Tornadoes add depth with local talent

The Launceston Tornadoes have announced the return of local player Mariah Payne for the 2021 NBL1 South season. Payne was a junior development player with the Tornadoes from 2013-2015 before leaving to play college basketball.

Payne, 24, was born in Burnie, Tasmania and moved to the US to play for the Minot State University Beavers between 2016 and 2020.  She started all 26 games in her final season as a Beaver leading her team in scoring with an average of 17.7 points per game on 41 percent field goal shooting. She also shot 38 percent from behind the three-point line and snared 113 total rebounds with an average of 4.3 rebounds per game. She was named in the 2019-20 NSIC All Conference Team as a guard.

Tornadoes coach Sarah Veale said on the announcement: “We are exceptionally happy to announce that Mariah Payne has returned from College in US and has signed on with us for 2021.

“Mariah has spent the last four years in the US and her growth as a player is outstanding. Mariah is a dominant aggressive guard and brings a high IQ, toughness, and leadership along with a team first approach. I am really proud of the growth that we see in Mariah on and off the court, she has developed into an outstanding teammate.

“Mariah is a great example of a young inexperienced local Tasmanian athlete who started to train with the Torns prior to college and then after four years of hard work returns into a starting position with the team. I am really excited to coach Mariah and look forward to working with her as part of our Torns team.”

Payne returned to Tasmania in 2020 and was ready to suit up for the Tornadoes last season until COVID struck.

“I am very excited to be back in Tasmania and playing for the Tornadoes again,” Payne said.

“I enjoyed my three seasons when I was a part of the program before I went away to college, and I have the same expectations this season. My role is very different to what it was the last time I wore a Torns uniform. 

“From 2013-2015 I was more a development player which allowed me to experience the game at a higher level. I learnt a lot about the game by playing along-side some talented players and mentors.

“Now that I have returned from the US College system, I believe part of my role in the team will be to share some knowledge and be a leader to the younger girls. 

“We are a very young team but I have high expectations for us a there is a lot of talent throughout the team with the future of the Launceston Tornadoes program looking very promising.”

Payne played for Burnie in the Tasmanian State League in 2020 and led the team to the semi-finals.  She averaged 29 points and was selected in the All-Star Five for the competition.

She will also play for Burnie in the NWBU 2021 season and is supporting her club by coaching the U22 ladies’ team this season.

The Tornadoes continue to speak with other potential players to join the team this season and expect to make further announcements soon.

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