training drill. Ridiculous. But yeah, essentially I had no other notes because the game kind of just unfolded as it did. I think Crusaders went back to relying on Mick and Lay in the two-man game.
00:51:37
Speaker
off that horn set, off a pick and roll, off a re-screen. And yeah, it really wasn't working again. It just kind of made everything quite stagnant in a lot of their shot selections and shot opportunities really dried up when they stopped that consistent ball movement. And I think that kind of caught up with them in the end as well as their 23 turn movers. Yeah. Well, I mean, from the six minute mark to the 120 mark, they didn't score a point.
00:52:04
Speaker
they were leading with six minutes to play. And then they had five, I think five turnovers in the final three minutes I counted, including two, maybe three, where Crusader's player would drive, COE player would just get their first wall up and poke the ball out and then go the other 60 foot to the basket. Crew had a chance to tie it until Bonnie Diaz got
00:52:29
Speaker
She got one or two steals. She got two steals. One was definitely on my lining. I can't remember if the other one was as well. Just poking the ball away. Teaching these basketball athletes some fencing as well while they're at the COE. Frustrating in some fencing or some kind of martial arts where they've got that very quick reaction time. They can just pickpocket players like Leilani Mitchell and Jasper Diller who have been doing this thing longer than some of these kids have been alive.
00:52:57
Speaker
Um, it was pretty impressive. Is that why you texted me earlier before saying that the ball had soap on it? Uh, cause see how we did have a couple of turnovers as well. Um, and I think I texted you before the poke away turnovers. It was just the people dropping the ball turnovers that I texted you during. The ball was, uh, moving at such a fast pace. This game itself was getting sweaty. It was a really entertaining game. Oh, I'm upset.
00:53:26
Speaker
A lot of great skill sets on show. You know, like I said, Donkins with 19 and 17 overall. And she had four from five from the three point line and Mitchell with 21, four, four and three. And shout out to Hutch for her 12 rebounds as well. And then for COA it was Sienna Harvey with 18, four and four. Bonnie Diaz with 19, seven, two and three.
00:53:51
Speaker
So yeah, the two leaders that we spoke about. Well, the two emerging leaders of this team that we spoke about earlier, really shining, but it was great to see Jade cook place in more minutes because for someone of her size, she has a pretty varied skill set herself. Yeah, a hundred percent. Obviously grabs rebounds for fun, can score, but yeah, we saw her bringing the ball up a couple of times and
00:54:17
Speaker
working out on the perimeter. I mean, you see who she's learning from in Albury, she'd want to have a pretty varied skill set. I don't know too much about Amelia Dachich. I think that's the first time I've seen her play. But between her and Monique Babongi, I really liked how aggressive they were on defense, even though Dachich got fouled off. But they didn't back down. No. That's what I really liked that about them. But yeah, really entertaining game.
00:54:47
Speaker
probably the turnovers and some of the shooting percentage perhaps reflected in the pace of the game.
Game Dynamics & Turnovers
00:54:54
Speaker
But I'm really looking forward to when they play each other again. Me too. And I think with young players, no matter how good they are, especially when they're good, I think this is more of a context specific thing.
00:55:10
Speaker
really good players like the ones at the COE when they're young they step on the court with against players like Mitchell especially Mitchell who's WNBA, Dompkins and they can either think we are the best kids in Australia we deserve to be on the court with this light or they think we're really good but we're still young. Do we deserve to be on the court with these players?
00:55:35
Speaker
And the sooner you can coaching staff, support staff, whoever it is, can drum into them that the first idea that you are the best kids in Australia, you deserve to be on this court. The better it is for all involved. One thing that I didn't get to mention before was when you mentioned COE down to A and they still ran like that, watch out when they got 10.
00:56:01
Speaker
So yeah, that was our review of the Central Coast Crusaders and the COE women from round four of MB01 East. It's now time for News and Gossip, Lockie. Now, me being up here, I still feel a little bit out of the loop with the News and Gossip in MB01 East. So have you got anything for us? Oh, News and Gossip? No, it's, uh, you know, everyone's just busy getting on with the games, I think.
00:56:31
Speaker
I think there was a bit of player news. Um, Albury had a new player, Mitchell Dance, uh, Kiwi played for Eltham in Pimbio One South a couple of years ago, already, uh, against Dilla Warra dropped 14 points in 19 minutes of action off the bench. So already looking like a very handy pickup.
00:56:51
Speaker
for the Aubrey Wodonga Banders because, you know, they just needed another player, didn't they? I noticed in the women's competition, there's a couple of new additions as well. So Janine Kent made her debut for Sydney Comets. Mia Heider made her debut for the Panerith Panthers and looks like she's made an immediate impact. And for Aubrey Wodonga, Emma Mahoney is back. So that's great to see her back after she had an ACL injury in the last 12 to 18 months.
00:57:16
Speaker
Otherwise they'll just, you know, shout out to Hornsby Women for getting their first win over the Maitland Mustangs this round. Great effort. Oh, I've got news or gossip. Yeah. Keep an ear out during the Sutherland Manly Men's game for a very special guest commentator. Oh, we're going to have, we're going to have three, three on the call for Sutherland V Manly Men.
00:57:38
Speaker
Wow, three on the call. So that's going to be pretty special if you guys have gone to that effort. And that's going to be a great game as well. Okay, so three on the call, keep an ear out to see who this special guest is.
Obi-Chai's Basketball Journey
00:57:53
Speaker
Oh, I guess the only other news or gossip is that, as we mentioned, Obi-Chai is in talks of returning to the NBL next season. If you head to the NBL One East Instagram handle, there is a reel of
00:58:06
Speaker
uh, the likes of Olga and Jack Hebron talking about an NBL club that has approached Obie Che. I didn't realize that Obie Che actually took time away from basketball to pursue his creative talents and, and businesses and stuff. And he's only just returned to the game now. Um, it looks like he hasn't missed a beat if I'm honest with you. No, he looked really good.
00:58:30
Speaker
And I think otherwise, other than that, just to shout out to all of the recipients of the MBO1 Anzac medal throughout the round as well. We had the likes of Liv White, from Sutherland Sharks, Lizzie Tonks, CB, Alex Delaney, Austin Clark, Will Mayfield, Mason Bragg, Sienna Harvey.
