Four of the five members of the Ashburton College Senior Girls 3X3 Basketball team. From left: Dani McArthur, Grace Adams, Sammy Arnold and Liberty Ross. Absent: Ashlee Strawbridge. Photo SuppliedAshburton College is readying its Senior Girls 3X3 Basketball team again for a shot at national glory.

The team is aiming towards the Basketball New Zealand National 3×3 Championship in Tauranga starting today. More than  60 teams from around the country will battle it out over three days.

Eight hours of basketball on 10 hoops each day will be accompanied by a carnival atmosphere with hip-hop and R’n’B hits blasting to help energise the players and their supporters.

This year sees the junior girls’ team of the past two years step up to play against the big kids in the senior girls’ grade.

Ashburton College’s growing reputation means it is no longer able to sneak under the radar, as previous results have the team seeded 6th.

With competition coming from powerhouse basketball colleges, St Peter’s of Cambridge and Rangitoto College, a top four pool result would get the girls a play-off spot in the crossover stage.

“What the girls lack in size is definitely made up for with speed, determination and basketball IQs,” Mark Douglas, team coach, said.

“These girls are fast and smart and all play themselves to a stand-still when competing so we can’t wait to see how they go against the best New Zealand has to offer.

“All the girls shoot the ball very well and whichever three are on the court at any time, they have the ability to attack the opposition.”

Along with a couple of additional players, the girls split into two teams and spent Monday playing in Timaru at the inaugural 3×3 tournament, also playing in the boys’ division.

Apart from losing to the Ashburton boys’ team they were unbeaten against the remaining boys’ teams.

“It was a good blow-out, a great confidence booster, and now everyone is ready to play on the big stage,” Douglas said.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 30 March 2017