Tracy Village Jets star Michelle Ellis says bring on Lightning in 2020 DBA Final, praises fellow post players Sam Rioli and Tania Dhu ahead of clash at Marrara

COMING from a highly respected sporting family in Alice Springs, Michelle Ellis loves a challenge. And she will certainly get that in the women’s 2020 Darwin Basketball Association Final against reigning two-time champions Lightning on Saturday night.

Tracy Village guard/post player Michelle Ellis – pictured before an Alice Springs Basketball final while at Wallabies – loves the pressure of big games and cannot wait to face two-time reigning champions Lightning in the 2020 DBA title decider on Saturday night. Picture: Phil Williams

COMING from a highly respected sporting family in Alice Springs, Michelle Ellis loves a challenge.

And she will certainly get that in the women’s 2020 Darwin Basketball Association Final against reigning two-time champions Lightning on Saturday night.

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Ellis, 29, will go up against Lightning’s star young post player April Rummery Lamb, who is US-bound next year and set to take up a scholarship at Newberry College in South Carolina, while playing at Division II level.

But Ellis has every faith in the Jets’ post combination of herself, club legend Sam Rioli and player-coach Tania Dhu, with all three also formidable shooters of the ball.

And why wouldn’t she be?

Ellis basketball siblings pictured during the 2007-08 Alice Springs Basketball season. Jaslyn Ellis, Ben Ellis, and Michelle Ellis after winning awards. Jaslyn won the Most Valuable Player in the women’s Reserves, Ben won an achievements award for refereeing and Michelle won the MVP in the under-18 competition.

The former Wallabies standout in Alice Springs finished the regular season second in average points per game (18.82) and average rebounds (12), and third in total points (320).

Rummery Lamb finished the regular season with the second-highest free throw percentage (75) and eighth-highest points (251), with both only playing 17 and 16 games respectively.

“I love a challenge – it always makes me play harder,” Ellis told the NT News.

“April is a bit taller than me and she’s definitely improved her game and aggression.”

Ellis’ combination with Rioli and Dhu led to Jets finishing the regular season undefeated with 20 wins from 20 games.

But Lightning beat them 63-49 in the major semi-final, before Tracy Village won its preliminary final 94-74 over Ansett.

That means the arch-rival sides will face off in a competition decider for the third time in a row, Lightning winning the past two after the Jets’ remarkable run of 13 consecutive title victories.

“Sam has been great since she came back to us (in Round 10). She’s a role model, a great talent and gives us great advice,” Ellis said.

“Chop (Dhu), Sam and I switch our roles and we’re happy with the way it’s been working.”

Michelle’s brother Ben is a star cricket allrounder and plays first grade for Adelaide University.

“I come from a very sporty family and we played basketball growing up, along with my older sister Jaslyn,” Ellis said.

“I’m very fortunate to have had that kind of upbringing – there was a lot of basketball we played in the backyard.

“I came to Darwin for a change of scenery and touch wood I haven’t had a major injury.

“Kylie (captain Kylie Duggan), Tania and Sam are all great leaders and I’d like to stay here at the Jets.

“We’ve been training harder since our loss to Lightning.”