Stattmann bounces back from illness at Cavaliers

CAIRNS hoops prodigy Kody Stattmann has produced his breakout performance with the Virginia Cavaliers just days after he was struck down by a mystery illness.

The former Cairns Marlins shooter hit three shots in his 27 minutes on the court on Monday as his team downed the seventh-ranked North Carolina, 47-56.

The Far North junior has seen increased minutes in his second season in the big-time college program, averaging just over 26 a game, and was in the starting five against NC.

He has had bigger scoring games in his short college career but Monday’s performance was arguably his best, not turning the ball over at all, while also landing a big three.

Stattmann and his school claimed the NCAA Championship last year but the Australian junior representative has been hindered by an undisclosed illness that has kept him out of the Cavaliers line-up for four games leading into the match-up against NC.

“I am still not 100 per cent, still trying to get my fitness back, because I didn’t really do much in that time. I was in bed for a lot of the time,” Stattmann revealed post-game.

“Tonight, I struggled a little bit in the first half with my fitness, but in the second half I felt a little bit better.

“Getting more comfortable with the game again is going to come.”

Stattmann finished with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting and UVA coach Tony Bennett said the Cairns junior and teammate Tomas Woldentensae were influential.

“I thought Kody and Tomas gave us a lift,” Bennett said.

The 8-1 Cavaliers next face Stony Brook on Thursday of next week.