Provincial players picked

A group of seven female basketball players from the Sackville area have been chosen to represent Nova Scotia on the provincial teams for their age groups.

The young athletes were all thrilled to represent the province at Basketball Nova Scotia’s Blunose Classic tournament earlier this month. Aiyanna Empringham, a longtime veteran of the provincial team, will be travelling to Sasketchewan next week to compete in the U-17 National Championships with team Nova Scotia.

Aiyanna, 15, has been playing basketball for eight years now. She stands five-feet-seven-inches tall, and will be in Grade 11 at Sackville High School in the fall. Her 12-year-old sister, Emma, has just been chosen to represent Nova Scotia at the U-14 level. Height must run in the family, because Emma is just as tall as her older sister. She’ll be in grade seven at Sackville Heights Junior High School in September.

Jana Peachey has been selected for Basketball Nova Scotia’s U-14 team. The homeshcooled 13-year-old only recently start playing basketball, but the Bedford Eagles Basketball Association welcomed her with open arms. Maybe her height and enthusiasm on the floor had something to do with it. Peachey stands five-feet-11-inches tall.

Lauren Ford, 13, just finished Grade 8 at Sackville Heights, where she was honoured with the title of female athlete of the year and most outstanding player on the basketball team. Standing five-feet-nine-inches tall, she’s also co-captain of the U-14 provincial team.

The other captain of the U-14 team, Jody Upshaw, has been playing basketball for seven years. The 13-year-old will be in Grade 8 at Sackville Heights this fall. Off the court, Upshaw is heavily involved in the Halifax music scene. She’s recorded tracks with local favourites like Kaleb Simmonds and Quake Matthews.

Grace Gillis, 16, is entering her third season with Basketball Nova Scotia. She’ll be in Grade 11 at Sackville High in the fall. Hailey Giffen, 13, will also be attending Sackville High. Standing a whopping six-feet-two-inches tall, this is Giffen’s second year with the provincial team.

“I just thought the Sackville girls should be recognized for all the hard work they’ve put in to get to this level of basketball,” said Lisa Gillis, Grace’s mother. “Everyone in the community is really proud of them.”

For more information about Basketball Nova Scotia, check out www.basketballnovascotia.com.