Posted on 3 August, 2017

Kilsyth great Sarah Parsons is set to join exclusive company this weekend, adding another chapter to a remarkable career. Parsons will lace her sneakers up for the 300th time in a SEABL uniform as the Lady Cobras host the Sydney Uni Flames on Saturday night, joining a select few that have reached the monumental milestone.

“It feels great to reach the 300 game mark,” Parsons said.

“I feel that if I didn’t have such an awesome team and if Sam (Head Coach Sam Woosnam) wasn’t around, I wouldn’t have achieved this milestone.”

With Woosnam at the helm, Parsons was playing arguably the best basketball of her career, with the forward’s 2015 campaign her best statistical season in seven years. A member of the Lady Cobras 2015 South Conference championship winning team, Parsons’ final game in a Kilsyth uniform ended in bitter defeat as Kilsyth fell to Dandenong in the National Championship game. Watching from the sidelines a year later, Parsons felt the same pain as her former team fell one game short of being crowned league champions, again losing to Dandenong in the national final.

With two years of heartbreak built up inside and feeling that she still had plenty left in the tank, Parsons’ decision to return in 2017 suddenly became an easy one.

“To finish second two years ago hurt, and sitting and watching last year made losing the year before hurt even more,” Parsons recalled.

“So when Sam spoke to me about returning I just knew I had to. The team have gone through it two years in a row, so I just want to win it all for them.”

“I really want to thank them for welcoming me back and being absolute legends for welcoming Parker (Parsons’ son) too. And to Sam – if it wasn’t for her I would not have returned. She is definitely one of the best coaches and people I have come across.”

Despite taking a year away from the game and giving birth to her first child, Parker, Parsons has defied the odds to not only return to top level competition, but perform at a remarkable level as well.  After dealing with a nagging calf injury early in the season, Parsons has been on a tear of late, averaging 9.0ppg, 7.7rpg and 5.3pg over her past seven outings. The highlight of that stretch was a 15 assist performance in a win over Albury-Wodonga, the highest assist total by any player – male for female – in the league this year.

What makes Parsons’ resurgence even more incredible is the talent the thirteen-year veteran has to square-off against weekly. With the SEABL Women’s competition featuring a plethora of WNBL and international talent, the quality of games continues to skyrocket. In fact, four members of the Australian Opals team that recently won silver at the FIBA Asia Cup are currently competing in the SEABL, including the Lady Cobras own Maddie Garrick and all bar one have played previously in the league – including former Cobras superstar Steph Blicavs (nee Cumming).

“I think the league is stronger now than when I first started,” Parsons said.

“I feel that now there are more quality WNBL players and imports, and in my last two seasons I have played with Steph (Blicavs) and Maddie (Garrick) who are now both in the Australian team.”

So how does she continue to play at such a high level late in her career? Those familiar with Parsons’ game would likely point to her endless intensity, physicality, fire and intensity; intangibles that have separated her from most for the duration of her career. Parsons insists that her approach remains the same, although the newest addition to her family has helped her gain new perspective and relax on game days.

“I think am more relaxed before a game now as during the day pre-baby, I would over think the game, where now Parker keeps me and my mind busy,” Parsons said.

“It also makes me so grateful to have such a supportive family and Tim (partner Tim Hailes), who has been my biggest support.”

It will be a big month ahead for Parsons, with her 300th game hopefully one of several upcoming celebrations for her and the Lady Cobras. With a chance to secure a first round home final on Saturday night, Parsons and the Lady Cobras have positioned themselves for another deep postseason run. And as the only member remaining from Kilsyth last championship winning team in 2008, Parsons is determined to bring another national title back to Kilsyth – both for her and her teammates.