AIS guard Stephanie Cumming shoots a jumper in front of the Dandenong bench during her return to Stud Road on Saturday night. Picture courtesy, Ian Knight Photography.By Paul Pickering
ENDEAVOUR Hills basketballer Stephanie Cumming returned to Dandenong Basketball Stadium as the enemy on Saturday night, suiting up for the Australian Institute of Sport against her former Rangers WNBL team-mates.
Cumming, who is in the second year of an AIS scholarship, scored nine points in her side’s 76-44 loss to Dandenong, before registering eight points, seven rebounds and five assists against Bulleen on Sunday.
The 18-year-old guard averaged six points per game and shot the ball at 40 per cent from beyond the arc as a rookie last year.
Her numbers have stagnated this season, but AIS coach Dean Kinsman is confident that she will improve as she adjusts to the new group.
“Last year we had a really good balance for Steph to fit into,” Kinsman said after Saturday night’s game, noting the departure of stars Cayla Francis, Marianno Tolo, Nicole Hunt and Mia Newley.
“This year she’s learning to adjust to being a target, because every time she steps on the court she’s being marked harder. So we’re trying to teach her how to handle that responsibility.”
Kinsman said Cumming’s energy on the court makes her more valuable than the statistics suggest.
“She’ll be a great fit to come back in next year with some other seniors around her, I think she’ll just pick it up again,” he said.
