January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Young players to get look in Canadian tour
The team, which won Island Games gold in Gibraltar last year, will play three matches against opposition from the Toronto Basketball Association between February 15 and 19.
The last time Bermuda went to Canada it won one of the three contests but lost the other two games by a combined six points.
Head coach Roderick Spencer is already in Toronto scouting out the competition. Assistant coach Gavin McKenzie said the games against the Canadians will help toughen up the Bermuda squad.
“We are looking for the physical play,” McKenzie said.
“I actually want them to get beat up and not complain about it.
“If the ref doesn’t call, we don’t want them to worry about it. We’ve still got to do what we’ve got to do.
“We’ve got to just get up and play.”
McKenzie added that during the Island Games, Bermuda doesn’t catch many breaks frrom the referees so they have to learn not to worry if they are fouled or not.
“We don’t anticipate getting any calls,” he said. “As far as we’re concerned it’s just basic basketball.”
He said as long as Bermuda keeps it cool on the non-calls, the squad will come out a winner.
“We’re focusing on our team concept.
“We can only win if we play as a team.”
McKenzie said part of the focus of this team is the addition of more Bermudians.
“Our goal is to say ‘This is an all-Bermudian team.’ When you put on the Bermuda shirt you represent Bermuda.
“We only have about six guys from last year’s team and they’re all Bermudians. We have some guys married to Bermudians, but we’re trying to get it strictly all Bermudians.”
Dale Jackson, one of the national team’s captains, said the games in Toronto will add international experience to the squad.
Jackson said: “We won the gold in the Island Games last year and we want to keep it going. We need some international experience. Travelling to Toronto and playing some semi-pro players and others of a high calibre, will help us learn” to take our game to a higher level.
He added: “The most important thing for this trip is to give some of the new players an opportunity to show what they can offer the team.
“We want to build some team chemistry,” he added.
Jackson said the focus is on the Rhode’s Island Games, but it would be beneficial if the squad were to play some matches in the Caribbean as well.
Player Ryan Rabain said: “We’re getting ready for the Island Games next year.”
Rabain said the players from the Cayman Islands and Rhodes are big so they need to face some quality opponents in preparation for the tournament.
“These teams are a lot better than those from the Island Games. This is the Toronto Basketball Association, which is better than the little islands we play against.”
Rabain said Chris Crumper is one player who has been added to the squad, who will be a big help.
“He used to play Division 2 basketball in Florida. We have a couple of other big guys coming in to the squad like Chae (Powell), who are good.”
Steven Simons, of the Bermuda Basketball Association, said overseas tours like this were a crucial part of player development.
“Playing overseas competition and higher level competition is a must for the team as we push towards another Island Games gold medal and also look forward to higher competition such as the Pan-Am Games.”[[In-content Ad]]
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