Charlisse Leger-Walker is the youngest player to wear a New Zealand women’s basketball singlet, but on the on the evidence of her showing in the 80-49 defeat of Jamaica in Cairns today, she is destined for a long international future.
The 16 year-old guard led all scorers with 18 points and added 4 assists, a steal and a block.
The second win in three days for the New Zealanders almost certainly secures them a top two spot in the Commonwealth Games tournament and a quarter-final place in Townsville on April 10.
The victory was built on relentless defence and an improved three-point (32%) and free-throw (80%) shooting performance. Twenty turnovers were more than coach Guy Molloy would have liked, but forcing Jamaica into 32 turnovers was the product of the energetic defence he is demanding.
“We played great defence and held them to 25 points at halftime and about 40 at three-quarter time,” he said. “They are scores we can clearly beat. At the same time coming out and shooting 80 points is good.
“We turned the ball over too much and there were some wide open shots we missed, which showed there is room for improvement.”
Natalie Taylor opened the scoring with three three-pointers and five points from Jordan Hunter helped the New Zealanders forge a 17-16 first quarter lead. After that New Zealand applied the pressure and proved too slick for the Jamaicans.
Leger-Walker is clearly enjoying herself in the Games tournament.
“It was nice, I didn’t even realise at the time it was going so well. It is so much fun playing with the older girls and the style of play is so good,” she said.