Basketball ACT – U18 Australian Junior Championships Team

With an eye to the future, the following players have been selected in the 2020 ACT Under 18 Team to participate in the U18 Australian Junior Championships to be held in Ballarat, Victoria from 17 – 24 April 2020.

Emily Nguyen – Radford CollegeAbby Solway – Weston Creek Woden Dodgers
Keeley Dunbar – NorthsAlison Francis – Ginninderra Rats
Ella Rezek – Daramalan CollegeHayley Macdonald – Norths
Mia Slater – WestsRyeli Fleming – TSC
Emmersyn Clarke – Ginninderra RatsLauren Armstrong – Ginninderra Rats
  
Reserve – Laura Shortt – Daramalan CollegeReserve – Sophie Rogic – Norths
Reserve – Tilly Bean – Norths 
  
Head Coach – Phil BrownAssistant Coach – Emma Bourne
Assistant Coach – Mitchell BrownTeam Manager – Karen Lindsay

When asked about the team’s preparation for the Championships, Head Coach Phil Brown said “Our preparation for Ballarat has been going well and we have made solid progress both offensively and defensively over the past couple of months.  Now that the team has been selected, we can start to develop playing combinations and rotations whilst also establishing more specific roles for each player”.

In terms of the team’s anticipated playing style, Coach Brown has identified depth and versatility as the key to success “Although we do not have significant height in the team we do possess good depth on the perimeter and we will be playing an up-tempo style of play looking to use our quickness to press defensively and be disruptive against our opponents.  Mia Slater has made considerable progress in her development and brings length and an inside presence to the team”.   

Coach Brown feels that despite having a young team, the inclusion of several players with solid senior experience will help provide leadership to the group,  “We only have four top-age players in the selected team however Abby Solway, Emmersyn Clarke & Hayley Macdonald were all members of the 2019 Canberra Nationals Squad so that senior experience in addition to previous AJC experience at both the U16 and U18 levels will provide leadership for the younger less experienced players”.