Jess Miller travelled to South Australia this week to help Victoria defend the Ivor Burge National Basketball Championship title.By Ben Hope
PLAYING in the 2010 Ivor Burge National Basketball Championships is a dream come true for Narre Warren’s Jessica Miller.
The talented 16-year-old Emerson School student joined the Victorian Metro Women’s team in Gawler, South Australia this week as they defend their national title.
The Ivor Burge championships are run at the same time as the under 20s Australian state competitions and are open to players with mild intellectual disabilities.
Her father Andrew said his daughter currently plays for the Outlaw’s under-18s team and is excited about the opportunity to represent her state.
“She went through the try-outs really well and after that she was training with the team,” he said.
“From there they picked the team and she was named as an emergency.”
Due to an injury to another player Jess got the call-up last week.
Miller said the nerves were starting to catch up with his daughter a bit now that she’s realising she is actually going to South Australia and representing Victoria.
“It’s going to be a really good experience for her,” he said.
Despite juvenile arthritis, epilepsy and learning difficulties, Jessica always loved playing sports, including basketball and soccer.
“She also walks and rides her bike to keep fit and has been training for the competition for the past six weeks,” Miller said.
Team coach Lance Wright said Jessica was a talented player with a bright future in the sport.
“Five of our women’s team players play in the national team as well and Jessica will have the opportunity to represent her country in the future,” he said.
The team will play eight games in the competition before the play-offs next Saturday and Wright believes his team can defend the title.
“We have a really good team and are definitely in with a chance,” he said.
“It will be a matter of getting over there and seeing what the other teams have.”
Wright said players in the Ivor Burge championships had a mild intellectual disability, but when watching a game it was hard to believe.
“It’s a fast-moving game with good, skilled players,” he said
Anyone interested in sponsoring Jessica to help cover her travel expenses can contact Andrew Miller on 9796 7083.
