Elise Napier received her playing jersey ahead of competing in the Victoria Country under-16 National Championships, beginning on Saturday. Photo: Supplied
The biggest week of Elise Napier’s career has arrived, and the Echuca basketballer is ready for the challenge.
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Napier has spent the last several months preparing for the Under-16 Girls National Championships, which will be held in Bendigo from July 6 to 14.
“It’s been about 12 weeks of training every Sunday, some Saturdays from about 9 till 4, and it’s been all over Victoria,” Napier said.
“A lot of travel involved, but it’s definitely been worth it, and I think I'm well prepared and ready for the opportunity.”
Napier will be part of the Victoria Country side in the 13-team competition, featuring teams from all seven states and territories.
Teams will first compete in a pool stage with the top four in each group remaining in the hunt for the knockout stages.
That will be followed by a classification stage which will result in all 13 teams ranked in order.
Elise Napier earned a place on the squad at the State Combine in March. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Napier’s first game will be on Saturday, July 6, at 3.30pm when Vic Country kicks off the tournament against NSW Country in pool one.
Also in pool one are SA Metro, Queensland North, Tasmania, WA Country and the Northern Territory.
In training, Napier has been working with her coaches on attacking the basket.
“My role in the team is to be the main centre, so we’ve been working a lot of my rim running and finishing around the rim which is where I’m going to contribute the most to the team,” she said.
Along with training for the championships, Napier has been honing her skills in the Victorian Junior Basketball League 3, playing for the North East Bushrangers.
She leads her team with 88 points this season, tied for seventh most in the league despite Napier making fewer appearances than any player in the top 50 scorers.
Napier has been a handful to deal with inside, making the third most free throws in the competition.
Napier earned her place in the squad in March after impressing selectors at the State Combine.
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