Here is a recap of the BaWü exchange by the coaching staff.
One step in the right direction, many more steps to go
Over the course of the past four days, the traditional BaWü exchange presented an opportunity for our U14 boys and girls to practice and compete in a competitive environment against some good international competition. This year, a U15 selection from Grand-Est, France, also joined the exchange.
U14 boys
Unlike in November, where our U14 teams struggled against BaWü, this time both matches were closely contested, with each game being decided in the final minutes. Particularly in the first game, our boys showed remarkable fighting spirit by overcoming a 15-point deficit to get back in the game. Unfortunately, some poor decision-making in the closing minutes of both games prevented them from winning these games.
In the game against a physically imposing team from Grand-Est, each member of our 15-player roster had the opportunity to gain valuable experience.
Furthermore, on the first day, the boys also participated in a 3×3 tournament against the U14 players from the other two selections.
U14 girls
The U14 national team girls showcased intensity, progress, and excellent teamwork over the past four days at the BaWü exchange. They won the first game against BaWü with an aggressive defense and good offensive decisions 79:47. In the second game against France U15, it was not easy to compete against a team that was physically and size wise bigger than our team and lost 66:47! And in the last game against BaWü, the team showed great effort in defense, fighting for every ball and won the close game 61:59!
Albert Schweitzer
In addition to the practice sessions and games, our boys and girls had the privilege of attending the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, one of the most prestigious tournaments for U18 selections worldwide. Witnessing NBA prospects like Rocco Zikarsky from Australia will hopefully serve as inspiration for our young players.
Conclusion
Overall, it was good to see the progress our players have made from November until now, with many more challenges lying ahead in their young playing careers.
We would like to thank the Sportschule Steinbach and the BBW for their gracious hospitality.
Some pictures:
