THE Werribee Devils made it a milestone to remember for star-in-the-paint Lisa Troyahn.
Troyahn celebrated her 200th game in the Devils’ 64-37 roughing up of Blackburn Vikings in the Big V Basketball women’s division 2 at the Knox Basketball Stadium on Sunday.
“It’s a big milestone, so it was important for the girls to get up and have a win for her,” Devils coach Lloyd Klaman told the Weekly.
Troyahn has fast become a favourite of the players since crossing from championship outfit Hume City Broncos. Always active in the key, the Devils can just about bank on Troyahn delivering a double double on a weekly basis.
What endears her to her young teammates is a willingness to bring others into play and offer up tricks of the trade that only experienced players can teach.
Klaman describes her as his “unselfish” star. “She’s busts her butt at every training and sets the example,” he said. “She’s great with the kids, too. All the young girls on the team love her and she makes time for them.
“You can see during a game, she tries to get them involved and probably sometimes too much. She’s really unselfish and that’s fantastic for a more experienced player.”
The Devils had the game under lock and key by three-quarter-time with a 27-point lead.
Troyahn delivered a customary 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The rest of the minutes and points were shared, with Georgia Perry, Kennedy Taylor and Olivia Klaman scoring nine apiece.
All of Klaman’s points came from beyond the three-point arc. The sharp-shooting teenager has been in hot touch from long range, shooting an incredible 44 per cent on the season with 11 made from 25 attempts.
Putting that in perspective, of all the players who took to the court in the Women’s National Basketball League in 2012-13 and attempted 25 three-pointers or more, only four players had a better percentage than Klaman.
“If she hits one, she’s just as likely to hit three or four in a row,’’ her dad and coach Lloyd Klaman said. “She’ll stay on court for 45 minutes after training just shooting and shooting. She does put a lot of time into it and she’s come a long way this year.”
One player who did not trouble the scorers, but took on a mighty work-load on the defensive end was Alex Moss.
Moss reeled in eight rebounds to go with two steals, and Klaman rates that just as highly. She was unbelievable,” he said.
“She’s close to being the best defensive player every game.
‘‘She just goes in and battles every week.”
The second-placed Devils will host the Western Port Steelers at Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre on Saturday night.
