After completing two tryouts, local Chloe Skerritt has made the under-14 basketball team entering the B.C. Summer Games.
Competing against 20 other basketball players, the Grade 8 student was able to make the cut and was also able to participate in the provincial games at the end of May.
“The provincials were a lot of fun and it was a great experience,” Skerritt said. “I learned a lot more than just practicing, because we got a lot better from the first game to the second.”
Gearing up to the BC Summer Games in July, Skerritt practices three days a week at home and travels to Mount Sentinel every Wednesday for practice with the team.
“It’s time consuming, but I’m looking forward to it,” she added. “It’s a big difference when playing in the Games compared to high school. There’s a lot more experienced girls playing because they’re doing it to get into high school and colleges with it. Most of the girls participate in year round basketball, where as ours is only two months.”
Skerritt hopes that throughout the practices and the Games, she will be able to learn more skills to bring back to the high school team at Grand Forks Secondary next year.
Though Skerritt enjoys playing volleyball as well, basketball is the game she prefers.
“It’s a lot more work and fun, plus I feel it’s more of a team sport because we have to work together,” she said.
Of the team, she pointed out that despite not knowing any of the girls initially, they have become good friends.
The BC Summer Games will be held in Surrey, B.C. this year, between July 19 to 22.