Boomers score top WNBL Awards
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers have claimed some huge awards at the 2018/19 WNBL Awards Night yesterday in Melbourne.
Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award – Jaz Shelley
During a blistering first season of WNBL, Jaz Shelley has edged out Sydney Uni’s Maddie O’Hehir to claim the Betty Watson Rookie of the Year award.
The 18-year-old is the second Boomers player in the past three years to earn the honour and joins the likes of Lauren Jackson, Cayla George and Monique Conti as winners of the award.
Nominated by the captains and coaches at the end of the regular season, Shelley earned 34 votes – 8 votes clear of runner-up O’Hehir (26 votes).
“This season has been incredible and it’s such an honour to get this award,” said Shelley.
“It has always been a dream of mine to play WNBL, and I’ve looked up to so many players in this league, so to receive this award is just surreal.”
In her debut WNBL season, Shelley also got a taste of WNBL finals, featuring in the starting five in the Boomers home semi-final.
“It was unreal, I’ve never played in front of a crowd that big before and experiencing it alongside my teammates was just incredible,” added Shelley.
The former Basketball Moe junior was previously awarded the 2018 Junior Female Athlete of the Year, and more recently won gold with the Victoria Under-20 Women at the Australian Junior championships last weekend.
Arguably one of the brightest young stars of Australian Basketball, Shelly is set to begin a scholarship with Oregon University later this year.
All-Star Five – Lindsay Allen
Point guard Lindsay Allen has been named in the highly-regarded WNBL All-Star Five for the 2018/19 WNBL season.
The American import provided an exciting presence all season, also polling third in the league’s MVP, with 94 votes in her first WNBL season.
Allen averaged 18 points per contest (equal-fifth overall), while shooting 52% from the field, 35% from beyond the arc and 86% from the free-throw line. She also achieved 5.2 assists per game (fourth overall), along with a team-high 1.1 steals.
Allen’s best game came in an 8-point victory over the Townsville Fire, where she scored 29 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals.
The 23-year-old was also a regular member of the WNBL Team of the Week with five nominations – the equal-second most appearances this season.
She was awarded back-to-back WNBL Player of the Week’s in Round 5 and 6 to go onto claim the WNBL Player of the Month for November.
The All-Star Five is voted by coaches and captains at the end of the regular season. Kelsey Griffin (UC Capitals), Asia Taylor (Perth Lynx), Rebecca Cole (Jayco Rangers) and Nia Coffey (Adelaide Lightning) also featured in the prestigious team.
Media Awards: Best Photograph – Michelle Couling
Rounding off the Boomers 2018/19 WNBL award winners is our Official Club Photographer, Michelle Couling.
Couling received the Best Photograph award for her image of Townsville’s Suzy Batkovic being hit with force by Boomers Kalani Purcell’s drive to the basket.
Couling has once again regularly captured the best moments in the league with her impressive images. This seasons award marks the sixth time in seven years Couling has received the honour.
The Boomers would like to thank and congratulate Michelle for her continuous support and coverage.