Victoria Stanley is set to expand her basketball experience by travelling to Halifax next month to take part in the North American Indigenous Games.
At 13 years of age, the Skeena Middle School student is on the B.C. U14 girls team, making her one of thousands of athletes taking part in the games.
Stanley was chosen following a selection camp held in Terrace, a second one in Langley and a third one just before the Junior All-Native Basketball Tournament held in Nanaimo in March.
So far, the point guard who also plays forward has avoided more serious injuries in her four years on the basketball court, listing only a sprained ankle.
Stanley’s training regime involves a five-kilometre run along Kitsumkalum’s newly-paved roads, often accompanied by her 10-year-old sister on a scooter for inspiration.
“Sometimes I chase her,” she says.
On the court, Stanley works on her jumpshot.
“I have good footwork and I’m good at protecting the ball, too,” she said.
While Stanley may be the only U14 girl from Terrace on the B.C. team, the northwest’s basketball depth is such that she’s with players from Hazelton, Prince Rupert and Lax Kw’alaams.
“We keep in touch by Snapchat,” she said.
The trip to Halifax will be Stanley’s first visit to the Maritimes.
“I’m looking forward to the whole experience,” she said.
There are U14, U16 and U19 boys and girls basketball teams taking part in the North American Indigenous Games from July 15 to July 23 in the Halifax/Dartmouth area. And basketball is one of 16 sports.
The North American Indigenous Games date back to the early 1970s in Alberta when a first-ever large-scale event drew 3,000 athletes competing in 13 sports.