Congratulations to Victorian quartet Dallas Loughridge, Nyadiew Puoch, Sophie Burrows and Tess Heal who have been selected to represent the Australian Gems!
Fresh off their Victorian Under-20 Women gold medal winning campaign at the Australian Junior Championships in Mackay, Queensland, the four Victorian superstars are now set to star on the world stage.
Our Victorian representatives impressed at the Australian Under-18 Women’s selection camp at the Centre of Excellence throughout the week, and have earned the right to represent the Gems in the FIBA Under-18 Asia Cup held in Bengaluru, India from 5-11 September.
Puoch and Loughridge are set to return to the Gems following their performance in the 2021 Under-19 World Cup silver medal winning Gems team.
Burrows and Heal had a stellar summer with the pair both part of the Melbourne Boomers WNBL roster, with Heal now preparing for her freshman year at NCAA D1 college Santa Clara in California.
Taking place this September, this is Australia’s second appearance at the FIBA Under-18 Asia Cup, with the team previously winning bronze in 2018.
Australia has drawn in Division A, which will see them take on China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia and host nation India.
After recently being appointed the Centre of Excellence’s Head of Women’s Program, Basketball Victoria High Performance Hub Coach David Herbert will coach the Under 18 side alongside former BV staff member Kristen Veal and Tom Garlepp.
This FIBA Asia Cup is a qualification event for the 2023 FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Cup, locked in for Spain next July.
AUSTRALIAN GEMS – FIBA UNDER-18 ASIA CUP TEAM
Isobel Borlase - South Australia / CoE
SOPHIE BURROWS - VICTORIA
Jayda Clark– Western Australia / CoE
Ella Gordon – Queensland / CoE
Summah Hanson – Queensland / CoE
TESS HEAL – VICTORIA/ SANTA CLARA, USA
Isla Juffermans – New South Wales / CoE
DALLAS LOUGHRIDGE – VICTORIA / COE
Rose Nelson – New South Wales
Jessica Petrie – Queensland / CoE
NYADIEW PUOCH – VICTORIA / COE
Saffron Shiels – New South Wales / CoE
TEAM STAFF
HEAD COACH – DAVID HERBERT
Coach – Tom Garlepp
Coach – Kristen Veal
Team Manager – Donna Turner
