Great day of Girls basketball in Portsmouth's Mountbatten Leisure Centre
Our Girls do us proud in Portsmouth
09 June, 2019
Coach Costas with his (primarily) U13 girls (L to R: Nina, Jessica, Nora, Darcie, Emma, Maya, Freya and Izzy)
On a lovely sunny day, off we went to Portsmouth in our minibus to take part in a four-team all-girls tournament. For one reason or another, we only had six players for the first game and seven for the second and third games. That did not stop our brave girls putting on a splendid show and finishing second losing only to the Kestrels who fielded a number of strong national league players.
Maya was chosen by all the other teams as the tournament's MVP
Nora was our mastermind and top scorer with 32 points over three games
With Nora as the Field Marshall, our Girls forged ahead to win their first game vs Portsmouth 35-10 despite a very nervous start by both teams.
Buoyed by the first result and Freya's arrival, our young Blackhawks took the second game by storm beating the Winchester Royals 42-6. In a game where all our players scored, Maya produced a career best, finishing just about every assist from Nora to score 15 points.
Nora crashes through the Royals' defence to score another basket
No way through for the Kestrels on this occasion
Our last game against the Solent Kestrels was a different proposition. Both teams had won their first two games handsomely and it all came down to this. The winner would win the tournament.
The Kestrels fielded at least four national league players who tore into our smaller players and at times scored at will. Full credit though to our brave girls who defended with spirit and determination and gave the more experienced and older Kestrels something to think about at the other end. Final score 17-30.
Without a doubt, the players who broke through their performance ceilings and chalked up career bests were Maya and Nina scoring 23 points each.
It was also an event for Jessica who scored her first ever basket in an official game.
Emma scored 6 points, Darcie and young Freya scored 4 points each.
Nina sinks another mid-range shot
Coach Costas was pinching himself all the way through and could not be more proud of this great bunch of girls who put in such great performances and gained valuable experience.
Special thanks to Freya and mum Rachel who rushed out of a netball tournament in Woking to travel all the way south to help the team. The very definition of a committed team player!
South Coast Girls Tourney
Day: Sunday
Date: 9 June 2019
Times: 11:00 - 15:30
Destination: Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Portsmouth, PO3
Age groups: mixed (10-15)
09:45 Depart Winston Churchill School (lower/main car park)
10:30 Arrive Portsmouth
15:30 Depart Portsmouth
16:45 Arrive Winston Churchill School (lower/main car park)
Bring own lunch, snacks and water to be on the safe side.
