Skye Rees’ breakout game forms perfect foil for Chelsea Brook and Mackay Meteorettes

A truly dominant display from the Meteorettes’ bigs helped secure a comfortable win against Cairns as the season begins to wind down.

Chelsea Brook for Mackay Meteorettes against Ipswich Force in the NBL1 North, July 24 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

When Cayla George left Mackay to join the Opals in Tokyo, Meteorettes coach Scott McKenzie was unsure how his side would fill her role.

Jacqui Zelenka was used alongside star Chelsea Brook with great success, but a foot injury has sidelined the replacement big.

Skye Rees joined the starting group after Zelenka’s injury, and has enjoyed the more prominent role in the Meteorettes line-up.

McKenzie said the combination that Rees and Brook had formed was working well.

“Skye is a legitimate post player in this league, you don’t get to play around the world for nothing, and she’s showing us more every week,” McKenzie said.

“When we do get Cayla back it’ll only help us, but the girls are getting more confident playing without her, everyone’s clicking well right now.”

Sara Storeshaw for Mackay Meteorettes against Ipswich Force in the NBL1 North, July 24 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Rees had 21 and eight rebounds, but Brook enjoyed one of her best games of the season with 32 points and 23 rebounds.

McKenzie said Brook was turning into one of the most complete players in the league.

“The rebounding numbers are really big for her, over the last couple of weeks she’s gotten better at that,” he said.

“It was a complete performance from Chelsea, she’s coping really well without Cayla and when she does come back from the Olympics the two will be dangerous.”