American import Addison Flynn played an incredible game on Saturday night to spearhead the Lithgow Lazers’ victory over the Dubbo Rams.
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In the 105-69 win, Addison scored an incredible 56 individual points, including eight three-pointers.
His inspiration may have come from his biggest supporter sitting in the stands, his father Andre, who has been visiting his son from Atlanta, Georgia.
“It was a blessing – he was the one who put the ball in my hand,” Addison said.
It was a battle to control nerves for the first couple of minutes of the match, Addison said. He was so nervous he “messed up” his first couple of shots. Then he saw his dad in the crowd, motioning for him to calm, and it all came together.
“To have him here watching me, with my first overseas team, was a blessing. He was my coach and I was so used to seeing him helping other kids, he inspired me to work with them as well,” he said.
“He helped me to love the game – he didn’t push me into it – he gave me the chance and I fell in love with it.”
A highly respected high school basketball coach, head of the Fayette County High School’s boys’ basketball team, Mr Flynn held a coaching clinic for Lazers’ juniors on Monday, July 10.
Speaking at the coaching clinic, Mr Flynn said it was a pleasure to see his son out on the court for his team.
“To see him play – and play what they tell me was his best game yet – that was really great,” Mr Flynn said.
“Watching him, I was remembering how he has worked for it, from the time he was the size of these players right here… Watching him develop into this young man has been a pleasure.”
Mr Flynn still holds a top-10 scoring record at Transylvania University as a player for school team the Pioneers, where he was inducted into the hall of fame in 2010.
Now a high school teacher and coach, Mr Flynn said he loved to working with young men and helping them to develop their skills.
Among the speed and skill exercises, Mr Flynn also mentored the young Lazers players.
He said Lithgow had made him feel at home.
“I’ve loved the great hospitality more than anything,” he said.
“They’ve all been taking great care of me.”
He was shown around town, visited the Glow Worm Tunnels, and he and his wife planned to spend a few days as tourists in Sydney before returning to Atlanta on the weekend.