00:58:55
Speaker
Um, Ish Sanders, Brittany Wright, Alex Higgins-Titcher, Talia Jukbaya, Robbie Heath, Mernlani Mitchell, Sarah Matthews, Jesse May Hall, Billy Parsons, of course, Brian Williams, Maddie O'Hare, Mandrill Worthy, an outstanding group of individuals awarded the medal. Uh, of course, Beasty that I've already mentioned, Christian Little, Nicole Munger, Dave O'Hickey, Lauren Jackson,
00:59:24
Speaker
a lot of our favourites and some of our past guests as well. So congratulations and apologies if I missed giving you a shout out as well. Also just a shout out to a new addition to our commentary ranks in MBL One East. Comets had a new face on the call.
Introducing Bianca Dufomaya
00:59:44
Speaker
Will Constandinitis. He's a long time NPL soccer commentator. Done a lot of work with RPLikeheart Soccer Club for
00:59:54
Speaker
those of you who are that way inclined, but he reached out to me a few weeks ago and I sent him, sent him to comments. I can't be there every week and he had a pretty good first up call. So always good to have extra commentators floating about. That's great. Welcome Will. Hopefully you enjoy your experience. Yeah. And go well. Welcome to the ranks.
01:00:22
Speaker
All right, so that concludes the regular part of our programming, so to speak. So we're going to take a quick break and when we come back, we'll be returning with an interview of our very special guest for this week, all the way from the nation's capital. And we will be revealing our all-star fives for the week. Will they be different like last time or will they be the same? You'll just have to wait to find out.
01:00:47
Speaker
All right, welcome back East Got Game fans. It's time for our play interview for this episode. And this week we have our first female athlete for season two. There's someone who is no stranger to MBL One East and especially playing in the East Conference in some respect, but has also spent a lot of time playing in Victoria and overseas in their career.
01:01:10
Speaker
They're someone who announced a retirement pretty much at the end of the 2023 season, but we're pleased to see them back for the 2024 season. All the way from the nation's capital, it is Bianca Dufomaya. Hey B, how are you going? Good, thank you. How are you? Good. Thank you for being a guest on eScott game. It's an absolute pleasure to have you on and talk some stuff with us. Oh my god, the pleasure is absolutely mine.
01:01:35
Speaker
all mine. Well hopefully we can make it a fun experience for you as
Bianca's Early Basketball & Academic Life
01:01:40
Speaker
possible. We will start the question that we start all of our play interviews with and that is tell us where your basketball journey began. So my basketball journey began before I was born. I didn't really have a choice. I am a duke for Maya. My dad played for the Canberra Cannons in the 80s for
01:02:02
Speaker
some time and then finished up his career in Melbourne, I believe. Forgive my memory, Dad. So I never wanted to play basketball. I actually hated it. I wanted to play the violin and I wanted to dance.
01:02:17
Speaker
But when you have two older siblings that play basketball, it's easier to have everyone in the same place than having two parents running three kids to different things, different activities. I think at the time, my sister also played softball. So we had a lot of extracurricular activities and both my parents were teachers. So yeah, I didn't really get a choice. So I just stuck with it, I guess, and ended up liking it at some point. I think it was under 16s.
01:02:46
Speaker
Yeah, it really was like a while before I really enjoyed playing. Like, I really, really loved playing the games, but I hated training. It would throw a tantrum almost any time. I'd have to do it. Mum, to this day, still talks about how I hate training. I like to think I've grown up a little bit. Training's not so bad anymore. Especially when you get to pull the vet card a lot. Yeah, that's how my basketball game began. Yeah, wasn't really my choice.
01:03:15
Speaker
And just for reference before, our eyes popped out of our heads when Bea said that she only started to enjoy it at under 16. So that was really surprising to learn that you persisted with competitive basketball for so long and only started liking it at 16. But do you think that your parents would be okay with you just playing social comp as long as you were involved in basketball somehow?
01:03:36
Speaker
I'm sure if I'd actually said something, they would have been fine about it. Like once I, you know, complained as a young kid about what kid likes training, you know, what kid really likes
01:03:48
Speaker
all of the game if they're not actually shooting the ball you know everyone um collapses on the ball and under eights and under tens and still under 12s depending on where you are and whatnot so i'm sure they would have been fine i would have probably just had to kick up a little more of a fuss to get them to let me stop and i'm glad they didn't because it's given me a lot it's taught me a lot um my body probably wishes that i kicked up a fuss a bit more um but the
01:04:15
Speaker
I'm sure they would have been fine. They're fine with whatever we do pretty much as long as we've got an education, which all of my siblings and I did. And did you ever get to pick up the violin? Can you play? I never played the violin in my life though. I played the trombone in primary school because I was the only one with long enough arms to get to all of the positions. I actually wanted to play percussion, but yeah, I was the only lanky kid in year five and six.
01:04:43
Speaker
So also something that sounds like it was thrust upon you without choice, the trombone and basketball. Yes. Except I ended up liking basketball. Trombone, it got me out of English and math every now and then for school. So what's not to like? What about dancing? Did you pursue any extra extracurricular activities in dancing at school or outside?
01:05:06
Speaker
Yeah, for a little bit. I danced. I took, you know, like the electives in year 9 and 10 of dance.
01:05:14
Speaker
um which was pretty funny I did I danced with Culture Break for a little bit which is a Canberra based um dance company that's really cool super super really really um community based like I'm still in some Facebook group chaps I think that are trying to get people to come back and come to showcases and whatnot which I absolutely never do um I cannot dance but um
01:05:40
Speaker
Yeah, it was really fun. It was really fun. It was a good alternative to just eating and breathing basketball, which was a good time eventually for me. But having something else made, still kept us were really fun and light for me. And just a side note, I played under 20s nationals for ACT way back in the day. And your dad was our assistant coach. He was great. He left he coached with Ken Simpson.
01:06:08
Speaker
Oh, I played for Ken. I played for Ken for my local team for under 16s, 18s, and then I played in our Premier Division 1 and 2 for Ken as well. Yeah. What club were you part with for Premier League? The Brindabella. Brindabella, it was, until we folded and then I started playing for Tungarung Vikings. Not the Brindabella Beacons.
01:06:35
Speaker
No, that's Glenn and Glenn alone. They left a great impression on me. They were both really, really nice. Your dad, I remember, was being very encouraging, enthusiastic, motivated. He was great. I really liked him as a coach. Bless my dad's heart. As an adult, I regret not allowing him to coach me.
01:06:56
Speaker
But he was one of those parents, like, given that he was so involved in basketball, he wanted to make sure he wasn't biased to his own kids to the point where I was like, I swear to God, that man hated me when I played. So in Under 12s, I told him I never played for him again, and I didn't. So there's still things that he taught me back then. And when I came home from college or and right before I went, when I'd go and shoot and work out with him, just like little golden nuggets that I wish I got more of.
