This time last year Cassidy McLean's basketball career came to a halt. The NSW-native ruptured her anterior crucial ligament in the first quarter of the Newcastle Hunters' opening match of the 2019 Waratah League season. The injury might have sidelined her for the best bit of 12 months, but that didn't stop her determination to succeed. "It was really hard initially as I had just come off a good season with the Spirit and was feeling good," McLean said. "But after the the injury it made me want to work even harder. "It gave me 12 months to focus on the things in my game that I wanted to improve." Prior to the injury, McLean's most recent stint on the court was with the Bendigo Spirit in the 2018-19 WNBL season. "I didn't realise how much I appreciated the game until something like that happened, it made me work even harder," she said. RELATED: Rising basketball star Cassidy McLean heading back to Bendigo During her recovery she kept her mind focused on basketball, watching all of the Hunters' games and working at the Newcastle Basketball Stadium as a coach. "Before I knew it the 12 months were up and I was back down here and ready to play," McLean. The 20-year-old has signed with the Bendigo Braves for the upcoming 2020 NBL1 South Conference season, and couldn't be more excited to return to the court. Attuned to the Bendigo basketball program, a return to central Victoria was a "no brainer". "I have played down here before. I know how good the program is and what I can get out of it," McLean said. "The best way for me to get back in the high leagues was to come down and play in the NBL1." The Braves women will be led by first-year coach Mark Alabakov, who worked with McLean two years ago while she was a development player with the WNBL Sydney Flames. "Cassidy is an athlete with a bright future," Alabakov said. "She brings value to teams as the great person she is off the court, but also as a fierce competitor on the floor. 'She is a combo guard and can play multiple positions." With NBL1 pre-season now underway, the Braves are gearing up for another strong year. The 2020 season starts on April 18, with the Braves headed to the border to take on the Mount Gambier Pioneers. Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
During her recovery she kept her mind focused on basketball, watching all of the Hunters' games and working at the Newcastle Basketball Stadium as a coach.
"Before I knew it the 12 months were up and I was back down here and ready to play," McLean.
The 20-year-old has signed with the Bendigo Braves for the upcoming 2020 NBL1 South Conference season, and couldn't be more excited to return to the court.
Attuned to the Bendigo basketball program, a return to central Victoria was a "no brainer".
"I have played down here before. I know how good the program is and what I can get out of it," McLean said.
"The best way for me to get back in the high leagues was to come down and play in the NBL1."
The Braves women will be led by first-year coach Mark Alabakov, who worked with McLean two years ago while she was a development player with the WNBL Sydney Flames.
"Cassidy is an athlete with a bright future," Alabakov said.
"She brings value to teams as the great person she is off the court, but also as a fierce competitor on the floor.
'She is a combo guard and can play multiple positions."
With NBL1 pre-season now underway, the Braves are gearing up for another strong year.
The 2020 season starts on April 18, with the Braves headed to the border to take on the Mount Gambier Pioneers.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
