MVP Burrows returns to Flames

One of Australia’s most exciting young basketballers will stay at Mike Barnett Sporting Complex in 2021, with Tayah Burrows signing again with the Rockingham Flames for the NBL1 West season.

Burrows, who is currently in Far North Queensland taking part in the 2020 WNBL season with the Perth Lynx, was a standout performer for the Flames in the West Coast Classic on her way to club MVP honours.

The 2019 SBL champion is a wily facilitator from the point but stepped her game up a level in the absence of import players in 2020 to lead the side in scoring with 19.5 points per game and feeding teammates with 4.6 assists per game, while shooting at 47.7 per cent from the field and 40.6 per cent from three.

Burrows said the decision to re-sign with the Flames was “pretty easy” and believes following her breakout 2020 season, the club remains the best place for her to develop her game before looking to take up college options in the USA at the end of 2021.

“There is no other club I would rather play for before heading off to college at the end of the year,” she said.

“Looking back on last season, I definitely took on a different role to my previous year at the Flames. I’m known as being a pass-first point guard, however last year I had to bring in more of a scorer’s mentality.

“I did find it quite challenging at times, however I felt as though I became more comfortable with this role as the season went on and it definitely helped me develop and further my game in this area. I really enjoyed last year watching the young girls step up also, and I’m keen to see what they can do this year too.”

The 19-year-old said she was also looking forward to working with new coach Tom Knowles, who has taken over the role from championship-winner Keegan Crawford, whom Burrows credits with helping improve her game over the past two seasons.

“I’m really looking forward to the 2021 season and the roster that Tom is putting together,” she said.

“I’m hoping that I’ll be able to play my point guard role and also bring in some of the things I’ve learnt from last season. I’m excited to create and play-make for my teammates as I think that’s definitely one of my strengths.

“A change of coach definitely will make things a bit different and change is something that always takes time to adjust to. Losing someone like Keegan who has been around the club and this group of girls for so long, it’s always going to take a bit of time to adjust. However saying this, I think we will be able to learn very quickly Tom’s style of play and I know he has some great knowledge on the game.

“I’d just like to say a massive thanks to Keegan and everything he has done for this group of girls and for myself personally over the last year. I don’t know what I would have done without him and I can’t thank him enough for all his help and for letting me annoy him 24/7. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without him.”

Burrows has impressed in a young Lynx side, which is 1-7 through eight rounds of the WNBL season, making the most of her time on court to continue learning her craft against some of the world’s best players, averaging 3.5 points, 2.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game so far.