PARIS, FRANCE - With 3:08 remaining in the third quarter and the Opals leading 62-39, Jade Melbourne jogged to the bench to a nice ovation from the crowd.
The 21-year-old had tallied 16 points and five assists by that stage, with her fingerprints all over the Olympic quarterfinal. Melbourne took the open seat on the bench, which fittingly fell next to Lauren Jackson.
As Melbourne was in the midst of her first major tournament takeover, the legendary Jackson, in her fifth Olympics, watched on.
"I was on the bench, we've got a lead, you're thinking a whole lot of things. At the end of the day I was thinking, I'm at an Olympic games, this is sick," Melbourne recalled with a big smile.
If there is anyone qualified to discuss the emotions of a dominant Olympic display, it's Jackson, with her first Olympic appearance in 2000 coming 23 months before Melbourne was born.
"Jadeo, it was her coming of age game tonight. She handled the physicality, she got stuck into everyone. She even had a crack at someone, I was so proud of her," Jackson said as she moved her hands to her heart.
"She was incredible. It's fun to watch this new generation of Opal get out there and give it a fair crack."
When describing the playing style of Melbourne, 'giving it a crack' is both underselling her vast skillset at the point guard position, while also a tip of the hat to her will and desire to hunt down every loose ball, shot and confrontation with little regard for her safety.
If there were a box score column for the number of times a players' body hits the floor, Melbourne's would have reached double digits against Serbia.
"I'm glad it was an 11 o'clock game so now I can go to bed at like three," Melbourne joked.
"Our physios do a great job, but I think that's just the way I play. I'm not willing to change it yet while I'm young and robust. I'm willing to dive on loose balls, try and make unrealistic layups, but that's kind of my game, that's what brings energy for teammates. Whatever I have to do for us to win, I'm happy to do it."
Melbourne did it all on Wednesday morning, finishing the game with 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals in just over 33 minutes of court time. Though, it was her first half where she unloaded the full offensive arsenal.
Righty and lefty layups, a pull up three, a step back jumper, a perfectly executed two-on-one give and go in transition, she did it all as the Opals put the hammer down.
"She's young, this is a big moment, it's not easy. To be a starting point guard in a team with high expectations," head coach Sandy Brondello said.
"She struggled a little bit early with the turnovers, but I think with the more experiences she gets, she's 21, she's going to keep getting better and better."
Through the first three games of the games, Melbourne totalled 17 points and eight turnovers, one of many Opals who at times battled ball security while working their way into the tournament on short preparation.
"I think she was punching herself a few times those first few games and for me, I just told her we believe in you, you're fine, you're going to be good," Brondello continued.
"As long as people around you are telling you they believe in you, that helps a young player. We need to uplift. What a game. That's pretty impressive wasn't it?"
Fearless is a word that comes to mind, as Melbourne continually asked questions of opposition defenders. With every right to feel hesitation on the biggest of stages, she appears to embrace the idea of possible failure, knowing the reward for execution can propel the Opals offence to another level.
"It's a combination of who she is as a person and then just the situation. The point guard spot is open for the taking and she's just grabbed it with two hands and ran off with it," Alanna Smith said.
"She's just a happy go lucky kid that loves basketball and loves to compete and not much shakes her. That's all you need in a teammate, it's such good energy to be around. I've loved playing with her."
Of course, to play at the point guard position, you naturally need a little basketball savviness in your toolkit. Team captain, Tess Madgen was quick to throw a barb while praising her toughness.
"She loves it. She got called for a flop warning which is funny," Madgen said with a laugh.
"She's quick and teams try and bully her around, but she did a great job of standing up to it tonight."
Melbourne's thoughts on the flop warning?
"No comment," she paused to think through her next words.
"It's a rough game, I probably put a little sauce on that one....no further comment."
She walked back to the locker room on that note with a big smile.
With Melbourne's first statement performance in a do or die international game in the books, Jackson signed off from her media responsibilities with perhaps the most poignant takeaway from the Australian win.
"We're in good hands," Jackson said.