When I found out that I would be helping Jim Walsh coach his 14 and 15 year old girls team in Kilcock, I could not have been more excited. I have loved the game of basketball since I was 6 years old, but I really started to see the effects of basketball when I was in high school. Basketball brought me to some of my best friends, provided me with countless opportunities, and most importantly basketball helped shaped my character. Basketball helped me with time management and drastically helped my confidence. Basketball was such a vital part of my life when I was 14, so I am so excited to help these amazing girls find a love for the game and show them all that basketball has to offer.
I first met the Kilcock basketball team last week at practice. I could immediately see their potential. They are such great athletes and most of them had played Gaelic football, so they were familiar with the physicality of basketball. The girls continued to impress me when we competed in a tournament in Dublin and they made it to the semifinals! This was they first time all of the girls had played together so I was so proud of their effort and I was so excited to think about the potential for the rest of the season.
They best part about this team is their willingness to listen and learn. They want to get better and they want to win, and honestly that is one of the most important aspects of basketball. I can’t wait to see all of the girls’ confidence grow on and off the court and watch them become not only amazing basketball players, but also amazing young women. I am honored to be a part of the Kilcock team and I am very excited for the rest of the season!
