BasketBall australia annual report 2008

Basketball Australia Annual Report 2008Basketball Australia Annual Report 200818 www.basketball.net.au www.basketball.net.au19Pearls &BoomerangsBasketball Australia has two national teams for athletes with an intellectual disability, the Pearls (women) andBoomerangs (men). While the Boomerangs did not compete in 2008, the Pearls participated in the inauguralINAS-FID World Cup in Italy in November and finished 2008 ranked number two in the world after winning aSilver Medal at the event.Kim Perry was named as Pearls’ captain in October,nine years after her international debut in 1999, andprovided invaluable leadership to the five rookies onthe team throughout the 2008 campaign.The Australians started their campaign with a winover Mexico in overtime, 63-54, despite trailing 21-6after one quarter, with rookies Kaitlyn Papworth,Melissa Marlborough and Eliza Barden making theirfirst baskets for Australia to contribute to the fightback.Kim Larkin went to the freethrow line withAustralia down 52-51 as the clock expired and madeone of two to send the game into overtime. ThePearls took control in the extra period and won byOn the final day of competition the Pearls faced anundefeated Russian side and, in Australia’s toughestgame of the tournament, they were defeated bysixteen points, 62-46.The Pearls finished the World Cup with sevencompetition points, behind Russia (eight) and aheadof Mexico (six), France (five) and Portugal (four).Coach Larry Davidson praised the entire Australianteam at the event’s conclusion and made specialmention of rookie Natasha Nolan for her speed andtoughness in the final game in which she scored ateam-high 11 points.The Australian women’s team for athletes with anintellectual disability that competed at the 2008INAS-FID World Cup in Italy:Kim Larkin - VICMina Aldobasic - VICBernadette Barden - NSWEliza-Jane Barden - NSWKaitlyn Papworth - VICMelissa Marlborough - ACTMolly Urquhart-Moran - VICNicole Skerman - QLDKim Perry - NSW - CaptainNatasha Nolan - VICKarina Baines - NSWseven points, with Larkin top-scoring with 16 points.Renay Hall - VICThe tournament provided invaluable internationalDanielle Burden - VICBarden top-scored with 14 points for Australia in experience to the young Australian team which willthe second game, leading the Pearls in a crushing80-point victory over France, 92-12. The teambacked up the next day with a 97-28 win against aninexperienced Portugal side as rookies Marlboroughand Barden topped the score sheet again, joined byteam Captain Perry.help them in their quest to win the 2009 GlobalGames campaign, which will be played in the CzechRepublic in July 2009.Staff: Larry Davidson (Head Coach), Jo Larkin(Assistant Coach), Sally Duncan (Manager)