Posted on 29 October, 2007

After trying out for a spot on the roster back in August, Clare has worked tirelessly over the past few months and earned herself a WNBL debut on the road against Adelaide.

Papavs has been a consistent contributor for the Lady Cobras through her 84 career SEABL games.  Averaging 8.7ppg and 5.3 rpg in 2007, she was a major influence on a team that made the finals for the first time in 3 years.  Despite not progressing along the traditional development pathway, Clare has used the strength of the SEABL competition to develop her game and progress to the WNBL.

Dandenong defeated Adelaide on the road in Round 2 as Papavs made her debut, “The jump to the WNBL has been a challenging but rewarding one, when I found out I had made the roster, I went screaming around the house in excitement,” she said.

“Playing in the WNBL is something I have wanted my whole life, after watching players like Macca and Brogan on TV, I wanted to be like them…now I am playing alongside them.”

“The hardest thing about the WNBL is the mental toughness, when you are training a lot you need to have the ability to take in everything the coaches are saying.”

Dandenong Rangers Head Coach Dale Waters has been very pleased with Clare’s progress, “Clare is an excellent athlete, we had big wraps on her and she has done a great job, there were no guarantees with this process and Clare has made the most of every opportunity”

“Clare is smart, disruptive defensively, works extremely hard and brings a different element to the group, her ability to get after it at practice and her commitment to her game are qualities I commended her for”

“We have been able to develop an existing strong relationship with Kilsyth and we look forward to this healthy relationship continuing with possibly more Kilsyth juniors making the jump to the WNBL,” said Waters.

Papavs will be back for the Club Kilsyth Lady Cobras come the beginning of the SEABL season and looking to increase her output with the team. “I want to contribute more in SEABL in 2008, with what I have learnt in the WNBL, I feel I can help the Lady Cobras make another step up the ladder.”

Papavs will be keen to capitalise on the 2007-08 WNBL season and have another good SEABL season with the aim of getting back in the WNBL in 2008-09.  Check out www.dandenongrangers.com for the Rangers WNBL schedule and to catch one of their upcoming games.

For further information please visit www.kilsythbasketball.com.au or call 03 9728 1033