Damabila coach Leeann Ramsamy: They did all I asked of them in the Indigenous Community Basketball League final against Gakkinga, even when I had to coach them over the phone
COACHING her Damabila team by phone did not dampen Leeann Mick-Ramsamy’s enthusiasm during the boys’ Indigenous Community Basketball League final at Marrara.In fact, it worked a treat.
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COACHING her Damabila team by phone did not dampen Leeann Mick-Ramsamy’s enthusiasm during the boys’ Indigenous Community Basketball League final at Marrara.
And it worked a treat, with Damabila going on to beat Gakkinga 38-33 in the tournament decider. Mick-Ramsamy spoke to the NT News late Saturday afternoon about how much she was looking forward to being courtside for the final the next day. But just a few hours later she received a text message from the NT Government saying she must isolate at home for 24 hours.
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That was because she arrived back in Darwin from Brisbane that week, where there had been COVID-19 outbreaks in the Queensland capital.
“My reaction at first was ‘I’m going to miss the boys’ final – this is not happening’,” Mick-Ramsamy told the NT News.
“But I coached the players over video via phone and I loved it.
“This was done with the assistance of my two sons Jason and Royce. The two worked together which allowed me to video in and talk with the team during timeouts, quarter-time and subs.
“I was telling the boys who would come on and off at the quarter breaks.
“They also did their ‘Damabila on three’ cheer and got me involved for that.”
Mick-Ramsamy has since watched the full-game replay via Glory League.
And she could not contain her delight at the way her young troops executed their game plans under the pressure of a final.
“The boys did everything they trained for,” Mick-Ramsamy said.
“Addyson Lowe is a great rebounder, and he got some great offensive rebounds and then put up good shots straight away.
“Some of Brian’s (her son Brian Ramsamy) and Eddie Gunderson’s three-point shots weren’t going in, and they’re both really good three-point shooters. So when that happened they adapted really well and started driving to the basket.
“Harrison Case and Ethan Bush held good screens, drove down the centre of the court well, created space and got baskets.
“Jack Jones is one of our smaller players but he shot so well. And that was because when we’d do one-minute shooting drills at training he knew exactly where his sweet spots would be on the court.
“For me it was just amazing to watch it all come together on the day.”
Watching her boys win a tournament backed by Indigenous NBA superstar Patty Mills was something Mick-Ramsamy was still coming to terms with.
Her pride in the tournament is related to her relationship with the Shadows Indigenous Basketball Club who Leeann played for in Canberra, which was established by Pattys’ parents Benny and Yvonne Mills. The Shadows Indigenous Basketball Club was also Pattys first introduction to basketball.
“They’re the champions of the inaugural Patty Mills Indigenous Community Basketball League tournament, and that’s something they can always be proud of and remembered for,” she said.
“All of them scored in the final as well, which showed how well they combined as a team.”
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