POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
The Home Gas Flames are not assured a path to establish local basketballs next dynasty.
The national womens basketball league is slated to start 21 February. Organized by the Cayman Islands Basketball Association, matches are expected to take place indoors at Camana Bays Arts and Recreation Centre.
For technical director for Cayman basketball Victor Voot OGarro, the Flames have many obstacles in their way.
To my knowledge, Home Gas is not coming back this year as Home Gas, OGarro said. The name figures to change though Wendy Manzanares is still the head coach. What will impact them this year is that a number of good players are off Island.
Girls like La-Torae Nixon and Hannah Parchment are away to school. It could mean a little weakness in the tournament for awhile but thats the price of success.
Home Gas head into 2013 after winning two straight national championships. Nixon had been Home Gas main player the last two years, with Sade Wood becoming her chief sidekick. In 2012, the Flames swept aside the Dominos Lady Heels in the finals.
Parchment was part of the Lady Heels. She also served as team captain for the national Under-15 girls squad last summer that produced a historic fifth place finish at the CentroBasket Championships in Mexico City, Mexico.
The 2012 womens league featured three other teams in Scimone Campbells Island Heritage Silver Mist, Cassianne Lawrences Lady Wolves and Chloe Powerys Wellys Cool Spot.
OGarro states young talent can shine in the coming weeks.
There will be a change in the composition as we will have young ones coming up to take the place of girls like La-Torae and Hannah. Chloe is coming into it and has improved tremendously with the tournament in Mexico.
Amanda Stone is another young one to watch. Rochelle Gardener should be coming with more fire, based on her experience.
Mathew Yates
