J-Mac Is Back
Tagged in: Kiwis Abroad, Tall Ferns
Beijing Olympian Jess McCormack has returned to basketball and marked her Australian WNBL debut by helping champions Canberra Capitals win both legs of a tough road trip.
McCormack, who turned her back on a scholarship at US college powerhouse Connecticut and switched to netball earlier this year, joined the Caps this week as cover for injured Aussie international Abby Bishop.
The 1.95m Kiwi centre logged 11 scoreless minutes and grabbed three rebounds as the Caps overcame Sydney University Flames 74-72 on Friday. Then, on Sunday, she was again scoreless in 13 minutes as they ended Adelaide Lightning’s winning start to the season, prevailing 100-73.
Canberra, guided by Opals and former Tall Fern coach Carrie Graf, have struggled for height early in the season, but improved to 4-2 with McCormack’s addition.
Despite the loss, Ferns point guard Angela Marino maintained her good form, leading Adelaide with 23 points (8/16 FG, 4/8 3pt, 3/3 FT) in 34 minutes, while Kiwi team-mate Lisa Wallbutton had 11 points (5/9 FG, 1/2 FT), eight rebounds, a block and a steal in 24 minutes.
The Lightning had earlier accounted for Australian Institute of Sport 77-52 with Marino again leading the scoring (20 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals) and Wallbutton chiming in with seven points, seven rebounds (five OR), an assist and a steal.
Former Tall Ferns captain Aneka Davis continued her scintillating start to the season with another double double – her third in as many games – to lead Townsville Fire to a 97-81 win over Perth Lynx.
Davis (nee Kerr) had 20 points (8/14 FG, 4/5 FT), 10 rebounds and a steal as the Fire remained unbeaten with their third win.
Kiwis Lisa Pardon and Toni Edmondson were on either side of the Melbourne derby, as Pardon’s Bulleen Boomers prevailed 80-67 over Dandenong Rangers.
Pardon clocked 15 minutes and converted a trey for her only points, adding three rebounds.
Edmondson had nine points (3/5 FG, 2/3 3pt, 1/1 FT), two rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes. The result saw Bulleen remain unbeaten (5-0), but Dandenong later recorded their first win of the season (1-4) with an 88-72 result over Bendigo Spirit.
Edmondson had just three points (1/1 3pt) and two rebounds in six minutes.
Both Natalie Purcell and Suzie Bates had quiet nights for Logan Power as they defeated Perth 76-65 at home. The Kiwis combined for three points, six rebounds and four assists.
In the Australian men’s league, Kiwi veterans Phill Jones experienced a disastrous weekend with the Cairns Taipans, defeated 63-80 on the road by Gold Coast Blaze on Friday night and then slumping 89-106 at home to Adelaide 36ers on Saturday.
Jones had 11 points (3/9 FG, 2/5 3pt, 3/4 FT), three rebounds and an assist in 28 minutes against Gold Coast, then 10 points (4/9 FG, 2/4 3pt), three rebounds and two assists before fouling out after 24 minutes against Adelaide.
The Snakes are 3-4 for the season.
The Blaze, featuring Tall Blacks Mika Vukona and Pero Cameron, improved their record to 3-4 with that victory over Cairns, although the Kiwis combined for just four points, six rebounds and three assists.
In Europe, Tall Black BJ Anthony had a tough time finding the basket for Herzoege Wolfenbuettel in their 80-115 loss to Nuernberger, accumulating 16 points (6/19 FG, 4/6 FT), five rebounds, three steals and a block. Wolfenbuettel are 0-5 in the German Pro B championship.
Defending champions Kalev/Cramo, guided by Tall Black coach Nenad Vucinic, dropped their opening game of the Estonia MKL, losing 68-85 on the road to TU/Rock.
Kalev struggled to convert around the basket (45% 2pt), wasn’t helped by an 11/23 return from the free throw line and committed twice as many turnovers (14-6) as their rivals.
Former Tall Black Brendon Polyblank and his Fribourg outfit remained unbeaten (4-0) with an 87-83 win over Monthey. Last week, Polyblank starred in a 98-67 romp over Lausanne, contributing 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
In Italy, Tall Fern Jillian Harmon had eight points (4/7 FG), three rebounds and an assist in 18 minutes as Comense fell 51-68 to Umana Reyer in the A1 women’s league.
