South West Slammers coach Mark Edman heaps praise on star import Mykea Gray for on and off-court brilliance

South West Slammers women’s coach Mark Edman has heaped praise on his star import Mykea Gray, saying her on-court brilliance was matched by her ability to act as a standard-setter for their culture. Recruited by the club over the off-season in the midst of a 52-game losing streak, the American point guard has been at the heart of a major uplift in their competitiveness, posting per-game averages of 20.5 points, 4.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 steals. Gray produced a masterful 28-point, eight-assist, five-steal performance which included a 12-point, six-assist final quarter to help the Slammers significantly whittle down the final margin in an eventual 98-83 road loss to the Rockingham Flames on Friday night. Edman said the importance of the off-court mentorship being provided by Gray — as well as playing assistant coach Kate Fielding and recent addition Sarah Cannell — could not be understated for the young group. “I think the rest of the team is getting value from seeing what a professional athlete comes out and does,” Edman said. “She never quits, she keeps going hard until that last siren goes off. That’s what you expect from Mykea. “She’s just a phenomenal player. She’s got a high-level skill-set for the role she does. I can’t be more complementary about her.” The side’s other import Cayla King also enjoyed a strong start to life in Slammers colours but has found the going tougher over the past three games, where she has scored only a combined 23 points on five-of-23 shooting from three-point range. Edman said opposition teams had begun to appreciate the value on the noted sharpshooter’s importance to his team’s offence and invest more energy in shutting her down. “It’s very difficult for her to get open a lot, so when she does, it’s under pressure,” he said. “From a team point of view, when that happens, it gives an opportunity for the other girls to step up. “I wouldn’t say it’s a slump, I’d say it’s more about other teams doing a very good job on her defensively.” As well as a pair of wins, five of the Slammers’ 11 losses this season have been within margins of 15 points or fewer, compared to only one for the entirety of last season. Edman said his team “have got a taste of what it is to compete now”. “One thing you’ve got to value about young athletes is they’ve got a lot of energy, they’re able to keep going and going,” he said. “From any given week ... we’ve been able to have different people step up.” Edman’s side will face the sternest of tests against undefeated ladder-leaders Cockburn Cougars at Eaton Recreation Centre on Friday night. The last-placed Slammers’ men’s side have opened their season with a run of 13 consecutive losses but will have a golden opportunity to break the streak against the Cougars, who sit only one spot above them on the ladder with one win for the season. The women’s game will start at 6.30pm before the men’s contest tips off at 8.30pm.