01:07:24
Speaker
But for our relationship as Farland Door, I do think I made the best decision because we still fight now after games. But I'm really glad. That's awesome. But also how small is basketball? It's a very small world indeed. Absolutely. Especially in the East, I think.
01:07:41
Speaker
So you talked about making sure you got an education and you actually went to high school in Iowa.
Bianca's High School & College Basketball Journey
01:07:48
Speaker
Tell us about that. What was behind that decision? So I obviously grew up playing in Canberra and again, I didn't want to go. Uh, but it's something that, uh, our, like my family did. So my older brother, Dalen and my older sister Taki went to the States when they turned 17 as well and went to high school with the intention to
01:08:09
Speaker
go to college, whether that be on a basketball scholarship or just to go to school. In May of 2010, it was my turn. I went over, I started year 12 at Arendelle College and then went to the States in May.
01:08:25
Speaker
Gosh, it feels like a lifetime ago. So I went in May and did, played a summer of AAU basketball for All Iowa Attack, and then went to Ames High School. I had to finish year 12 so I could get into uni. The AAU team that I played for had some girls that were on the Ames High School team, so the coach that I played for kind of put some feels out to see if anyone would be willing to host me for the year.
01:08:52
Speaker
which was really, I lucked out with one of the nicest families that I've ever met, the Powers. And they took me in. I'm like one of the kids. I still talk to them whenever I go overseas. I make sure that I catch up with them. Like I absolutely adore that family. But we did choose Iowa because that's where my dad's originally from. So my sister was going to the University of Northern Iowa at the time. My brother lived in Chicago.
01:09:19
Speaker
And I had a bunch of aunts and uncles that like lived around. So I still had a close enough support system to be able to, you know, be shipped off as a really mature 17 year old person. And I love that you just casually drop all Iowa attack. Like that's not the AAU program that a recent WNBA number one draft pick played for.
01:09:42
Speaker
So weirdly enough, I didn't know that until I saw my coach at the game on TV. I was like, hang on, why is Dixon there? And then I did a bit of Googling and was like, oh, Caitlin Clark played for All I Will Attack. That's pretty cool. Yeah, a lot of cool players, a lot of professional players went through All I Will Attack.
01:10:04
Speaker
Squeen, I should have put my Caitlin Clark jersey up instead. Oh, you could have had both. At least it sounds like Bea and her family were all about Iowa before it became cool though. I think so. A lot of people are like, Iowa, what do you do in Iowa? Nothing. Play basketball. Or baseball. Who were some of the other professionals that went through that same AAU team?
01:10:28
Speaker
Uh, Harrison Barnes went to my high school and went through all IO attack. I think Doug McDermott played all IO attack as well. I don't know anyone else like professionally, but my, I know my all IO attack team, everyone except myself and another player went division, like high major division one school. So like they really have a good program, good people. I'm very, very thankful to, with the opportunity that I got to play there, traveled across the country for three months.
01:10:58
Speaker
as an Australian that was like a different world and that was the norm for people my age at the time so it was yeah it was incredible. Some of our listeners might not know too much about the schedule of high school basketball because we know the schedule of college basketball versus nbl1east versus nblwmbl but high school can be just as intense.
01:11:20
Speaker
Yeah. Oh my goodness. Yeah. Like, so the weird thing about high school is you don't play year round. You only play like, I think the second semester of school, which would be August. So you wouldn't start until right before.
01:11:36
Speaker
Christmas, I think like November-ish is when the season starts and it's pretty cutthroat after that. You're playing two games a week, you're training every day, you train after school. Mind you, high school starts at 7.20, is like first period. And going to school in Iowa, you also have to deal with the Iowa winter. So snow, blizzards. You get used to recognizing if the snowplows are out, which means school is still on. And if they're not, then you get the day off.
01:12:04
Speaker
Yeah, it's pretty nuts. It was super fun, though. A lot of fun. We played against Caitlin Clark's school when she wasn't there. I'm not at all trying to name drop, but before it happens, we played against Dowling and those types of schools. That was the conference. We never made state or anything, but again, good group of girls, people that I still talk to every now and then. I have a good group of friends that didn't play basketball that I still talk to, but yeah, it was a good time.
01:12:30
Speaker
Wow. It's a very unique experience, especially leaving at such a young age. I mean, I guess talking about like the COE kids, they leave home from 15, 16, 17 to go to Canberra. But
01:12:43
Speaker
that's still only a quick plane ride away. So going to America to a whole different system when you're 17 by yourself can be pretty daunting. It definitely was. It's another world in the States. Sometimes it's just like what you see on TV and other times it's just nothing that you could even imagine.
01:13:01
Speaker
And then other times it feels like home. Speaking of just like TV, you then found yourself at Kirkwood Community College. So I'm going to ask the question on everyone's lips. Is it just like the show community?
01:13:17
Speaker
I had to ask, I knew that'd be it, but I had to ask. So fair, so fair, no. And you know what, that's just my experience. So Kirkwood Community College was the best two years of my life. Well really, my freshman year, incredible. But Kirkwood definitely was just like year 13 and 14. It didn't really feel like college, aside from that I had an apartment.
01:13:40
Speaker
Yeah, no, definitely, definitely not what I thought it was going to be. I thought it'd be a lot more like the movies and all that jazz, but it wasn't. It was a lot calmer. I wasn't as culture shocked as I was when I was in, when I did my year of high school. What's the, you know, the decision making process for going to JUCO? Did you have four year offers out of high school?
01:14:02
Speaker
Out of high school, I had a couple of Division II offers and a decent amount of NAIA offers. I had a Division III offer to Cone College. There was the head coach, Randi. She was one of the coolest people I'd ever met.
01:14:20
Speaker
She remembered seeing me in a couple of AAU tournaments and I remember during my visit with her, she'd fixed my shot. I used to watch the ball. After I would release it, I'd watch it. I wouldn't actually be looking at the ring and I never noticed I did that. And I was pretty...
01:14:37
Speaker
pretty like set on committing to Coe College as a Division 3 school and the coach from Kirkwood Community College had called me and asked me to read out my scholarship offer and just like read out the itemized portions of it and I hadn't read it correctly and I was about to take out some crazy loans to go to this school. So I ended up de-committing like I had called and said I wanted to come to Coe
01:15:03
Speaker
then called Kirkwood to say, I'm not coming. And he told me that and I was like, actually, can I, can I come to Kirkwood? And he was like, absolutely. Don't feel bad. This happens a lot. It's what D3 schools do. And I called Randy back and let her know what had happened. And she was super, super lovely and told me to ever call her if I wanted to come back. But that was my reasoning for, for going the JUCO route. I went to college. I mean, I moved to America to essentially get a degree without having to pay for it because they are expensive.
