Southland Basketballers Shooting for NZ team

SBS Bank Academy Southland basketballers Laura Jackson and Maddie Tinnock will push for places in the New Zealand team for the Under 18 Women’s FIBA Asia Cup in India later this year.

The James Hargest College pair both attended the national selection camp in Auckland during the school holidays.

They’ll both be hoping to impress national coach Nat Visger when they turn out for Otago at the junior women’s nationals in Rangiora next month.

It was Laura’s first time attending one of the national camps, and despite some early nerves she enjoyed the experience.

“Just knowing that lots of those girls had been going to those camps for many years and me coming in as a newbie was a bit different, especially coming from Southland. Everyone was super nice, it was really good,” she said.

“Everything was done as a team, lots of social stuff and getting to know each other and it was good because it’s your only time to bond before the team is selected and goes away. We did waiata and every night before dinner someone would do a karakia, it was really cool having that cultural side and getting a strong understanding about what it means to trial for a New Zealand team.”

Earning a spot at the camp was the result of some hard work along with Southland Basketball Association development officer Leyton Haddleton and her James Hargest coaches Lucy Kean and Bert Tobia.

“Being from Southland it can be hard to get that exposure, but I’ve definitely been training more and putting myself out of my comfort zone.

“I’ve had a lot of help from Academy Southland to push myself, training with the guys and getting to a higher level of intensity. I haven’t been that confident, but over the past couple of years I’ve really increased that confidence and it’s helped me to back myself.”

It was Maddie’s second time at the national selection camp and she also enjoyed the step up as well as the emphasis placed on culture.

“It just brought everyone together, almost like a little family.”

Maddie was pleased with how she went in court.

“There are always things you can do better, but it was better than last year, for sure. They give out really good feedback that I can put into action for nationals and I’ll use that to my advantage.”

The pair have been travelling regularly to Dunedin to train with the Otago under 19 team, which is largely made up of first year students at Otago University, meaning the two Southlanders are not the odd ones out geographically.

The junior women’s nationals are being held in Rangiora over Queen’s Birthday weekend and the New Zealand team will be selected after that.

The Under 18 Women’s FIBA Asia Cup will be held in India from September 5 to 11.

Source: academysouthland.co.nz
Republished by arrangement.