La-Torae Nixon turned in one of Cayman basketball’s best performances of the season so far.
Nixon, 14, notched a triple-double in the Home Gas Flames’ 51-43 victory over Welly’s Cool Spot in the Cayman Islands Basketball Association 2012 national women’s league. The youth basketball prodigy had 18 points, 14 rebounds, 13 blocks and nine steals as Home Gas (1-1) took down the previously unbeaten Welly’s (2-1).
Nixon states the win was not about her, but rather team defence.
“We had to step up our defence and the defence killed them,” Nixon said. “I never take it granted to get a win. The defence stepped up and we never gave up. We wanted the victory and we worked hard for it.”
Home Gas maintained a lead throughout the game as they stifled the young Welly’s cast at the University College of the Cayman Islands multipurpose hall. Though Christina McLean (team-high 12 points, five steals) tried to will her team back, ultimately the side had too many turnovers.
With last Thursday’s victory, defending champions Home Gas are back in the thick of things. They are even with the Lady Wolves (who had a bye) and a game back of the 2-1 Lady Heels. Dominos had their most impressive victory of the season last Thursday with a 62-23 rout over the Island Heritage Silver Mist, who fall to 0-2.
Home Gas, under head coach Bruce Reynolds, will be depending on new players to support Nixon the rest of the season. Among them are Sade Wood, Gemma Graelis and Sarah Otto. Wood, 25, had the biggest showing of the bunch against Welly’s with 17 points, one block and two steals. A former national team player years ago, Wood feels the win shows that things are coming together for the Flames.
“In the first game, there was no defence,” Wood said. “There was no chemistry. We definitely had chemistry on Thursday. The defence made us win the game. The persistency was there, we never gave up. That was also not there when the Lady Heels beat us (in the season opener).
“I remember circling this game on the schedule, that we would win this game. That team is one of the fittest in the league. I’m very confident in my team.”
League matches continue on Thursday, 16 February, at the UCCI hall as Dominos face Lady Wolves at 6pm while Home Gas face Island Heritage at 7.30pm.
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