Mikaela Dombkins is a triple threat.
She can shoot the lights out from anywhere
on the court, she can leave defenders choking on the dust off her rip drive,
and she will have them chasing their tails with her passing game.
Dombkins has been the standout for many of
the teams she has played on. She represented NSW Country at the Australian
Junior Championships in the U16, U18 and U20 age groups. She was awarded a
scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport in 2003, and was a member of
the AIS WNBL team. On 19 November 2005, she hit 5 treys in a WNBL game, which
remains the second most three-pointers in AIS history.
She was selected for the Australian Gems
squad to compete at the Junior World Championships in 2005, and was a member of
the Australian Sapphires, winning silver at the Youth World Championships in
2007.
She played for Maitland and Manly Warringah
in the Waratah Championship League. In 2006 she was awarded the Waratah Most
Valuable Player, named to the All-Star 5, as well as the leading point scorer
and steals leader, averaging 26.2 points and 3.3 steals per game, in addition
to 10.9 rebounds (third overall) and 3.9 assists. She scored a massive 41
points in a game against Parramatta during that season. In 2007 she was fifth
in points scoring, averaging 19.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per
game, in 2008 she was third in points scoring, averaging 21.4 points, 8.2
rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, and in 2011 she was second in points scoring,
averaging 21.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
She was equally outstanding for Sandringham
and Frankston in the South East Australian Basketball League, winning Game MVP
and Player of the Week and Player of the Month awards, and leading her teams in
scoring in 2009 and 2010.
She signed with the Sydney Uni Flames after
graduating from the AIS, and had an outstanding season in 2009-10, averaging
11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds for the season. She stepped up her performance
further when Sydney made the finals, averaging 13 points and 9.5 rebounds in
the postseason. She was named the Southern Design Impact Player award, and
deservedly so.
You really can’t say enough about Dombkins
as a player. She has incredible anticipation on defense, that court vision and
decision-making you just can’t teach, and plays every game with heart and
determination. She’s positively bursting with talent, but her success has grown
from her willingness to work as hard to get on the court as she does once she’s
there.
In 2010 she suffered a back injury that
threatened an end to her bright career, forcing her to miss the entire 2010-11 season.
She recovered from her injury and most admirably, worked her way back to
stellar form. She’s currently shining at Canberra, who was lucky enough to sign
her for the season.
Besides her long list of accomplishments in
basketball, she keeps herself busy with her successful career as a fashion
model and designer, as well as holding the office of the CFO of NPIRE
Australia.
And in between games, training, fashion
shows and photo shoots, Dombkins still finds the time to save lives at the
RSPCA.
On second thought, Mikaela Dombkins is much
more than a triple threat.