Barbados have got their ten.
Queen’s College point guard Ashlee Daniel is one of four local Women’s League basketballers set to highlight a very inexperienced ten-member team that will represent Barbados at next week’s Junior Centrobasket Tournament in Mexico.
The make-up of the Under-16 squad, who leave on Monday, was announced just before yesterday’s final training session and practice game against the male counterparts at the Wildey Gymnasium.
“We will be shell-shocked, but it’s a matter of how we deal with it that will determine where we go from here,” said frank-speaking head coach Cosmo Edwards of the team’s chances in Mexico City.
“And we can’t look at it and say that this level is too high for us to be going to a tournament like this because there always has to be a first time you reach any level.
“However, I think we did as much as we could’ve possibly done in this time, and being afforded the luxury of the [National] Sports Council camp really helped us a lot with our preparations, even though there were still limitations with the weather,” he added.
Expectations aren’t very high for the Bajan lasses, with each of the ten players set to make their national debut as Barbados haven’t sent a team to contest a junior competition since the Under-19 boys’ ill-fated tour of Trinidad seven years ago.
But the squad will be leaning on the skills of Daniel and fellow schoolgirl teammates Melissa Goodman, Tatyana Waldron and Renee Burke, who all have experience of playing in the domestic Women’s League for the Combined Schools Hoopsters under Edwards.
“I know a lot rests with me, and I will have a lot of responsibility because we might not be fully ready for this level but I think everything will be good,” reasoned the 15-year-old Daniel.
“Coach will expect me to carry a lot of the load and do certain things that he can’t expect of some of the others, but it will be challenging because I can’t exactly go out there and hog the ball as I still have to pass it around.”
Along with making their debut tour, the girls will also be up against it while facing regional powerhouses Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands and Guatemala in Group A for the August 15 to 19 tournament.
However, as much as Edwards expects this competition to be an eye-opening experience for his debutantes, the seasoned girls’ coach believes the tour is necessary for the development of the local league.
“If there is nothing happening at the junior level, then there is nothing to build on for the future,” explained Edwards during the practice match.
“We can talk about not going to junior tournaments because the level is too high, but then that means the first time you’re experiencing a different level is at senior tournaments. And that’s not the time to be getting shell-shocked.”