Tikesa Docherty-Cole to return for Tracy Village Jets v Razzle Storm in Darwin Basketball League

EXCLUSIVE: You wouldn’t think Tracy Village champion Tikesa Docherty-Cole would be battling nerves ahead of tonight’s Darwin Basketball Women’s League Round 3 clash against Razzle.

Tracy Village star guard Tikesa Docherty-Cole returns after 18 months on the sidelines against Razzle tonight. Picture: Patrina Malone

YOU wouldn’t think Tracy Village champion Tikesa Docherty-Cole would be battling nerves ahead of tonight’s Darwin Basketball Women’s League Round 3 clash against Razzle.

But it has been a while since she last played.

About 18 months, in fact.

A lot has happened for the inspirational Jets guard in that time.

She’s welcomed two babies into the world – Neli and Taj – to join her first-born and now under-10 Tracy Village young star, Indi.

She has also overcome an ACL knee injury which kept her out of the last DBA and NTFL seasons, where she also stars with Darwin Buffettes.

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But Docherty-Cole has hardly been idle away from her hectic family duties.

She has also taken to long-distance running and can cover over 25km, with a short-term goal to run a marathon.

Despite playing an integral role in the Jets’ phenomenal run of 13-straight titles, Docherty-Cole said she would be battling some jitters ahead of her undefeated team’s clash against the Storm tonight.

“I’m very excited but still a bit nervous. I worked it out and it’s been about 18 months since I last played,” she told the NT News.

“Not long after my second baby was born I did my knee, and just a couple of months ago I had my third baby.

“I’m adjusting to it – having three kids is a handful.”

But Docherty-Cole was back training soon after Neli was born.

With that level of commitment, don’t be surprised to see her high-octane running game lift her teammates tonight.

“I’ll try to ease my way back into it, but there’s also no chill when I play,” Docherty-Cole said with a laugh.

“So I’ll probably end up trying to run the floor for four quarters.”

Star Jets centre and recruit Jamie-Lee Peris told the NT News last week she would not take the court for another few weeks in order to get her fitness levels up.

Docherty-Cole can’t wait to play with her, and believes Peris has the ability to dominate this year’s competition.

Tracy Village’s champion guard Tikesa Docherty-Cole makes her long-awaited return to the court against Razzle tonight. Picture: Patrina Malone

She is also rapt at the younger talent coming through at the Jets.

“Jamie-Lee really can (dominate the competition),” Docherty-Cole said.

“She is an awesome pick-up for us.

“We were talking recently and I think the last time I played with her was at an Indigenous tournament when I a 16-year-old still in school.

“We’ve got some awesome juniors coming through.

“Milla Hensen, Kaylani Duggan-Cole and Jayla Thorne were all really good for us in Round 1 (a 60-56 win over Lightning).”

The Tracy Village playmaker said Razzle would provide tough opposition tonight.

“You can’t underestimate Razzle – they’ve got some height and a couple of quick guards,” Docherty-Cole said.

“Jo Guthridge is a good pick-up for them.”

Meanwhile, Lightning coach Jason Ivinson said he was delighted with his understrength team’s loss to the Jets in Round 1, before having a bye last week.

Lightning takes on Uni Rebels tonight.

“We had no bench, but defensively we were really into them (Jets). We were really good in defence,” Ivinson said, with his team set to miss its stars April Rummery-Lamb and Dom Carbone this year, while there is a question mark over premiership-winning captain Claire Maree O’Bryan due to work commitments.

“Kirra Pendlebury hit her first three shots and we feel like we had them rattled. I’m more comfortable (assessing Lightning’s title chances) now. We believe in each other.”