Screen can walk away proud
IF AUSTRALIAN basketball star Jenni Screen has competed at her last Olympic Games, Harry Spencer believes she can hold her head high.
The former Toowoomba Mountaineers coach was full of praise for Screen's performance after the Opals claimed bronze with an 84-73 victory over Russia.
Screen copped a wayward elbow in Australia's disappointing semi-final loss to the United States and there was some doubt as to whether she would take the court for the bronze medal play-off.
But sporting a nasty black eye and with limited vision, the Toowoomba junior played through the discomfort to help stifle the Russian attack.
Screen's four rebounds and two points might not have been her best performance at the Games, but Spencer described it as her toughest.
"She played as hard as she's ever played," he said.
"She got some very important rebounds. She seems to sneak in and get crucial rebounds at the right time."
Screen has expressed her desire to retire from basketball after the London Games and focus on starting a family.
Spencer said the determination the 30-year-old had shown throughout her Olympic campaign had made it an admirable swansong.
"That's her second Olympic Games. I'm not sure she'll be back for the next one," he said.
"I think her coach would be very proud of what Jenni did, keeping the top scorers down throughout the tournament."
In other Olympics news, Toowoomba hockey talent Hope Munro and the Hockyeroos finished fifth overall after defeating China 2-0.
