Local Athletes Heading for Canada Games
Every fourth summer, the Nova Scotia Under 17 Women’s Basketball Team competes against the best juvenile teams in the country at the Canada Games tournament. This year, Rachel MacLean and Jenny Lewis of Fall River have been selected as members of the team and will be competing against other provinces and territories from August 15th to 22nd at the Summer Games in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
“We had try-outs at Citadel High School in April or May,” said MacLean. “There was a group of about 25. We were sitting in a little circle, on the edge of our lives waiting to find out if we made the team. They were very definite and didn’t keep us waiting; they told us right there. When I found out I made it I was thrilled, really relieved.”
MacLean is a Grade 11 student at Halifax Grammar School who is in the International Baccalaureate program and on the High Honour Roll. She began playing basketball in grade four, on the Fall River Rebels mini-girls team, and has been an HGS Varsity Player since Grade 9. She was the starting point guard on the provincial bronze medal-winning team this year.
Aside from her passion for playing basketball, MacLean is involved in numerous other sports, such as soccer, tennis, cross country, and track and field. She is musically inclined as well, and plays the fiddle. “I love the fiddle, I’ve been playing it since I was in grade two; it’s a great thing to do and has really become a part of my life.”
MacLean also volunteers as an assistant coach for the Fall River Basketball Association in the Bantam Girls Division, and at Grammar she tutors other students in Math, English, and German.
Prior to the Canada Games, this team will be travelling to Chicago, Illinois to compete in the Chicago Summer Showcase, the largest NCAA-certified and observed event in the United States for high school-aged players. In addition, the team will be participating in tournaments in Manitoba and New Brunswick throughout the summer.
There is a lot of practicing to do to get prepared. “We practice almost every weekend, six to eight hours each weekend,” said MacLean. “As it gets closer to the games we will go weekdays as well.”
In past years MacLean has represented Nova Scotia on the U14 and U15 Provincial Teams. She was co-captain on the 2007 U15 Team, and she helped the team win a bronze medal for our province at the National tournament in British Columbia. MacLean’s leadership at the point guard for her Grammar Basketball team has led her team to be consistently ranked in the top two of the Metro High School Division 1 Basketball League. She will no doubt bring that high level of commitment and competitiveness to the Canada Games this summer in PEI.
MacLean has no plans to give up her love of sports anytime soon. “I’m really interested in playing university basketball; playing in Europe would be a dream of mine,” she said. “I really want to travel, and that would be a great way to do it!”
MacLean has a good idea of her future career plans as well. “I’m interested in International Relations and maybe diplomacy. I want to travel and see everything there is to see,” she said.
The cost of sport involvement is very high, and this cost only increases at the provincial and national levels. Lewis and MacLean are busy raising funds to support their trip. “We need to raise around $2000 each to cover the costs,” said MacLean. “We did a bottle drive at Jenny’s house, and we are selling Sportscape tickets. People who buy them can win West Jet tickets to anywhere in the world West Jet fly’s.” If people would like to buy a ticket, they can call MacLean at 860-3914, or Lewis at 860-1878.
“We are also having an auction at Neighbours Pub in Dartmouth on July 11. The auction will begin at 7p.m. Cost of admission is $15. “We are trying to make this a nice event,” said MacLean.
Donations to help fund this athletic participation would also be greatly appreciated, said the girls. Contributions will help cover costs such as air fares, accommodations, meals, gym rentals, etc.
Nova Scotia’s many talented athletes can only continue to compete and improve in their sports with the help of your generous donations. MacLean, Lewis, and the U17 Women’s Canada Games Basketball Team, thank you for your consideration of this request and any donations which may be possible at this time would be greatly appreciated.
Donations may be made payable to: Nova ScotiaU17 Women’s Provincial Basketball Team.
MacLean’s contact number is 902-860-3914 or email to peggy.maclean@gmail.com
Lewis can be reached at 860-1878.
The athletes and their families thank you for taking your time to consider this request!