By JARROD POTTER
THE kilometres add up quickly for Beaconhills College student Sarsha Cadle, but she knows it’s the best way for her to improve her basketball.
The Lysterfield South power forward/centre will add another 5000 kilometres to her basketball log book as she flies up to Townsville after earning her place in the School Sport Victoria Under-18 Girls’ team.
She has switched to Bulleen Boomers in recent years, after playing mostly at Dandenong, and played at the National Junior Basketball Classic earlier this month, with the Boomers finishing 11th overall out of all Australian Under-18 Girls’ teams.
She tried out for the School Sport Victoria team this time last year and wasn’t chosen, but 15-year-old Cadle improved and developed this year to secure her spot.
She puts it down to her added confidence and ability to go toe-to-toe with the other talls at the under-18 level.
“It is such an honour, I’m so proud, just especially to know that I’ve developed so much over just a year,” Cadle said.
“I’ve been working 10 years to do something like this… to represent the state is amazing.”
“I’m physically stronger, more aggressive on court and confident – I was the youngest last year so I was intimidated with the girls’ height and size.
“Mentally I’m more confident… more aware of my abilities and what I can and can’t do and giving it time to develop.”
Cadle is the school basketball captain at Beaconhills College and won a state 3×3 championship with classmates Tiah Conder and Grace Jeavons and Alyce Painter.
She wanted to thank Luke Sunderland and Nicole Romeo for their help with her at the Andrew Bogut Basketball Academy and her family for their support.
Cadle’s SSV team will vie for the School Sport Australia Basketball Championships, held in Townsville, Queensland from 16-23 August.
