Recent American signing Courtney Williams has come off a shallow bench to deliver on Friday evening, ensuring Launceston Tornadoes left Canberra as 88-60 winners.
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The visitors were always in control and never trailed the youthful Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence once from the opening tip-off.
Derrick Washington’s hot charges got out to an easy 25-9 lead by quarter-time and went on to win every quarter.
“We came out and executed what we needed to today and that’s all that mattered,” the coach said.
“Like I have been saying all season, if we’re ever able to put four quarters together, we’ll be able to make some great things happen.”
Acting captain Lauren Nicholson led the team from the front with a game-high 22 points and eight assists.
Ally Wilson just fell short of completing a triple double that included 19 points.
But Washington saved special praise for the bench.
Both of them: Williams and 18-year-old Paige French.
French sent off a series of three-pointers to shoot nine.
Williams lived up to the hype in only the Texan’s second appearance for the club.
The 24-year-old put up a masterful 20 points and also pulled down eight rebounds.
“The key thing tonight was our bench,” Washington said.
“That many bench points from just two players – that’s what we’re going to need going into [Saturday’s] game.”
It was a far cry from six nights ago at Elphin Sports Centre when four combined for just 10 points.
Williams mustered five of them that night, including in the last term going down with painful involuntary spasms.
Washington backed in his countrywoman after she was unceremoniously axed midseason from Ballarat Rush.
“Our first game she had jet lag legs,” Washington said.
“She literally got off the plane the day before. For anybody, that’s tough to play.
“We knew she could contribute well when she got her legs back underneath her.
“What she did tonight was to be able to score down low, a couple of threes and later on she took some assists.
“She was able to make a huge impact and she will be good for us moving forward.”
The Tornadoes travelled with three on the bench, but were forced to play one short.
Form guard Aishah Anis was scheduled to fly for the road double, but the 16-year-old was injured on Thursday.
The club was unable to change tickets at short notice.
Another Torns teenager Sophie Ackerley will fly to Melbourne on Saturday for cover ahead of the trip to take on Sandringham.
Washington is confident that his makeshift side can do the job against the fifth-placed SEABL rival.
The Sabres had stunned the Launceston faithful in their last meeting back in April amid a 97-69 blowout.
“If we’re able to play some defence like we did tonight, we’ll play a good ball game,” Washington said.
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
