Two weeks of basketball.
The first week the Gliders were on the Gold Coast for a training camp and two “friendly” games against the Germans. Friendly being emphasised because no game is ever friendly because everyone wants to win but they’re still called friendly because they don’t count towards a tournament but they’re more than a mere scrimmage. Gliders training sessions can be pretty intense as well - check out this bruise I got from a massive stack that was completely my own fault:
The first week the Gliders were on the Gold Coast for a training camp and two “friendly” games against the Germans. Friendly being emphasised because no game is ever friendly because everyone wants to win but they’re still called friendly because they don’t count towards a tournament but they’re more than a mere scrimmage. Gliders training sessions can be pretty intense as well - check out this bruise I got from a massive stack that was completely my own fault:
Most meals were at the Surf Club across from where we were staying at Main Beach. The lift to go up/down stairs was very slow and only fitted two small chairs at once so I very quickly learnt a new lift skill – going down stairs by myself. I have never had to try do it before, but after watching a few of the other Gliders do it I thought to myself that I should be able to do it – so I did.
We had two great “friendly” games against the Germans. The
first game we lost but it was still a great offensive and defensive game for
the Gliders. The second game we won by 1 point – in double overtime!! The
second game went for over two hours! Double overtime plus a fairly long break
when the shot clock decided not to work and staff spent a while trying to fix
it. The solution was a shot clock iPad application.
The weather wasn’t very good while we were there; raining
for the most of it. We had one day off and the weather was beautiful for half
that day. On the day off some Gliders went to Sea World where KG won a
basketball competition and SS got to hug a seal, and other Gliders went bargain
shopping at Harbor Town. I had a day of relaxation and pampered myself to a new
nail polish, movies and some book reading.
We got drenched on two nights when we had dinner at the
Yacht club and we had to walk/push home in the rain. It wasn’t exactly pouring
down with rain but it wasn’t a drizzle either. My lulu ‘Run in the Rain’ jacket
had a push in the rain. It smelt like wet dog smell afterwards.
For the second week we flew from Brisbane to Sydney for a
tournament named the Rollers and Gliders World Challenge which was held at
Homebush/Olympic Park. We stayed at the Pullman Hotel which was pretty swish. Breakfast being a massive spread of breads, fruits,
cereals, hot food, eggs made to order and Nespesso coffee (in miniature cups).
Lunch was whatever you wanted (several restaurants in short walking/pushing
distance) and dinner on level 1 baymerie style catered by the hotel. The beds were very soft (which I love!) and my room which I shared with CC was fairly spacious after some rearrangment of furniture.
On the first night there we tried on our Australian Paralympic team uniform just in case we needed to exchange sizes. The clothing is mainly 2XU and I won't say any more than this: we are going to look great!!
The four teams that competed in the women’s tournament were Australia, Germany, China and Japan. Japan are not going to the Paralympics so they have a few new faces on their team which they will be developing over the next few years. The three teams that competed in the men’s tournament were Australia, Great Britain and Japan.
The four teams that competed in the women’s tournament were Australia, Germany, China and Japan. Japan are not going to the Paralympics so they have a few new faces on their team which they will be developing over the next few years. The three teams that competed in the men’s tournament were Australia, Great Britain and Japan.
We played one “friendly” game against China before the
tournament started. We won this game 60 to 41. China flew into Sydney that
morning so they were probably a bit tired (I definitely would not want to have
to play the same day as travel). Every Glider hit the court and nearly all of
us added to the score board.
Our first proper game was against Japan. We won this game 67
to 41. As I mentioned before, Japan have a few new players on their team, some
being 13 or 14 years of age. We went through a few lulls where we lowered our
intensity and did a few silly turn overs, especially the third quarter where
Japan actually scored more than we did, but we managed to pull ourselves
together and run the plays we wanted to play against Germany the next day. Like
the day before, all Gliders hit the court and all but two Gliders added to the
score board.