01:15:32
Speaker
So Kirkwood at that time was the best route to start doing that. And I guess it all worked out because you ended up at a pretty good D1 school going to UAB, which is the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a school I visited. Did you? That's cool. Yes. Last year. I mean, you talk like you talked about, you know, you said everybody but yourself and a couple of other players got high major D1 offers. But I mean, any other UAB still a pretty good landing spot.
01:16:02
Speaker
You're not wrong. I was very, very blessed to be able to go to UAB. It's a fantastic school. It's a great conference. You definitely get exposed to more culture down in the South, which is super, super great for my personal experience, given that I come from a biracial household. But when you're playing at an AAU team and everyone else is going to the likes of Notre Dame and Stanford and Creighton and Minnesota,
01:16:31
Speaker
you're going to Kirkwood. And at this time, I didn't really understand the SIG, like, you know, there are different journeys that people can take, you know, there's nothing, there's no shame in going junior college, there's no shame in going NAI, Div3, Div2, whatever it is that any individual chooses. So yeah, you're right, I did end up in a decent Division I school and met some pretty cool people, some who
01:16:55
Speaker
just finished up their professional career in Europe last year. I have no complaints at my journey aside from maybe keeping my joints where they're supposed to be. I don't think you're the first basketballer to have that complaint. No, and I won't be the last. Did you experience some significant injuries at your time in the US? I did, yeah. After my, during my freshman year of college, I dislocated my right shoulder.
01:17:22
Speaker
just before the conference tournament. Set out a couple of weeks, got a brace, ended up playing on it, had surgery at the end of the season, came back, played my sophomore season, transferred to UAB, and during pre-season, I dislocated again and ended up tearing it in a different position. Decided to redshirt.
01:17:47
Speaker
which was a really smart decision. Got to understand the difference between JUCO pace versus division one pace and the commitment level. Like I lifted with my JUCO team, but I couldn't make a time in conditioning when I got to UAB. I actually thought I wasn't cut out for it. It was crazy. And then a year later, my red shirt junior year were in practice.
01:18:14
Speaker
Same area of the court, same period, same day, a year later, I tear my shoulder again. I dislocated it for a third time. And I chose not to redshirt and chose to play on it because I was a teen, like not a teenager, but I was a young person that didn't really think about the significance of this injury.
01:18:35
Speaker
Um, and so I played a season on a shoulder that dislocated every other week to the point where it stopped bothering me. I, you know, generally when you dislocate a joint, you're out four to eight weeks. I was out like a day towards the end of my, um, bread shirt junior year, which was really, really bad. You live in hindsight is a beautiful thing. Uh, so my shoulder is now firmly in place. It cannot come out anymore with the amount of anchors that are in there, but it did, it did.
01:19:04
Speaker
really hinder what I think I could have done in college. But in the same breath, I don't think I would have become the student I was when I had basketball taken away from me. I had nothing else to do besides make sure my grades were good and I became a very good student.
01:19:20
Speaker
When you were playing on a shoulder injury like that in your sophomore year, was it more about pain management and recovery management day-to-day? Because you're a right-handed shooter, aren't you? I am, yes. And that's exactly it. It just became pain management, making sure that I was able to get through games, get through our scouting sessions and be able to get through a couple of shooting sessions a week.
01:19:45
Speaker
wow that sounds like a lot to take on because a college season is what six eight months that is correct um and now the gap in the timeline that we have mapped out in preparation for your interview today we had you at ua ua b from 2013 to 2015 and then the next point i found you was the bendigo braves in 2019 but there was a little bit of a gap there so perhaps my timeline's incorrect yeah there's a
01:20:14
Speaker
A couple things missing.
Bendigo Braves & Injury Challenges
01:20:16
Speaker
Went to Bendigo in 2017. I moved back to Australia at the end of 2016. Didn't think I was playing basketball anymore. I had a really brief, not real stint in Lithuania that lasted about two months. Shoulder issues got me sent home. And yeah, just decided to move home. Didn't really know what I was doing in the States. Came home.
01:20:38
Speaker
went out in the town for the first time in Canberra and ran into Carly Smith, whom I didn't really know. I played with, I played in the same age group as her brother, Nathan. And, you know, we were out on a Saturday night and she said, oh, I'm going to Bendigo. Like, I'm so excited. I said, oh, this is so awesome. I'm so happy for you to get out of Canberra, you know, get up and about all of that good stuff. She goes, you should come with me. They're looking for another girl. And I was like, yeah, it sounds great. It's two o'clock in the morning. And I'm thinking nothing of it. Right. Like, I don't really know this girl.
01:21:08
Speaker
whatever. Um, next minute she texts the coach at two o'clock in the morning and it was like, I found another guard and he replied and said, does she have a highlight tape? And I said, I'll send it to you in the morning thinking this is all good. We're all like, we're all a bit drunk. We'll forget about it tomorrow.
01:21:27
Speaker
8 o'clock the next morning, Carly messaged me on Facebook and said, do you have a highlight tape? And I did. So I sent it to her and the coach had a look at it and offered me a contract and I moved to Bendigo in March of 2017. So yeah, yeah, there's a bit missing. I ended up, we, that Bendigo team ended up making to the grand final. We lost to Geelong by nine. Um, that's,
01:21:54
Speaker
That was the year of Sarah Blitzoff in Sebel. That one hurt. And then the next year I was playing for Bendigo again, and it was the last year in Sebel and we won. So that team had Nadine Payne, Kelly Wilson, Gabe Richards, Ash Crytiana, Cara Tassari, now Cara Wilson. That was a good year. Yeah, we ended up winning that year and then 2019 pretty much re-signed the same team plus Rebecca Tobin as our import.
01:22:23
Speaker
and Tess Magin came in as an injury replacement when Nadine went down and then I did my Achilles that year. If it makes you feel better it didn't hurt. I um you know Molly Rice from Aubrey? Yeah we were playing Aubrey and she was standing behind me on a free throw. I broke early so violation and just face planted and immediately behind me and said Molly what is your problem? Why would you kick me?
