Werribee Devils co-captain Elisha Burnette (above) is a lionheart in every sense of the word.
The 30-year-old has provided constant reminders of her courage to coach Lloyd Klaman since returning to her childhood club at the start of last season.
Burnette has played through injury, all the while playing out of her comfort zone
in positions normally reserved for the ‘bigs’. She does it for the betterment of the team, and without complaint.
The Devils qualified in fourth for the Big V women’s division 1 playoffs and are in the midst of a three-game semi-final series with the Geelong Supercats.
But Burnette faced the real prospect of her finals dream being shattered.
About a month before the end of the regular season she experienced heart troubles, leaving her short of breath on the court. Not ideal for a player who compliments a sweet shooting stroke with hard-nosed defence and reliance on getting up and down the court in quick time.
Burnette is yet to get an official diagnosis after two sets of scans, but she will not let it shatter her finals campaign until the doctor definitively tells her it is unsafe to pull on her singlet.
“I’ve been given the all clear to play and there’s nothing that is going to stop me from playing in these finals, that’s for sure.”
Burnette will continue to monitor the situation on and off the court.
Asked what she’d do if she suffered a reoccurrence of the issue, she said: “I’ll just tug on the shirt and let him [Klaman] know I need a breather.”
Klaman knows the Devils’ chances of upsetting the premiership favourite Supercats would be significantly weakened without a fit Burnette on the court.
Burnette returned to the club last season to play in her more familiar two guard role. She’s a natural shooter and a back court specialist.
But this season – because of a dearth of tall, physical players on the roster and an abundance of young up-and-coming backcourters – the under-sized Burnette has been plugged into the more physically demanding power forward spot and more than held her own.
Burnette’s rebounding numbers (6.9 per game) are comparable to Lisa Troyahn (8.1) and Jodi Impey (7.2) – two players who
make their living in the paint – while
remaining an offensive threat as a top-15 scorer in the competition.
“She’s a tough kid,” Klaman said.
“She has to play bigger than she is quite a lot.
“A lot of times we have her playing in the four spot at power forward, but she holds her weight and she’s up there with the leading rebounders on the team.
“She does all of the little things that make everybody better.”
Burnette insists her rebounding numbers would not be as strong without the likes of Troyahn and Impey boxing out to create space in the paint.
She also practices what she preaches to the younger players on the team that there is no substitute for determination.
“You need help from your teammates because if they’re not boxing out, I can’t get in there and get a rebound because I am small,” she said.
“You also need to get hungry for the ball, make sure you get it and not the opposition.
“It’s 90 per cent heart, 10 per cent talent, you’ve just got to get after it.”
It’s not a major burden for Burnette to take on the extra duties, just another challenge in a decorated basketball career.
Burnette started at the Devils aged eight and went on to captain the club on two occasions.
Wedged in between was a stint in the US college system with Northeast Community College in Nebraska.
While the ride was fun, the Truganina resident was thrilled to return to the Devils, and wants to lead them to a premiership.
“I love playing for Werribee, always have, it holds a special place in my heart,” Burnette said.
“It was always a goal to finish off my career here.”
The Devils have exceeded expectations by qualifying for the finals in their first season back in division 1.
They will face the Supercats in game two at the Geelong Arena on Saturday night at 6pm, with a third game at the same venue on Sunday if required.
Burnette is adamant the Devils are not in the finals to simply make up the numbers.
