Australia's U17 Women's Worlds opponents revealed
Australia's U17 Women's team will face the European and Asian Champions, Spain and China, in the opening rounds of the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women in France.
The World Championship draw was held overnight in Toulouse where, along with Rodez, the championship will be held from July 16 – 25.
Australia has been drawn alongside Spain (1st at 2009 U16 European Championship), China (1st 2009 FIBA Asia U16 Championship), Belgium (2nd at 2009 U16 European Championship), Argentina (3rd at 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship), and Mali (1st at FIBA Africa U16 Championship for Women) in Group B. Canada, France, Japan, Russia, Turkey and USA round out the competition in Group A.
Australia has a wealth of international basketball experience at its helm with former Opals assistant coach Peter Lonergan to lead the team.
Lonergan was a member of the 2006 FIBA World Champion Opals team and the 2008 Beijing Olympic team. He led Australia’s U17 team to victory at the 2009 FIBA Oceania U17 Championship over New Zealand in August. The win earned the team qualification into the inaugural women’s U17 world titles.
Lonergan said the two groups drawn overnight are evenly matched.
“You’ve got the European Champions Spain in our group and obviously the USA, who are perennial powers in a World Championship, in the other group so I think the cards fell very well,” he said.
“I don’t think you can consider either pool a lot stronger than the other.
“I know Spain are one of the most powerful nations in the world in basketball and they were, from all reports, super impressive at the European Championships. Belgium was a little bit of a surprise packet at the European Championships and they did really well so they’ll be tough. China, they have Australian Bill Tomlinson working with them in their coaching staff, China are a powerful basketball nation anyway but you add his experience and coaching prowess and that will make them a real danger as well.”
During the preliminary round, each team plays the five others in their respective group. Australia must finish amongst the top four teams in its preliminary group, in order to advance to the Quarter Finals at which point the competition continues through to the Final – held on July 25 – in a standard knock-out format.
Australia will have no time adjusting to the level of competition as they meet Spain in their opening game on Friday July 16 in Toulouse, where Group B will be based for the Preliminary Round while Group A play their opening rounds in Rodez.
Lonergan said Australia’s first aim was to qualify for the Quarter Finals in a good position.
“I think any time you play a World Championship, the first goal has to be to get through to the Quarter Finals,” he said.
“And then, the championships almost start again once you’re at Quarter Final levels so you have to do well enough in your pool games to make the Quarter Finals and I think from there you can reassess goals. Obviously any time you go to a World Championship you want to vie for a medal and for the title.”
A 20-strong World Championship squad was selected following the 2009 U16 and U18 National Championships, Australian Development Camps and the National Intensive Training Program.
To prepare for the world titles, Australia’s squad will hold a training camp and play three matches against a Japanese junior national team from March 18-20 at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). A selection camp will be held in late April, after which the squad will be cut down to a final team of 12 to contest the championship in France.
Featuring in the current squad list are Australian U19 representative Gretel Tippett and seven other athletes from the AIS; Sara Blicavs, Alex Bunton, Nadeen Payne, Tayla Roberts, Carley Mijovic, Tessa Lavey and Olivia Thompson, who have all experienced basketball at the elite level in the Women’s National Basketball League.
Australia’s 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women Schedule
Friday July 16 – Australia v Spain, Toulouse
Saturday July 17 – Australia v China, Toulouse
Sunday July 18 – Australia v Argentina, Toulouse
Tuesday July 20 – Australia v Mali, Toulouse
Wednesday July 21 – Australia v Belgium, Toulouse
Friday July 23 – Quarter Finals
Saturday July 24 – Semi Finals
Sunday July 25 - Finals
Australia’s U17 Women’s 2010 World Championship squad:
Name / Height / Club
Maddison ALLEN / 192cm / Seahawk Gold Coast (QLD)
Sara BLICAVS / 186cm / Melbourne (VIC)
Olivia BONTEMPELLI / 178cm / Eltham (VIC)
Alex BUNTON / 196cm / Brindabella (ACT)
Aimie CLYDESDALE / 168cm / Dandenong (VIC)
Mikhaela DONNELLY / 175cm / Logan (QLD)
Rosemary FADJAVICK / 182cm / Dandenong (VIC)
Adrienne JONES / 175cm / Kalamunda (WA)
Hannah KASER / 175cm / Morwell (VIC)
Tessa LAVEY / 168cm / Bendigo (VIC)
Carley MIJOVIC / 191cm / Dandenong (VIC)
Lauren NICHOLSON / 180cm / Sutherland (NSW)
Nadeen PAYNE / 188cm / Townsville (QLD)
Tayla ROBERTS / 191cm / Trojan (TAS)
Aneeka SMITH / 170cm / Sturt (SA)
Stephanie TALBOT / 184cm / Eastern Mavericks (SA)
Olivia THOMPSON / 184cm / Forestville (SA)
Gretel TIPPETT / 188cm / Miami (QLD)
Jacinta VANDENBERG / 191cm / Dandenong (VIC)
Alex WILSON / 178cm / Eastern Mavericks (SA)
Head Coach: Peter Lonergan
Assistant Coaches: Sandy Tomley, Marissa Fillipou
Physio: Rosie Molloy
Manager: Donna Ironmonger
Official Tournament Website: france2010.fiba.com
Photos courtesy of FIBA.com and Kangaroo Photos
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