ALEX BACK ON TOP
Skipper shows way
LADY Supercats captain Alex Duck says she’s taken it upon herself to step up following the mid-season injury to teammate Isa Brancatisano.
Duck said she was disappointed with her own form last season and hadn’t been playing to the level she knew she was capable of earlier this year.
But when Brancatisano, the Supercats’ leading scorer, suffered a season-ending achilles tendon injury against Kilsyth on July 7, Duck said she felt extra responsibility to contribute on court.
In her three games since, Duck has amassed 58 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists, and was her side’s standout in last weekend’s elimination final win.
“That’s probably got something to do with it, now that Isa’s out for the season. She was our leading scorer up until she got injured, so I guess there is that void we’ve got to fill in the way that she scored and played,” Duck said.
“Probably last season I wasn’t happy with the way I played and to start this season off I was still struggling a little bit.
“It’s nice to finally find some form. I just hope I can continue that for the next three weeks or so.”
Despite Brancatisano’s injury, Duck said her side couldn’t be travelling any better heading into a semi-final encounter with minor premiers Bendigo.
Import Chelsea Poppens has also been critical to her side’s newly discovered form, hitting 16 points in just 15 minutes on court in last weekend’s win against Diamond Valley.
“To have that coming off the bench is massive for us,” Duck said.
“It’s probably a bit different for her, being brought over here and starting off the bench, but as you can see on the weekend she did an amazing job.
“She’s playing that role really well at the moment. If she can keep doing that, that’s going to be amazing for us.
“It was one of the best games we’ve played all season, so it was really promising heading into the semi-finals.
“There was always going to be that transition phase, but I think we’re definitely playing well at the right end of the sea- son, so it’s exciting.”
Duck said there was no doubt the Supercats could inflict a straight-sets exit on Bendigo, a side that went undefeated before its shock qualifying final loss last weekend.
“We’re definitely capable of winning the game,” she said.
“Last time we lost by eight and when we played them in Bendigo we only lost by four, and at halftime in both games we’ve been up.
“We’ve definitely got the talent to beat them, it’s just a matter of stringing four quarters together.”