01:22:51
Speaker
And she looked at me like, what are you talking about? And that was it. And then I just screwed myself off court thinking I caught a cramp and then couldn't walk on it after that. We looked at the film and I literally just step full and look like an idiot. And that was when I knew I did my Achilles. Wow. It's funny because I've heard a couple of people who have also done their Achilles say that it feels like someone has come and kicked them. Yeah, definitely. That's what I felt. It wasn't even, it wasn't that painful. It was just like a,
01:23:21
Speaker
You know when you catch a cramp when you try to like roll out of bed or something? It was like, oh, that was kind of sore. What's the problem, Molly? Why would you do that? He was like, I don't know what you're talking about. Get away from me. I'm so justified. I looked crazy. And rolling out of bed cramping or with an ache is just everyday life now. So yes, I can relate to that feeling. So that's the amazing story of how you found your way to Bendigo because, uh, yeah, we were going to ask how you found your way there.
01:23:47
Speaker
and remembering those successful seasons. And funny you mentioned that Tess Magin came in as an injury replacement and now she's the captain of the Opals. Right? Yeah, it's pretty neat. She's fun to play with. She's hilarious, very hard-nosed, no BS kind of gal.
01:24:08
Speaker
So yeah you mentioned that you played with some great people in Bendigo, you mentioned Nadine Payne, Kelly Wilson, also Elise Hurst I saw was part of that list and now Elise Hurst has just come back from playing in Oregon, had a first season with the Sydney Flames and is now lighting it up for Ringwood in NBA One South. But who were some of the other favourite people you got to play with in Bendigo during that time?
01:24:30
Speaker
Gosh, that's just a few. So I also played with, I think I mentioned before, Cara Tesare, who's now married, Cara Wilson, Abby Wirrung, who I played with Abby, Ash Crytiana, Becca Tobin, Courtney Ragg, Luella Tomlinson,
01:24:50
Speaker
Like we had a really, really like, gosh, I'm going to get punched. Nat Hurst, like, you know, um, it was a fun group. Like it was, it was a super, super fun group. Um, we didn't have the best season, um, on paper. However, we lost, I think eight games in like, I think we lost five games in overtime and we lost eight games in like under five points. It was insane. But.
01:25:14
Speaker
I absolutely loved playing with Kelly Wilson,
Basketball Relationships & Community
01:25:19
Speaker
who doesn't, you know, she's someone who now has her own award named after her and then goes and wins it. She's pushing 40 and looks fitter than, you know, anyone under the age of 20 at the time, like right now. She was by far one of my favorite players, the same with Nat Hurst, you know, just a wealth of knowledge and
01:25:41
Speaker
while they want to beat you and I've never met either two more people that are more competitive than them.
01:25:47
Speaker
They'll turn around and teach you how to do it at the same time, which is pretty incredible to play with and against. I mean, Nadine Payne is also a great player to play with. She's fun. She knows how to shoot. She can play defense. She's a goofball. Like all of them, I went to Cara's wedding. You know, I talked to Abby every day. Ash Kratiana is one of my best friends. I think it's, and as everyone says, once they get older in their career, it's not about the basketball. It's about the relationships that you build. And it really is true.
01:26:17
Speaker
It sounds like you're just rattling off a list of underrated WMBL players from over the years. I mean, they are. I definitely think there are some players that I have said that should have gotten more of a look in or, you know, if their circumstances were a bit different or those that did have great careers, but
01:26:34
Speaker
I mean, to me, they were my teammates. They're just really cool people that I don't ever want to lose contact with. The year we won in 2018, that was a WMBL roster. That was insane to play with. I mean, we won that year running the flex offense. How does that happen in today's game? That was Kelly and Gabe, really. And Kelly would always put you in positions to where she wanted to make the right pass.
01:26:59
Speaker
So sometimes she's running the point. Sometimes she's making you run the point so she can be the passer. Sometimes she's on the backside flip. Like it's, she was five steps ahead of everyone else. So it was just a really, really cool time to play basketball. It feels like Bendigo is just such a massive, massive part of your life. Just braves and then spirit. You're talking Bendigo spirit. I mean, it's sort of almost straddled two eras in a way.
01:27:26
Speaker
They had that era where the Harrowers were so involved and then it sort of became the new era. What was it like playing? What becomes the new era of Bendigo basketball? When you say two different eras of basketball in Bendigo, I don't think it really is based on the community piece.
01:27:43
Speaker
You'll notice there's a lot of repeat signings and people ended up staying in Bendigo long term. Like Cassidy McLean, you know, she's a Newcastle gal. And Spirit is what brought her down here but then she ended up playing for the Braves and now she's met a really great guy and she's building a house and she's made a life for herself in Bendigo.
01:28:04
Speaker
Same thing, Kelly Wilson is not a Bendigo native, neither is Gabe Richards. It's a really, really welcoming place. It's a small town, it reminds me a lot of Canberra, but the differences, the facilities there are insane. I worked and played at a stadium that had 10 courts.
01:28:23
Speaker
like when I first got there the show court hadn't been done so they had only had um seven they had seven courts and I'd played there that year the first year 2017 where they were still building the show courts and then 2018 is when they had opened you know this crazy arena where you know we have a jumbotron playing in nbl1 at the time which was I think that was that was the only conference at the time and
01:28:49
Speaker
We were hosting international sports, like the facilities themselves is what puts Bendigo above other places and kind of creates that era of basketball. Because if you really look at history, Bendigo Braves or the Lady Braves as they were coined at one stage have always been competitive. They have more championships than the men's team and they have a lot more big names that have come through and stayed. So I think it's really just the place.
01:29:14
Speaker
it's welcoming. They give you opportunities. I mean myself I got brought in to play basketball and unfortunately as a female basketball player like there's not a lot of money in it and I just was like can I have a job? What can I do? Can I run camps? Can I run papers? Can I print stuff? Can I work in reception? And you know initially they just gave me 10 hours a week to help around the office
01:29:38
Speaker
And then that increased, and then I ended up getting the receptionist job, and I worked my way up to a contract manager. So they help people there. So long-windedly, I don't think it's two different eras. I really think it's just the place. As you can see, my season that we won, we were undefeated until the first round of finals. And you've just seen that Bendigo are doing that again. So I think it's the place.
01:30:03
Speaker
And still being able to attract someone like Amy Atwell, who's been consistently in the Opal Squad. She's just gone back for another shot at the WNBA and this time I think with Phoenix. But she has signed on for the Braves one way or another last year. She was with that undefeated team last year in MBL One South and this year again, and she's a WA local. So they must be doing something right if they can keep getting Amy Atwell back there.
01:30:31
Speaker
The facilities, I'm sure that like, let's be real, I'm sure the money's good. And that's good. And they've got the record to prove that you can be a winner. And a lot of Bendigo players get signed to the WMBL, not just through the spirit, but also through Melbourne and Southside dead and all before it was called Southside. So I think it's just a really good stepping stone to continue that pathway into the WMBL.
