After a bit over two months in Ballarat, Rush guard and American import Olivia Hackmann is starting to feel more at home in her new surrounds.
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The former Southeast Missouri State University basketball player didn't get to experience much success early with the Rush, losing her first six games with her new team.
Hackmann said early on she didn't feel like the team was gelling well enough to win games.
"In the beginning we were struggling to get on the same page as each other and lacked defensive intensity," she said.
But now having won their past four games, Hackmann knows there are more wins on the horizon for the Rush.
Watch Hackman speak to the media about the season so far:
"These past few games we've picked up the intensity and have been helping each other out a lot more... we've been doing a much better job on the defensive end and that helps us flow into our offence."
Offensively the Rush have been playing at a break-neck speed which Hackmann says has caught many of their opponents by surprise.
"These past few teams we played against have really struggled with our pace... I feel like we've caught them a bit off guard."
Hackmann leads the Selkirk Rush in scoring, averaging 16.7 points-per-game, but says she has been most pleased with the way her and her teammates have been moving the ball.
"Offensively we've been doing a great job of finding the open person... we've had lots of players score in double figures which is awesome."
The Hotondo Homes Miners' American imports Marqueze Coleman and Jerry Evans Jr are similarly felling more comfortable with their team, registering another two wins and remaining on top of the NBL1 Men's ladder.
Evans Jr scored 43 points and hit seven three-pointers across the weekend. Evans spoke about the importance of his outside shot to the Miners' success.
Watch Evans Jr speak to the media after the Miners two wins at the weekend:
"It's important because at my position it stretches the defence out and gives guys like (Sam Short) and (Coleman) driving lanes to get to the basket," he said.
Coleman, who returned from injury this weekend, dominated in his role off the bench, scoring 40 points in the Miners' two wins. Evans Jr says Coleman's play is imperative to Ballarat's success.
"It seems like he hasn't missed a beat while he's been injured, his play is going to be crucial for us down the road."
The Miners and Rush will have another double-header this weekend, first facing Ringwood at home on Saturday before heading to Frankston on Sunday.