«These departures during the season are never good news. Luckily, Kourtney was available. She more or less corresponded to the profile one could hope to have. In the end, we did a pretty good job of managing this situation. » Basket Landes coach Julie Barennes can now testify, losing a player like Samantha Fuehring (8.5 pts and 5.9 rebounds on average) during the exercise without expecting it is never easy.
After the American interior expressed her homesickness and the desire to leave the club at the start of the international break, “we started looking for a joker,” says the technician of the blue and white club. always difficult to find a person available at that time, who can match the needs of the team. » The Landes staff finally chose to hire Kourtney Treffers to replace her at position 4. “It's not at all the same profile as Sam,” assures the Landes technician. She has a particular way of playing. She's a very physical left-hander, a big rebounder, who has great shooting skills, who can hit, who has a lot of energy. It can provide hardness, speed, rebound. She's a warrior. And in her state of mind, she's great. It was a very important criterion. It’s a great challenge for her. »
“It can provide hardness, speed, bounce. She's a warrior.”
Discoveries
The 30-year-old Dutch international signed her contract this week, having passed medical tests on Tuesday. “My agent called me to tell me that he was in contact with a team,” reveals the neo-Landaise. Two hours later, he told me that it was Basket Landes and that the club was interested in my profile. The first thing that came to my mind was: “Wow.” I've been following Basket Landes for years, even more after Julie (Barennes) was my coach with the Dutch national team. I was happy, excited and very motivated to come. »
The former Estudiantes Madrid player was in the stands the next day, for the victory of her new team against Salamanca (59-58) and the historic qualification for the second phase. “I spoke with Caps (the nickname of Céline Dumerc, sports director of the club, Editor's note), during my journey from the airport, about the supporters, about the atmosphere they create. As soon as I set foot in the room, it was huge, she smiles. The fans' love for the team, their energy… I had never seen anything like it. It's magnificent to see. »
Kourtney Treffers participated in her first training session with her new partners this Friday.
Philippe Salvat / SO
Twelve months without a match
After watching it from the stands, the thirty-year-old will have her first Landes experience on the floor this Sunday (3:15 p.m.), against Chartres. His first match since rupturing the cruciate ligaments in his right knee in November 2023 in Spain. An experience that allowed her to grow, and now behind her: “I feel good, but it’s been a roller coaster. I've had a lot of ups and downs. What I told myself when things weren't going well was: 'Control what you can control' and 'Put one foot in front of the other'. Physically, I feel good, I am ready. » For her first, Julie Barennes expects it to be complicated for her new player, who participated in her first collective training this Friday: “It’s been a year since she last played so she will have to be a little patient. »
“My goal is to do what I have to do for the team, implement what the staff asks of me, bring my energy to the floor and help the team win,” continues the Dutchwoman soberly, passed through Italy, Poland, Belgium and Spain before settling down in France. What I want is to give everything on the floor. I don't expect to have a big performance, but I want to be very good at the basics, rebounding, back and forth, defense… If I master all that, the rest will come. » With this state of mind, she has everything to blend into the Landes collective.
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