01:30:56
Speaker
I mean, at least Hurst is
Transition to Commentary & Retirement
01:30:58
Speaker
from Bendigo. Well, she's from Mildura initially and then came to Bendigo and great, great athlete. But, you know, got that pathway, got herself overseas. She's immensely talented and is now playing in NBL on South and making a name for herself.
01:31:18
Speaker
And I think if you can make yourself the hub for country players in the same way that Central Coast and Maitland at different times have tried to do in New South Wales, it's just, it increases your pipeline of players massively. I mean, Bendigo is not the only regional center in Victoria, but if they can make themselves the one place that all the country players want to come, it's just massive growth. And it's just like an infinite loop. You know, there's just keep getting good feedback.
01:31:47
Speaker
when they go home and more players from those other smaller towns want to go to Bendigo. I couldn't agree more. There's a lot of players that come from Shepparton and Ballarat and those Swan Hill, like Tessa Lavy's from Swan Hill and Bendigo claimed her as a local as well. It's just, again, it's just a good place to be.
01:32:08
Speaker
They get good coaches, they've got great facilities, good opportunities to travel around the state. You know, they just, they do it well in Bendigo. Lessons for everyone in the East. We have three commentators here tonight because you have also been involved in a bit of commentary. How did you get into it? And is it something you'd want to get back into?
01:32:31
Speaker
So I got into commentary at Bendigo because I had done my Achilles, so I couldn't resign when Tracy York took the helm of the Bendigo spirit. Yeah, so the, I can't remember the name of the company that commentated us, but I know that I frustratingly wanted to commentate because he kept getting my name wrong. And there's nothing more that bothers me than a home commentator pronouncing their home team's names wrong.
01:33:00
Speaker
It's one thing as a commentator to pronounce people's names wrong, it's not hard to ask, but to do it as a home commentator used to really, really grind my gears. So I wanted to stay involved. I also worked for the stadium, but I actually wanted to avoid working game nights because it just made for a long day. So being able to just say, oh, sorry, I'm commentating was really, really helpful.
01:33:26
Speaker
And then I just ended up really enjoying it. You know, I played with and against a lot of the girls in WBL. So it was easy to call. It was fun. And I think I added for Bendigo. I think I just added a little bit more than what they had in the past because
01:33:44
Speaker
Andrew Coughlin, I think was his name, was a radio personality in Bendigo, still is, and is a phenomenal like football and cricket caller, but not so much basketball. So I think it just helped a little bit. The other part was, yeah, I do want to get back into commentating at some point.
01:33:59
Speaker
Because the other part is like the advantage of having players on a commentary team is obviously their expertise of understanding the game in a different way or in the pure, almost the purest way possible, I guess, because it's a lived experience. But it is also because you've played against so many people in the league. So not only do you know the players as players and who they are on a team or what jersey number they wear,
01:34:24
Speaker
you know them like what their skill set is what their weaknesses are how they work off each other their backstories where they're from so those things are so valuable when it comes to commentary and it's funny you mentioned that how local commentators can't
01:34:39
Speaker
I still mispronounce the local players names and a friend of mine messaged me a few weeks ago when Dandenong women played I think in Tasmania and they still couldn't pronounce Nadio Poch. So someone who just weeks earlier was literally in the WNBA draft, if not the same week, but has also played for Australian, is a WNBA champion, could not pronounce Poch.
01:35:07
Speaker
It's kind of crazy, isn't it? It's just how hard is it? How hard is it to just ask somebody or Google a name, watch a video clip of someone else saying it? It's really simple. It's someone's identity. Yeah, it's just really disappointing. It's really, really disappointing, especially because there are so many names.
01:35:28
Speaker
in a history of any sport that are incredibly hard to pronounce the first time, but people figure it out. But when you, you said that you want to get back into it, do you see, I mean, it's, it's obviously very hard at the moment while you're still playing NBA One East to commentate NBA One East as well. But in the meantime, are there any prospective pathways that you could, you know, dip your toes in a little bit? I'm sure, honestly, I'm sure there are. As you know, I retired and then came out of it.
01:35:57
Speaker
So I'm really just putting my all into this season to make sure I get the most out of it, um, after making myself look a little silly in backflipping. I want to spend time with my partner and my family and whatnot. So I just am very particular with my time at the moment. You came back to Canberra and played and you dropped third any game and shot over 40%. And then you retired. Tell us about that decision. Um, so I, this is my third year in Canberra. My first year I played
01:36:27
Speaker
seven games total because I ruptured ligaments in my left foot in the first training that Nat Hirst came back from after she was in the WBL. I came back and played seven games and then got a concussion that sidelined me for the rest of the season and also saw me out of work for about two months.
01:36:48
Speaker
So that was pretty rough. And then got through it, got cleared, ended up signing to play again, came back, played my first game, had my career high that game at the time, and then tore ligaments in my right foot at the training after that. So then I was out for, I think, four weeks after that.
01:37:10
Speaker
And so then my season was just continued to be riddled with more ankle injuries, which I'm predisposed to genetically. So after the season, like I'd had the past two injury-ridden seasons, I was like, I probably don't need to do this anymore. I probably need to have a break.
01:37:34
Speaker
I need to stop. I'm also, you know, pushing 30. I think I was 30. I was 30. I was 30. I got concussed before my 30th birthday. So I spent it in a dark room. Yes, I remember. And you know, Nat is a friend of mine as well. So being a friend as well as a coach, having to deal with, you know, organizations and this is a business. I was a player that was injured that was getting paid, but I wasn't actually giving them their product. I didn't want
01:38:04
Speaker
to have to be able to justify why I deserve to get paid and play and I also didn't want my friend to have to do that. I've had a great career, I've you know traveled the world, I've met great people, I was like okay maybe it's just time for me to to hang it up you know. I don't want to keep dealing with rehab, I don't want to get risk getting injured and losing losing my job for needing to take time off. So I called it and I
01:38:29
Speaker
truly believed it at the time that I was done. And for the first time in my life since playing basketball and it wasn't an injury that stopped me, that was the first time I'd taken time off of basketball.
Return to Basketball & Life Beyond
01:38:44
Speaker
So I think that was six months since I was five that I'd taken off of basketball and it was glorious.
01:38:53
Speaker
I think it gave me this false hope that my body was okay and I just needed to take time off. Like actual time off, not pretending I'm taking time off, but still getting individual workouts in and going shooting. Like I didn't touch a ball. I played like local comp and we, I think our grand final was in September and then I didn't touch a basketball until
01:39:18
Speaker
I lied. I played three on three in October and then I didn't touch basketball until Veily asked me if I wanted to play. If I wanted to come out of retirement and play. Otherwise I was done. I had gotten into the gym. I was really enjoying lifting weights with no like set plan. I wasn't lifting to get into shape and I didn't have to do conditioning. I didn't do a lick of conditioning which was lovely.
