Jess Freeman in action for Victoria Country at the national championships in Ballarat in January.
Bundalong’s Jess Freeman has started her NBL1 career in style, scoring double figures in both outings for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits in Sydney on the weekend.
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Playing alongside Lauren Jackson, Freeman scored 12 points and five rebounds from 16 minutes in the round 1 victory against the Syndey Comets.
Freeman, 17, then was on fire on Sunday, hitting 22 points and taking six rebounds from just 21 minutes as the Bandits posted another win, this time against Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai.
The 178cm point-guard was second behind only Jackson’s 33 points in the second game, and just ahead of American import and former WNBA 25th draft pick Mikayla Pivec’s 18 points.
“She surprised us all, it was very exciting, we thought she’d just get a few minutes as a role player so we’re chuffed,” mum Nici Freeman said.
“As with young ones, her nerves can definitely get the better of her but she just decided to scrub it off pretty quickly and in the second half (in game one) she decided she meant business.
“And then on Sunday she felt comfortable in the team and it was obviously pretty special to be able to play alongside Lauren Jackson.”
It’s been a big summer for Freeman who was selected to represent Victoria Country at the Under 18 national championships and also joined the Bandits NBL1 East squad, which finished mid-table last year but is expected to challenge with the return of Jackson.
Nici said her daughter, who is in Year 12 at Sacred Heart College and has been an assistant coach for the state champion Under 12 Lakers, had been welcomed with open arms from the likes of Jackson, Pivec and the Bandits’ other experienced campaigners.
“They’ve been very nurturing,” she said.
The NBL1 is split into four conferences, and sits just below Australia’s NBL which is run over the summer months.
The success is great reward for the family who have travelled many kilometres with Jess involved in the Lakers, the North East Bushrangers, Wodonga Wolves and now where she is a member of the Bandits Youth League squad with sister Keira, 15.
The debut will put pressure on the Bandits to make Jess, who is still eligible for the Youth League side, a permanent member of the open-age squad this year.
“She’s proven she’s a strong competitor and hopefully going forward she can maintain her spot,” Nici said.
“She’s a fighter, she likes to hustle for the balls, she makes her mark even when’s she not all that tall.
“Playing on the bigger bodies in NBL1 will definitely be handy, it’ll change her gameplay and help her become stronger and more confident on the ball.
“Hopefully it’s a good season ahead.”
Jess Freeman in action for the Bandits youth team. Freeman debuted alongside Lauren Jackson in the open-age team on the weekend.
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