Preview: Canada at the FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship for Women
The latest incarnation of Canada’s Under-16 Women’s team will next be seen at the 2019 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship, held in the Aysen region in southern Chile.
Taking part in the tournament are eight of the top teams from North, Central and South America. First split into two groups of four, they will then enter a bracket route to the final and a chance at the championship prize. The four semi-finalists will also win places in next year’s Under-17 World Cup in Romania.
The USA are the defending champions, going undefeated in the 2017 tournament and ending their run with a 91-46 defeat of Canada in the final to bring home the gold medal.
Canada will be looking to go one step further than in their last outing – and to add another gold medal to their tournament total, having taken home the top prize in the 2015 edition of the tournament.
Playing in Group A, they will begin their campaign against newcomers Ecuador before taking on Brazil on day two and ending the group stage against Puerto Rico, in what seems to be the harder of the two groups. The USA are playing in Group B, alongside hosts Chile as well as Mexico and debutants El Salvador.
Overseeing in Canada in their campaign in Chile will be Cheryl Jean-Paul, head coach of the Trinity-Western Spartans in Langley, British Columbia, assisted by Tamara Tatham, former star of the senior women’s national team.
They have brought together twelve of the best players in the age range, from all over the country, to make up the final squad for the tournament.
Five players make up Canada’s backcourt unit: Louella Allana (from Laval, Quebec), Deja Lee (Surrey, BC), Rosalie Mercille (St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC), Hannah Riddick (Calgary, AB) and Tara Wallack (Surrey BC).
The Frontcourt players are Isaline Alexander (Keswick, ON), Lauren Audino (Welland, ON), Fatima Diakhate (originally from Deerfield Beach, Florida), Isabelle Forsyth (Langley, BC), Teah Stupar (Etobicoke, ON), Avianna Thompson (Montreal QC) and Izabella Zingaro (Bolton, ON).
There will be no room for long silences, either on the court or in the crowd, when these teenage girls look to do Canada proud in this year's Americas tournament. Check back here for regular updates on their progress, while you can find more information on the competition's official website.
Picture: FIBA.com