01:39:41
Speaker
So yeah, that's, I did. I think you're right. I think that six months off gave me a lot of time to refresh and miss basketball and want to do it and all of that stuff again. And then for someone like Kristen Veal, you know, someone I watched playing say, Hey, do you want to come out of retirement for you? Yes. You know, what an ego stroke. You know, my, my body is struggling still shock me. I'm what, that's what happens when you're over 30. It hurts when you sneeze.
01:40:11
Speaker
Yeah, I'm really enjoying it. This is a great, great group of people. Great coach, good coaching staff. You know, I get to play with one of my best friends, again, with whom we haven't really been able to play together because one of us has been injured. I'm not upset with the decision I made. Hindsight, again, is a beautiful thing in this situation.
01:40:32
Speaker
And you had a huge game against Illawarra recently with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. So are you starting to feel like that you might be getting your stride back after a turbulent few years with injury? Yeah, I think it's definitely that I'm a work smarter not harder player, so I'm making
01:40:51
Speaker
I think I'm making better decisions, you know, jury's out if you're my coach, sorry Billy. But yeah, no, I definitely think I, last year was one of my best seasons ever. I was really in the zone. I'd really, I thought I'd taken care of my body as best I could. I was playing good basketball. I do think it's transferred into this season in the decision making.
01:41:12
Speaker
I just, unfortunately, my body doesn't move the way it did, even last year. So, whilst I think I can still hoop and ball like that, I don't think there'll be any 30 pieces from me this year.
01:41:25
Speaker
Well that's the cruel thing though about playing in your late 20s early 30s is that you now have the smarts to be a much better player and you also have the maturity to keep yourself more composed, emotionally regulated, make better decisions, but your body then starts to give out and requires a lot more maintenance, a lot more focus on recovery, mobility, stretching.
01:41:50
Speaker
Rather than, I mean your skills always gonna be there, but you gotta stay in the gym as injury prevention rather than to be strong enough to keep up with the big girls. And now you're one of the big girls that's like, oh, my joints! My spirit is willing, but my joints are not. Oh man, it's so humbling, hey. You know?
01:42:12
Speaker
I spend more time doing rehab and injury prevention than an actual lift. And I can tell just like almost to a T if I haven't warmed up enough.
01:42:25
Speaker
compared to when I do, or if I've rolled out enough, or if I haven't slept enough, drank enough water. All of the things people, old people, when I was, you know, 16, 17, those old 30-year-olds were telling me to do, if I had done it, I don't think I would be in this position now. I wish I listened to
01:42:46
Speaker
what they were telling me. And in turn, all of the young players on my team now, I'm like, I swear to you, this is what happens when you don't listen. So stretch. Get here 20 minutes early and warm up. I promise it will make a world of difference down the stretch.
01:43:06
Speaker
the fact that I actually have to get to practice at like 6 30 for a seven o'clock start just so I can warm up before the warm up is really annoying. It just it takes up more time but um you know like you said it's it's fun playing basketball being able to think rather than do to understand why you want to do something not that your body can actually get it done and it is nice that when these little wispy athletic guards might be able to go around you
01:43:36
Speaker
But I can make smarter decisions sometimes. You know, it does make me feel good. It does make me feel good sometimes. But, you know, I am not young. I am not wispy. I am shuffling up the court right now. I got hard enough for me to get up the top step of the bleachers at Sutherland to commentate again. Don't worry about that. Yeah, I am spiritually 10 years younger than what I actually am on paper. I'm young at heart, you know?
01:44:06
Speaker
We are young biologically, okay? In life, we are still young people. Athletically, we are on our way out. So we'll finish, as we always do. Get some very interesting answers to this question. Who is Bianca Dupermaier off the court?
01:44:31
Speaker
I am an absolute homebody. I thoroughly enjoy my couch. I love watching Netflix and crime shows and I am one of those women that like to sit comfortably relaxed watching some murder thing on TV. I also really like to read. I'm a big reader, big fan of James Patterson.
01:44:57
Speaker
Again, murder mysteries, promise I'm not a psychopath. It's just interesting. But since I retired, I have been trying to find other hobbies outside of basketball. Shock everybody. I found social baseball, which is the coolest thing I've ever come across.
01:45:17
Speaker
because they put the social in social. There's a bar so you can drink while you're playing. You only have to have a pitcher first, second and third. They provide the cat, like home base is the umpire and they provide him or her.
01:45:37
Speaker
And my team's best player went to college for baseball, but he will grab his Great Northern, put it in like about a foot onto the first base path. He'll smack it into the outfield, drop his bat, pick up his beer and jog to first base.
01:45:55
Speaker
it is the best time and I was thoroughly upset that when I decided to play again that I couldn't play social baseball because it's also on a Thursday night and you know generally in this league you train Tuesday Thursdays so yeah I was just trying to find something competitive because we've always got the itch and I'm trying to learn how to cook better meals than you know pasta that fuel us the day before a game because
01:46:22
Speaker
I'm no longer 16, so I look at pasta and I gain weight. So learning how to cook a little bit better. But I'm not, I like spending time with my friends and my family, but most of all, I like spending time by myself because I'm just a homebody. I like being comfortable and I have not got a large social battery. So, you know, I need to recharge a lot longer than these little whipper snappers. Tell us about some of your recent successes in the kitchen.
01:46:52
Speaker
I recently made beef and broccoli stir-fry and I made the sauce from scratch which was really cool. A little bit too much ginger but you know we can we can fix that next time. I make a mean apple pie which is good. I think I've perfected the filling. It's like the first time I made it
01:47:14
Speaker
you cut open the pastry and it would like deflate and the filling would just like ooze out. And so you just had like apple slosh and pastry. Then the second time I put way too much cornstarch into it. So it was just like this apple pie tart thing, which was, I mean, it was good. It didn't taste bad. It was just looked really unappealing. So I think I've got that one down.
01:47:38
Speaker
I make some good enchiladas. I really want to learn how to make like the salsa verde from scratch but it's really hard to find the right peppers and all of the extra stuff to blend and I can't actually do spicy food anymore with my old belly so um yeah I'd say those those are my biggest accomplishments at the moment but
01:48:03
Speaker
I have also convinced my boyfriend to learn how to cook. So he cooks every Friday night, which is generally a pasta dish for obvious reasons. Wow, I cannot say words tonight, which is really fun. It's really fun watching him come into his own in the kitchen. And I really love sitting on the couch and not having to cook. It's lovely. Being a big reader, do you have any books that you can recommend?
