Breeje playing basketball at ‘another level’
A young Waikato basketballer could be a future Tall Fern judging by her achievements during her first year playing the sport.
Te Aroha College student Breeje Schuler played for Waikato Under 15 girls team which won its national age-group title in Dunedin in July.
The Year 9 student is now back training with her college girls A team which is looking to qualify for the national secondary schools championships.
The qualification tournament will be held in Tauranga during the first week in September and the nationals will be held in Palmerston North a month later.
Te Aroha College head of basketball, Laura Wade, said the college A team should qualify and Breeje would be an important part of the squad.
‘‘I’m coach of the boys team but Breeje comes along to train with us as well. Michele Pike is head of the girls team.
‘‘Breeje is playing at another level. She only started playing basketball this year and it is quite rare that she made the [Waikato] under 15s team.
‘‘It’s the first time in a long time, we’ve had someone in the under 15s.
‘‘Normally when they come to us it takes a while to get them up to that level. They’ll make the under 17s after a year or so later but not the under 15s during their first year playing.’’
Wade said Breeje was an allrounder when it came to sport. She liked horse riding, played hockey and netball as well as basketball. She also featured prominently in athletics.
But it was basketball where Wade expected the young woman to make her mark.
‘‘She must be getting close to making a [New Zealand] under 16s trial.
‘‘Breeje is so determined and that’s what’s different about her. She never mucks around at training and always pushes herself hard.
‘‘She’s very brave coming to the boys training because they’re all 17 and 18 years old but she never takes a step backward. She gets knocked down but gets straight back up again.’’
Waikato Under 15s team coach, Lana Kershaw, from Hamilton, said Breeje had been a valuable player coming off the bench during the national tournament in Dunedin.
‘‘She is a quiet player, does the basics well, but is very much about playing for the team. She is someone who every game improves.’’
Kershaw, a former representative basketballer, said Breeje added a lot of value to the Waikato team, scoring points and taking rebounds.
‘‘She likes to play guard but I played her at both guard and as a forward.’’
Kershaw said most of her players were from Hamilton so Breeje had the longest journey to make to attend training sessions on Saturday mornings.