17-YEAR-OLD Jessie-May Hall delivered an astounding two-way performance to lead her Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai Spiders past the Bankstown Bruins in Round 2 of the NBL1 East Women’s fixture over the weekend.

Hall loomed as a central figure for the Spiders this season, after storming onto the season in her debut campaign, averaging 20.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, four assists and 4.7 steals last year. Now, with an added year of development under her belt, she posted 20 points in the first round of the season, indicating she is in for another big campaign.

The Bruins started the game in ideal fashion, taking a five-point lead into the first change and getting the jump on the Spiders at The Brickpit. That lead still stood at four points at half time, before Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai flicked the switch after the main break, leading by two at three quarter time before storming home with a 22-11 final term to claim a 13-point win.

Hall was far and away the standout for the Spiders, getting it done on both ends to continue her magnificent start to the season.

Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai Spiders (75) def. Bankstown Bruins (62)

Jessie-May Hall – 29 points, five rebounds, seven assists, 10 steals

One of the more unlikely double-doubles you’ll see in basketball, Hall stuffed the stat sheet once again with one of the best performances of her short career, further demonstrating how bright her future is within the sport.

She was given responsibility on the offensive end for the Spiders, posting 32 of the team’s 89 field goal attempts in a clear display of how big her role is within the team. She was able to score across all three levels, but found the most success scoring at the rack.

So much of her and the team’s offence was generated by Hall’s ability to poke the ball free and force a turnover. Her 10 steals is a season-high figure of any player in the NBL1 East Women’s, and was a continuation of the defensive prowess she showed last season.

Whether it was cutting off a wayward pass with excellent reading of the play, or poking the ball free from a loose handle, Hall was causing havoc on the defensive end, and generated plenty of scores in transition for the Spiders, which proved to be the difference.

Hall was also crucial in the first half when the Bruins looked to get on top, proving the most reliable source of scoring for the home side and keeping Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai in the contest with some timely made baskets.

Although not her most efficient night from the field (13/32 FG), Hall’s impact on the contest cannot be denied, and there are not many better two-way players in any NBL1 competition this season, and at just 17 years of age, her best is certainly still to come.