01:48:26
Speaker
I'm not big on recommending books because of the particular genre I like. So my preferred genre are murder mysteries. So this James Patterson series that I've been reading since my junior year of college is the Women's Murder Club. And there's about 24 books in the series.
01:48:51
Speaker
And then someone, oh, Abby Waring recommended the Akatar series, which is like fantasy smart, which was really odd. I never thought I'd ever read it, but I really enjoyed it. So if I were to recommend, I'd say they are good books if you like a mystery because the plot twists are never what you think they're going to be. But they can also be quite graphic.
01:49:18
Speaker
So, you know, it depends. It depends on what people like to read. I do not like biographies. I cannot get through a biography to save my life. I am all fiction. So I'm just looking at my bookshop and it's just like 30 biographies. It's hard and I want to, you know, I really, really want to. I wish I could, but I just find myself not actually absorbing what I've read. So I have to reread the page multiple times and then I just give up.
01:49:46
Speaker
Actually, to be fair, most of them are autobiographies, which I... Yeah, autobiographies, yes, biographies, not so much. Your book I hated is the subtle art of not giving a fuck.
01:50:00
Speaker
I hated that book. It took me two years to read it. And the only reason I read it is because it was the book on the bedside table next to me when I did my Achilles and I didn't want to bother my mom. So I sat there and I read it and it made me so angry. I'll give the book credit in a sense that the whole time I was like, so you're telling me what I already know.
01:50:23
Speaker
to just not give a fuck about things that you shouldn't. Don't waste energy on things you shouldn't. Great, you get to be a millionaire. You got my money for me buying this book about stuff I already know. That's why it bothered me. I think it's more worrying that sometimes there's a lot of people out there that don't know that, that need
01:50:44
Speaker
But I guess, I mean, if they, they need it and they get it and they can make positive changes, then that's good. But yeah, that I've never read that book for a similar reason where I'm like, I don't think I'm going to like this or need this.
01:51:02
Speaker
Oh, sorry. We have gone like well over time, but we still have to do our All-Star five for round four for the women's competition. Are you willing to stick around while we reveal our respective All-Star fives? I mean, I'm just going to jump in and say Lizzie Tong's had 35 and 16. So, you know, missed out.
01:51:24
Speaker
I'm not sure if you're aware, but last week I was supposed to do the women's competition and I stuffed up and did the men's, but it just so happened that Lockie and I reviewed the same game of the men's competition. So then we both did men's all-star five. So to make up for it this week, we reviewed the same game in the women's competition and we're both going to do
01:51:44
Speaker
a women's all-star five. So it's going to be interesting to see if there's going to be similarities or differences like there was last week. So, Lockie, why don't you take it away and give me your all-star five for round four of the women's competition.
01:51:59
Speaker
Okay, well, it was with 14 games, it was very, very difficult to pick an All-Star Five. We think like players like Jesse May Hall, who dropped 33, Devita Dale, who had a triple double and almost had a five by five missed out. Michaela Pivik had 20, 12 and seven. Alex Delaney had 22 and 17 and missed out. The list goes on and on and on. So starting the All-Star Five this week is
01:52:28
Speaker
Violet Cappie Morrow from Bankstown who had 13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals in an 84-51 win over Inner West and then followed it up with 40 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal in a valiant effort in a 99-80 loss to Canberra. Next up is Talia Tupiah. Again, 37 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and a block in an overtime win over Hills.
01:52:59
Speaker
just dragging her team over the line. Then 26 points, five rebounds, six assists and a still in a narrow 80 to 75 loss to Newcastle. And also in that game was the third member of our All-Star Five or my All-Star Five, Nicole Munger 39 points and 15 rebounds in that 80 to 75 win over Penrith. And then of course she's here every week almost
01:53:28
Speaker
Lauren Jackson, 40 points, 12 rebounds, shot 15 of 20 from two point range in an 88-52 win over Illawarra. And finally, it is from Canberra, Lizzie Tonks, 24 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in a 100 to 78 win over Hornsby and 35 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals
01:53:55
Speaker
in a 99-80 win over Bank Sound to help her team to two wins for the weekend. That's your girl. That's your girl B Lizzie Tonks topping it off. What a massive weekend she had. She had a huge weekend. Her shooting clip alone. Insane. Insane. It's interesting you mentioned that because previously when Lockie and I were running through the results of the round,
01:54:20
Speaker
I did make mention that in the men's competition, all of those that we kind of gave a shout out to who had really great numbers also shot a really great shooting percentage. And it's the same for this All Star Five for the women. I don't know listeners if you'd be surprised or not, but my All Star Five was exactly the same as Locky's. So ours last week varied quite a bit, but this week it's exactly the same.
01:54:44
Speaker
with a very respective six position going to Jesse Mayhall, who had that 33 and five versus the Nationals. So she shot 50%, Tali Tupiah shot 53%,
01:54:57
Speaker
in the game against Hills. Tonksy had a high clip, like he said. LJ was 65% overall against the Hawks. Munger was 52% when she dropped that 39. So yeah, also in the women's competition, just shooting a very, very high clip. Really impressive stuff. I agree. I mean, I think East is really on the come up. Like obviously, everyone knows in MBL1 that South and Queensland are like the powerhouses, you know, but
01:55:26
Speaker
East is coming along and you know like it's how many how many other teams are featuring in each conference that have players that are dropping 30 plus consistently like and not just one player it's multiple like there was a 37 39 40 33 33 by a 16 year old might I have you you know like it's insane it's insane it's it's great it's great for the game of basketball and it's great for women's basketball
01:55:57
Speaker
And that more or less wraps up the episode. So thanks for sticking around, Bea, listening to our All-Star Five that ended up being the same. So that was nice and easy for us, Lockie. But it's been an absolute pleasure talking to you today, Bea, and learning a lot more about the ins and outs of your long basketball and very, sounds like a very fulfilling basketball career on and off the court. And we are looking forward to seeing how the rest of your season with the Canberra National plays out.
01:56:27
Speaker
No, thanks for having me. It's uh, it's really nice. It's really nice. I, a long time with star, big fan of your commentary. Lockie, I obviously have known you for quite some time. Um, from the college days. So yeah, no, it's nice. This is really cool. I'm really, really glad I got to do this. Also because you played for my dad at some point because like, why not make it even stranger?
01:57:01
Speaker
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