Welcome to another season of high-performance girls basketball in Yellowknife. One which everyone involved hopes will be different than the last one.
The Eagles program is getting its ducks in a row for the 2021-22 season and that means hosting tryouts for the three teams under the programSA国际影视传媒檚 banner: U19, U15 and U13. The U19 and U15 tryouts are all over while the U13 division is having its final look-see on Wednesday evening at William McDonald Gymnasium at 6 p.m.
The U19 division finished things up at St. PatSA国际影视传媒檚 Gymnasium on Saturday with coaches head coach Aaron Wells and assistants Scott Green, Kyla Lesage and Sierra Nesbitt having the task of figuring out who will be wearing the colours.
Wells said Saturday was merely finalizing the last few spots.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a good week (of tryouts),SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of good talent coming up from the younger programs SA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 good to see SA国际影视传媒攁nd weSA国际影视传媒檙e finally looking forward to getting things started after the worst of Covid-19.SA国际影视传媒�
One thing the girls had over the course of the tryouts, said Wells, was rust but something else he saw was hunger.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou can tell they missed being out there,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檝e been working hard, really enjoying being back in the gym and I think that outweighs the rust. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 nice to see the energy and the competition was great. DidnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter if it was one-on-one drills or five-on-five SA国际影视传媒� theySA国际影视传媒檝e been competing hard and talking and itSA国际影视传媒檚 been fun to watch.SA国际影视传媒�
The U13 division will have an idea of what it will look like following proceedings on Wednesday.
Tina Locke-Setter, one of the assistant coaches alongside head coach Richelle Castillo, said around a dozen players came out to the first tryout and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 always room for more.
SA国际影视传媒淲e would love to talk to people who want to reach out that are interested in giving this a go,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
U13 is the youngest division in the program and while there is a competitive aspect to it, Locke-Setter said it serves as more of an introduction to the Eagles.
SA国际影视传媒淪ome of the players have gone through the grassroots (GO Ball, Steve Nash Youth Hoops) but we have some who are playing for the very first time,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e cover the fundamentals and we mix in some strategy and philosophies so theySA国际影视传媒檙e able to progress through.SA国际影视传媒�
Being that itSA国际影视传媒檚 a girls-only program also brings a level of comfort for the players, she added.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou may get girls who donSA国际影视传媒檛 know each other but weSA国际影视传媒檙e one big family,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e want them to know that there are people who will support them and help them through the process.SA国际影视传媒�
The U19 program will be playing in the Yk Basketball AssociationSA国际影视传媒檚 womenSA国际影视传媒檚 league, which is scheduled to get up and running in January, but one of the big things the program wants to do is have some sort of travel this season.
Wells said his team is champing at the bit to fly somewhere.
SA国际影视传媒淚f we can (travel), weSA国际影视传媒檙e going, no doubtSA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚f we can get to a tournament next month, weSA国际影视传媒檙e there. Hopefully, weSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to get some fundraising in but ISA国际影视传媒檓 hoping weSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to get in three or four tournaments before the end of May to make up for the better part of the last two years. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e always asking when weSA国际影视传媒檙e going.SA国际影视传媒�
The situation is a bit trickier for the U13 group as there are players who canSA国际影视传媒檛 yet be vaccinated due to being under the age of 12.
Locke-Setter said thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not a big issue because Basketball NWT has taken care of all the return-to-play paperwork but there are limitations.
SA国际影视传媒淩ight now, we canSA国际影视传媒檛 have more than 25 in the gym due to restrictions from the (chief public health officer),SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 impacted us and if the situation improves, ISA国际影视传媒檇 like to see the girls head to at least one tournament. The U13 division has usually gone to one or two tournaments each year and weSA国际影视传媒檇 like to get them to at least one so they can get some game experience against other players they wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 see all the time.SA国际影视传媒�
