Tara Murray
Top level basketball is coming to Keilor with the Southside Flyers hosting the Bendigo Spirit in a Women’s National Basketball League practice match.
Among those to be in the thick of the action on October 19 are three faces familiar to the Keilor Thunder faithful.
Thunder women’s coach Kristi Harrower is coaching the Flyers this season, while Thunder stars Maddy Rocci and Tera Reed are part of the Flyers squad.
Rocci, who grew up in Werribee, said it was nice to see some WNBL action in the western suburbs.
“It’s pretty special to go back and play at Keilor,” she said. “We had one of the best seasons and to go back there around the people, that means a lot to bring WNBL there.
“I remember a [WNBL warm up] game at Keilor two seasons ago, but the WNBL generally doesn’t go to the western side.
“It’s special to be able to get it over there.”
Rocci said there were a lot of young supporters that had gotten behind the Thunder side that would be able to see some of Australia’s best players on their local courts.
She said they want to inspire the next generation coming through.”
Rocci, who was part of the Flyers championship side last season, said it was exciting to be coached by Harrower again, this time in the WNBL.
She said Harrower had given her a lot of support.
“She’s had such an impact on my career,” she said. “I’m learning off the greatest Australian point guard.
“I learned a lot the first six months and I’m excited about what the WNBL season with Kristi as coach holds.”
Rocci said she’s looking forward to getting out and playing her style of basketball this season.
While the Flyers won the championship, Rocci admits she had her struggles last season.
“People don’t see the struggles behind doors and that was mentality for me,” she said.
“I’m going to go out there and play. I know I have Kristi in my corner and I’ll look to play my style of basketball I can and put my best foot forward.”
Tera Reed shared Rocci’s thoughts on being able to play in front of the Thunder crowd.
The New Zealand star joined the Thunder this year.
“Also coming over with Kristi, it’s awesome just to still have the club involved going into the WNBL season,” she said.
“I think it’s important considering we were the women’s team for Keilor and we were successful and made the playoffs.
“A lot of us do this job to inspire the younger generation and saw a lot of young girls coming to our training or working out with us as individuals which was really cool.
“We are the only Melbourne team, hopefully we’re expecting a big crowd. A lot of our supporters that were there for us in the NBL1 season will hopefully be there for us in the WNBL season.”
Reed said she enjoyed her first season with the Thunder both on the court and in the community engagement side of things.
It will be her first season at the Flyers, having been part of the Melbourne Boomers last season.
She said having Harrower as a coach again was just amazing and said it was one of the big things in her signing with the Flyers.
