JACINTA and Talisia Bourne continue to be two of the most exciting basketballers in the WA State Basketball League as the sisters now try to lead the Rockingham Flames to a championship after just missing out in last year's grand final.

Jacinta is currently 21 years of age and got her chance in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) last season for the first time with the Perth-based West Coast Waves with her all-round ability, and strong work ethic making her a standout performer in games and during training.

Talisia might be a year older than Jacinta, but in some ways in terms of basketball is the junior sibling but she continues to be a key player in the Flames' line-up in the women's State Basketball League with her pace her greatest asset. She was even awarded the title as the Fastest Point Guard.

The Bourne sisters are one of the great success stories in West Australian basketball and continue to be tremendous role models in the Indigenous community.

The siblings moved down from Kalgoorlie to Perth to attend the Clontarf Girls Academy and while Jacinta continues to do all she can in the community particularly within the West Coast Waves set up, Talisia has returned to Clontarf herself as the development officer of the Girls Academy.

Both Bourne sisters have been key players in the Rockingham Flames team again in the WA State Basketball League this season.

Rockingham made the grand final last year before losing in the championship decider to the South West Slammers, and again in 2013 the Flames are a genuine title contender finishing the regular season in second position in the standings just behind the Willetton Tigers.

Jacinta had a terrific year coming off another campaign in the WNBL with the West Coast Waves and she averaged 8.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.0 assists a game as one of the best all-round players once again in the competition.

Her sister Talisia also continues to make an impact also averaging 4.3 points and 2.7 rebounds a game as they now look to get the Flames past the Cockburn Cougars in their best-of-three quarter-final match up before the semi finals and then potentially the grand final of the SBL for 2013.

The Bourne sisters at Rockingham are also far from the only Indigenous players making an impact in the WA State Basketball League as well at present.

Also in the women's competition, Narelle Henry continues to coach the Perth Redbacks while Donnell Wallam is a key player with the defending champion South West Slammers.

Wallam an important player having averaged 6.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 steals a game during the regular season as the Slammers finished in eighth position in the standings.

Maree Ansey is also a key player in the Lakeside Lightning team that is also in the playoffs but she is creating a stir off the court as well having won an Indigenous beauty pageant in NAIDOC Week.

Indigenous male players continue to make their mark in Australia and globally with Patty Mills starring in the NBA, Nathan Jawai doing great things in Europe and Kerry Williams, Michael Cedar, Chris Cedar and Tyson Demos among the stars plying their trade in the country.

Clayton Dann was one Indigenous star who took part in the men's SBL season in 2013 and he played with the Geraldton Buccaneers where he was an important part in his team finishing the regular season in third position in the standings heading into the finals.

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Darren Speedie (Vision Inspired Photography)