The coach of the Japan U-18 Select girls basketball team wanted to put his players to the test by bringing them to Canada.
芒鈧揑 want to give them a chance to play against a tall player in Canada,芒鈧� coach Tatushi Isshiki said through a translator.
The team is prepping for the Asian Games and the three-game series against Team BC Selects offered other benefits.
芒鈧揟he reason why we are here is to improve each game,芒鈧� he said.
So he used all the squad so they could be exposed to a different style of ball in another culture.
His players are high school students ages 16-18. They played Team BC to a 71-62 win on April 2 with Team BC taking game 2 with 71-67. Game 3 is Saturday at UBC.
芒鈧揥e have to improve defensively,芒鈧� Isshiki said about the two days between games.
That won芒鈧劉t leave the teens much time to be sightseeing but he said they芒鈧劉ve taken a shine to one aspect of Canada.
芒鈧揟he food is great,芒鈧� he said.
91原创芒鈧劉s Tayla Jackson is on the Selects, and was flattered when asked to join the group of young women from high schools and universities.
芒鈧揑 thought it would be a great experience because I was able to play with girls I look up to at the university level,芒鈧� she said.
The Grade 12 student at Brookswood Secondary plays forward. (Trinity Western University芒鈧劉s Chantelle Martin and Kayla Gordon are also on the team.)
Jackson said the first game was a little rough. Team BC only has four practices before taking on the visitors.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s very scrambly at times but it芒鈧劉s good,芒鈧劉 Jackson said. 芒鈧揑t makes us think on our feet. We芒鈧劉ve gotta make quick decisions, so it芒鈧劉s a big learning experience for us.芒鈧�
The Selects gelled better for the second meeting.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s very fast paced, a very physical game. I芒鈧劉ve never played at the international level before so it芒鈧劉s pretty cool.
The games are a challenge but Jackson sees the benefits, especially since she plans to continue playing basketball into university.
Game 3 is April 5 at UBC. Admission to the games has been a donation to KidsSportBC.
