For a second straight summer, Louise Forsyth is going for gold with Canada.
After attending a tryout earlier this month in Toronto, Forsyth landed one of the 12 roster spots for Canada’s entry into the 2016 FIBA world championships in Spain.
“After a very competitive assessment process, we have selected the 12 athletes who will represent Canada and (look) to build on past success,” said Denise Dignard, director of women’s high performance for Basketball Canada.
“Athletes have worked hard throughout the year and we look forward to seeing them continue their growth and compete against the best in the world at their age group.”
The team finished training camp on June 14 and then left for Spain for a three-game exhibition tournament.
The FIBA U17 championships begin June 22 and run until July 3.
Canada faces Nigeria, Latvia and Japan in pool play.
Forsyth is a six-foot-guard set to enter Grade 12 at Brookswood Secondary in the fall. She has verbally committed to Gonzaga University for 2017.
She has helped the Bobcats senior girls basketball team win three consecutive B.C. 3A senior girls provincial championships. This past year, she was also named a first team all-star.
Forsyth also helped Canada win gold last summer at the U16 FIBA Americas championships and Canada is currently ranked fourth in FIBA’s youth girl rankings.
And while one Langley teen made the final Canadian roster for their age group, another was not as fortunate.
Jake Cowley was among the 22 athletes invited to try out for Canada’s U17 national team tryouts in Toronto.
The tryouts were held earlier this month (June 4 to 10) with the final 12-man roster representing Canada at the U17 FIBA world championships in Spain.
Canada is currently ranked third in the FIBA youth men’s rankings.
Cowley, who enters Grade 12 at Walnut Grove Secondary. Cowley is a six-foot-seven forward for the Gators. He was named a provincial first team after helping Walnut Grove win the bronze medal at the B.C. 4A senior boys provincial championships.
Gary Ahuja Langley Times file photo
Walnut Grove’s Jake Cowley was a first team all-star in helping the Gators finish third at the provincial basketball championships.
