You wont hear many veterans embrace a second game in three days but Melbourne Boomers forward Cayla George is the exception.
George and the Boomers fell to their second-straight loss when they went down to Canberra Capitals 72-65 in Geelong on Friday night and they face Sydney University Flames in Sydney on Sunday.
The Boomers have paid the price for having four players in the Australian Opals side that claimed silver at the World Cup in Spain earlier this month as they only had their full side assemble just days before last weeks first round.
Cayla George in action for the Opals at the recent World Cup.Credit:AP
George, who had 13 points on Friday, said she couldnt wait to get back on court.
“Coming off two losses Im frustrated because I know we are better than this and Im excited to play again,” George said on Saturday.
Advertisement
“Im glad we have a quick turnaround, I want to play today because we will click at any moment and Id hate to be the team who comes up against us when we click.”
Canberra had a 42-25 lead at half-time but the Boomers showed their improvement by winning the third and fourth quarters, while Opals centre Ezi Magbegor had her best game for her new club with 19 points in 20 minutes.
While the Boomers learn how to play with each other, George also admitted it was a mental adjustment to begin a new WNBL season so soon after a World Cup campaign. The Boomers gave their Opals a few days to rest before re-joining the side, with George spending three days at her home base in Cairns before returning to Melbourne.
“Its been a big year with WNBA and the World Cup and not much down time so it makes it harder to learn a new way to play, new teammates and terminology so its taking its time but we are not putting too much pressure on ourselves,” George said.
“We just had the biggest high of our lives, we won a silver medal at the World Cup.
“It was the biggest high of my life in basketball, the biggest high in my life was obviously getting married to my husband.
“So to come down from that – I was super blessed [coach] Guy Molloy gave me three days at home as it did help my brain to adjust.”
Boomers Jenna OHea, Steph Talbot, Magbegor and George are all on the Opals team while Flames coach Cheryl Chambers was an Opals assistant coach and centre Alex Bunton a key contributor off the bench.
Bunton starred for the Flames on Friday, scoring 16 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in their loss to Dandenong Rangers in Dandenong.
“Bunts has come in red hot off the back of the world cup – she is balling,” George said.
“She was one of my soul sisters at the worlds so Im looking forward to having a bit of bump and grind with her in the block on Sunday but she is strong as, one of the strongest players Ive come up against as she spent basically two years in the weight room while she was injured.
“She is showing Australia and the world what she is capable of.”
The Boomers and Flames play at Brydens Stadium, Sydney on Sunday at 1pm.
Roy Ward is a Sports writer for The Age.
