Bathie signs with Australian pro team

Ryan Bathie’s last shot of his Nicholls career couldn’t have gone any other way.

The ninth all-time leading scorer in Colonels history (1,433 career points) made a name for himself behind the three-point stripe, where he drilled 261 to put his name atop the school record books in that category.

So when the final seconds of the Colonels season ticked down against the University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Basketball Tourna-ment, it was only fitting that Bathie’s last shot was a three pointer at the buzzer.

He also recently helped the Colonels complete their first 20-win season in a decade while earning All-Southland Conference First Team honors.

Following his playing career with the Colonels, the Melton, Australia native returned to his homeland as a member of the National Basketball League’s Melbourne Tigers Big V team, equivalent to the National Basketball Development League in the Unites States.

In his brief stint with the team, Bathie has averaged 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game and was officially signed to the Tigers’ active roster as a development player last week.

Bathie posted on the Tigers’ Web site that he was thrilled at the opportunity to continue his playing career.

“My first game with the Tigers’ Big V team was great. I enjoyed it and slotted straight in with all the guys,” he said. “”I am definitely happy playing with the Tigers again after finishing up at college in the USA, and it’s always a pleasure and a thrill to play under (Tiger) Coach Al Westover.”

“He is one of the best around,” he added.

Bathie headed off to Canberra, Australia this week to participate in the first Australian Boomers camp at the Australian Institute of Sport.

He is set to play for Team Australia at the University Games in July with a familiar face, former teammate and current Colonels guard/forward Anatoly Bose.

“This is an exciting accomplishment for Ryan, his family and for Nicholls basketball,” Nicholls head basketball coach J. P. Piper said. “Ryan has worked hard and deserves this opportunity.”

The Tigers season doesn’t start until Sept. 30 when they play the New Zealand Breakers at the State Netball Hockey Centre in Melbourne. The 28-game season concludes Feb. 13 against the Gold Coast Blaze.

Piper said he is confident Bathie will develop into a professional player.

“I’m sure that he will make the most of his chance and will continue to develop and improve on the professional level,” Piper said. “I wish him all the best in this new chapter of his life.”