ALTHOUGH many competitions were halted over the Easter break, the NBL1 West Women’s fixture rolled on, with Sami Whitcomb producing a standout performance.

After dominating out west with the Perth Lynx in the WNBL, Whitcomb remained at home for a campaign with the Willetton Tigers, whom she led to a 28-point win over the Lakeside Lightning at Willetton Basketball Stadium on Thursday night.

The Tigers came into the match with one win and one loss next to their name, eager to bounce back after a tough loss to the Cougars to close out Round 1. Lakeside had the same record under similar circumstances, making neither side a clear favourite.

Although it was shaping up as a contest that could go either way, the Tigers stormed out of the gates with a 33-10 opening term, which ended up setting the tone for the match. It was not as one-sided of a contest for the rest of the match, but the Lightning did not end up making up the difference in the final three quarters, with the home side emerging 100-72 winners.

Whitcomb was the match’s strongest performer, combining well with Alex Sharp to lead Willetton to victory. Although the latter had a say on the game as well, it was Whitcomb that caught the eye with her outstanding two-way showing.

Willetton Tigers (100) def. Lakeside Lightning (72)

Sami Whitcomb – 31 points, five rebounds, seven assists, seven steals

Whitcomb’s class came to the forefront in the win over Lakeside, showcasing her talent in a number of facets of the game.

Led by an impressive points total of 31 (which was also a game-high figure), Whitcomb’s offensive presence was felt in a big way.

She shot 11/17 from the field, including 3/5 from behind the arc, despite some constant attention from the opposition defence. The veteran import produced an array of shots from all over the half-court, making her unpredictable to guard. The 34-year-old also went a perfect 6/6 from the free throw line, capping off an impressive scoring game.

She was also able to get her teammates involved thanks to her experience in the game and ability to make well-weighted passes that avoided the defence’s grasp. She found Sharp on a number of occasions and generated plenty of offence with her decision-making.

Whitcomb was also a menace on the defensive end, hounding any Lakeside player with possession of the ball. Her ability to stay in front of the ball handler resulted in a number of steals, as did her terrific reading of opposition passes.

Despite being in the twilight of her career, Whitcomb showed that she still has the capability to take over a match.