A very talented young basketballer from Kyneton will play for the Northern Territory at the Under 16 Footlocker National Championships in Bendigo from July 6 – 14.
Arabella Dietz had originally hoped to gain selection in the Vic Country side, but an ankle injury in an early practice match meant she was sidelined, dashing her hopes.
Eventually Arabella was named as an emergency for Vic Country, but unique circumstances mean she suddenly has the chance to play for NT – which was short of players through injuries and in danger of withdrawing from the championships.
Arabella, a 13-year-old bottom age player, was offered one of two spots with NT, and seized the opportunity, along with her teammate Ella Mercieca.
Arabella plays for the Bendigo Braves Under 12s division one side, having begun her basketball with Kyneton Tigers and competing in Bendigo’s junior domestic competition.
Her parents, Nadene and Luke, said they were as surprised as their daughter that she had been given the chance to play for the NT.
“We’ve been super proud of Arabella’s commitment and sacrifice that she continues to make with her basketball, and to be given this opportunity to play for another team took a bit to get our heads around, as we know how much she loves Vic Country and her teammates.
“As competitive as Arabella is, we know she will grab this opportunity with both hands as without the two girls stepping up to play for NT meant the existing team would not be able to travel down.
Arabella gets her chance to a chance to meet her NTP team mates this Friday when they fly in.
“It’s going to be a challenge competing against the best players across the country that have been training for months, but I’m just excited that I get a chance to play and make some connections with my new team mates as a token Territorian,” Arabella said.
Over the past five years Arabella has worked extremely hard on improving her skills, resulting in a number of selections into Basktball Victoria’s high performance pathway program. She is in the current state development program.
In 2022, Arabella was in the Victorian U12s side which won the School Sports Australia Championships.
The ankle injury sustained in a practise match against Vic Metro was a setback, but Arabella’s spirits lifted when she was offered an emergency role for Vic Country.
Since late March, the squad has trained rigorously, and Arabella has juggled a lot with her commitments to school at Sacred Heart College, Kyneton, and to the Bendigo Braves division one team in the VJBL competition.
Her commitment to her state team as an emergency player meant being fully committed to training and recovery sessions, and she has been very dedicated and supportive. committed.
Arabella said she was surprised and a little excited when offered the chance to play for the NT by Zoe Carr, head high performance coach for country women’s basketball.
Good luck, Arabella!