The next day we had a free morning before the game against
the Germans in the evening. I went to the Nike and Adidas factories a short
drive away with 3 other Gliders. I managed to find myself two pairs of new
shoes and two tops, and for my husband I bought two tops and two pairs of
shorts. Gliders know how to shop!
The Gliders played amazingly against the Germans. We started
off strong (20 to 7 after the first quarter!) and played a strong end game
despite the Germans getting pretty close at a few stages (they won the third
quarter). We won the game 53 to 45. I’m so proud of the Gliders winning that
game. The Germans have been the favourites to win the gold medal but we have
beat them twice now! My dad and step-mum were at this game so I am glad they
were able to watch me compete internationally for the first time in a game
where we fought so hard and came out on top.
At this stage we hadn’t guaranteed ourselves a spot in the
grand final. The next day we had to beat the Chinese team otherwise the top
three teams would be in a tie for having 2 wins each and the teams going into
the grand final would be decided by the for/against percentages. We didn’t want
this to happen because we have been there and done that at the AOZ
Qualification Tournament in South Korea last year. It was a close game against
the Chinese – we had the lower score after the first half but we came back and
had a great fourth quarter (scoring 21 to their 9 in the 4th q!) and
finished on top! We won the game 57 to 45. We are in the grand final!
The Germans won their game against Japan so we played them
in the grand final. There was a massive crowed at the Sydney Olympic Sports
Centre so the pressure was on the Gliders to get a win in front of a home crowd
(which included many VIP’s from Basketball Australia and the Australian
Paralympic Committee). We were down after the first quarter but we gave the
crowd some ‘edge of the seat’ entertainment as the leaders switched between the
Gliders and the Germans several times. Both teams had a pretty shocking
shooting game but the Gliders reputable defence helped win the game by a narrow
margin of 2 points. We won the grand final 48 to 46!
After the men’s grand final (won by the Aussie Rollers!),
there was a short ceremony where the team captains of the Gliders and Rollers
were presented with a trophy and the All Star 5 and MVP’s were announced for
both the men and women. I was honoured with a spot on the All Star 5 which was
a very nice surprise (we didn’t even know they were doing individual awards)
and AM from the Gliders was awarded MVP as well as a spot on the All Star 5. AM
was also awarded the Glider’s Player’s Player award. Very much deserved after
several stellar shooting games. Basketball Australia also presented both the Gliders and Rollers with their Paralympic rings - a gift for being selected onto the Australian Paralympic Team. They're beautiful! It is unfortunate that it is too big for my pinkies and too small for every other finger. A few of the Gliders have discussed trying to get them re-sized at a jeweller.
Thank you to Dad and Neryl for driving up from Maitland to
be at the two games against Germany. It was sad to say ‘see ya later’ after the
grand final because I haven’t organised next year yet so I’m not sure when ‘later’
will be. Might have to organise a holiday over there to stock up on some good
ol’ Hunter Valley wines.
Also thanks to the three Gliders who weren’t selected to go
to London but still came to cheer us on at the World Challenge. It would have
been hard being on the other side of the basketball court but your support
means a lot to us. Once a Glider always a Glider :)
That night we were able to relax and enjoy ourselves before
flying out the next day.
It was smiles all round for the Gliders, now having
three wins against the Germans. We have improved so much this year, but we
still have a lot of hard work to do before securing a gold medal. Teams such as
the Netherlands will be tough to beat and we haven’t seen or played against the
Brazil or Canadian teams in a while.
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| Mucking around with Kat's hair - my first attempt at a sideways braid |
The next three and a half weeks for me will be filled with
lots of shooting sessions, weights sessions at Jetts Fitness Kingsway, a talk
for a school, an official farewell for the WA based Paralympians and some work
and the start of semester two of university squashed in there somewhere. Oh,
and my birthday just before we leave!
- 38 days to go til the London Paralympics!
