Lynbrook basketballer Emily Rider has been selected in the Victorian under 12 side for December’s Pacific School Games in Canberra. 20489 Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Marc McGowan
MANY girls flock to netball in their junior sporting days, but life is all about basketball for Lynbrook’s Emily Rider.
Emily’s basketball talents were confirmed when she was named in the Victorian under 12 side for December’s Pacific School Games in Canberra.
There the 12-year-old will face teams from all states and territories as well as 24 other countries, including New Zealand, China, Thailand and Papua New Guinea.
Emily, who plays the small forward position, had to survive three separate trials to make the cut, the last of which was a four-day training camp in Coburg in the first week of the school holidays.
She qualified for the final stage of the process last year before breaking her arm and having to pull out, making this year’s selection even sweeter.
But there was never any doubt about Emily’s promise in the sport since starting as an eight-year-old and progressing to representative team the Dandenong Rangers.
“I like it – it’s not like netball because I can actually steal the ball off other players and there’s a bit of contact,” she said.
“I need to work a bit more on my right hand because everyone is kind of used to me going to my left.
“I can shoot both hands, but mostly I look to go to my left more than my right.”
The year seven Lyndhurst Secondary College student endures a hectic lifestyle, hitting the hardwood five times a week for the Rangers and the Rowville Rockets.
That schedule will go up a notch with monthly sessions with the state squad in the lead-up to the Pacific School Games.
“It’s sort of hard, but I fit in time for it all – I make time for it,” Emily said.
“I’m looking forward to just seeing all the different countries and actually playing them.”
The international showcase will not be the first time Emily has travelled interstate for basketball. She competed for the Rangers at the Easter Classic in Adelaide for the past two years.
But while she enjoys testing her skills against the best in the state and the country, Emily also loves playing for the Rockets in domestic competition on Saturdays.
“With the Rangers it’s more about running team plays, whereas at the Rockets it’s just for fun and you share the ball around and just enjoy the basketball,” she said.
“For the Rockets you also get to play any position. At the Rangers the position you play comes down to your height and what you’re best at.”
