Kristy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge having played for so long and she is a massive asset to our up and coming younger Rush players and one that our junior Rush players can look up to.
- Rush coach David Flint
Ballarat Rush has re-signed experienced campaigner Kristy Rinaldi for the 2017 South East Basketball League season.
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Rinaldi, who has played 255 games for the Rush, will take to the court for a 12th season with the club and has full faith the side can improve upon its performance of last season and climb up the ladder.
“We had a great year in 2016 despite missing finals and I think if we can keep the majority of the group together then 2017 will be ever better," Rinaldi said.
Rinaldi's value to the team was on full display in the side’s round 5 clash against Brisbane where she converted 13 points along with nine rebounds and two assists on the way to a 26-point victory over the eventual finalist.
Rush coach David Flint said the experience Rinaldi brings to not only the court on match day but around the squad at training was extremely valuable.
Flint identified the importance of having players of Rinaldi’s calibre among the side and in particular the younger members of Ballarat Rush.
“I was hopeful that Kristy would go round again and after some discussions it didn’t take much to get her to re-sign for another year,” Flint said.
“Kristy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge having played for so long and she is a massive asset to our up and coming younger Rush players and one that our junior Rush players can look up to.”
Rinaldi is the club's longest serving lady and sits fourth on the overall table.
Following her signing she is expected to overtake Braith Cox (257 games) and Eric Cook (262) and jump to second on the overall leader board. But she still has a long way to go to be in the same vicinity as current Ballarat Miners coach Eric Hayes on 487.
Rinaldi played 20 matches last season, averaging a touch over 10 points a match along with 6.5 rebounds per game.