College Sport Media
  • Home
  • About
  • Love what we do?
  • Articles
    • Athletics/XC
    • Bike
    • Bowls
    • Boxing
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Netball
    • Rowing
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Sailing
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Weight Lifting
    • Other
  • Videos!
  • Advertise with CSM
  • History of National Events
  • NZ Schools Rugby
    • NZS 2017
    • NZS 2015
    • NZS 2014
    • NZS 2013
    • NZS 2012
    • NZS 2011
    • NZS 2010
    • NZS 2009
    • NZS 2008
    • NZS 2007
    • NZS 2006
    • NZS 2005
    • NZS 2004
    • NZS 2003
    • NZS 2002
    • NZS 2001
    • NZS 2000
    • NZS 1999
    • NZS 1998
    • NZS 1997
    • NZS 1996
    • NZS 1995
    • NZS 1994/95 Tour
    • NZS 1994
    • NZS 1993
    • NZS 1992
    • NZS 1991
    • NZS 1990
    • NZS 1989
    • NZS 1988
    • NZS 1987
    • NZS 1986
    • NZS 1985
    • NZS 1984/85 Tour
    • NZS 1984
    • NZS 1983
    • NZS 1982
    • NZS 1981
    • NZS 1980
    • NZS 1979
    • NZS 1978
    • NZ Schools Stats
  • Index of Articles
  • Partners
  • Youth Olympics 2018,2020
  • Emerging Talent
  • College Rugby Draws
  • Home
  • About
  • Love what we do?
  • Articles
    • Athletics/XC
    • Bike
    • Bowls
    • Boxing
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Netball
    • Rowing
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Sailing
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Weight Lifting
    • Other
  • Videos!
  • Advertise with CSM
  • History of National Events
  • NZ Schools Rugby
    • NZS 2017
    • NZS 2015
    • NZS 2014
    • NZS 2013
    • NZS 2012
    • NZS 2011
    • NZS 2010
    • NZS 2009
    • NZS 2008
    • NZS 2007
    • NZS 2006
    • NZS 2005
    • NZS 2004
    • NZS 2003
    • NZS 2002
    • NZS 2001
    • NZS 2000
    • NZS 1999
    • NZS 1998
    • NZS 1997
    • NZS 1996
    • NZS 1995
    • NZS 1994/95 Tour
    • NZS 1994
    • NZS 1993
    • NZS 1992
    • NZS 1991
    • NZS 1990
    • NZS 1989
    • NZS 1988
    • NZS 1987
    • NZS 1986
    • NZS 1985
    • NZS 1984/85 Tour
    • NZS 1984
    • NZS 1983
    • NZS 1982
    • NZS 1981
    • NZS 1980
    • NZS 1979
    • NZS 1978
    • NZ Schools Stats
  • Index of Articles
  • Partners
  • Youth Olympics 2018,2020
  • Emerging Talent
  • College Rugby Draws
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

23/7/2016 Comments

Caitlin O'Connor: Shooting for Success

Picture
In the build-up to the Australia Junior Championships, Taranaki’s Caitlin O’Connell thought her chances of making the New Zealand Under-16 team for the tournament were over after missing out on the second trial for the squad.

Instead, the 13-year-old O’Connell was placed in the Koru team – a development side including players who missed out on Under-16 and Under-16 ‘A’ honours.

After an impressive showing during her time with the Koru team, O’Connell was recalled back to take part in anoter NZ U16 trial. Again, standing out from her opposition, O’Connell defied the odds and was unexpectedly selected in the top NZ U16 team.

“I didn’t think I would get in, at all… It was really surprising,” stated O’Connell.

After making the squad O’Connell and her team competed the Australia Junior Championships, winning four of their six pool games to qualify for the knockout stages. On her way there, the Sacred Heart College, New Plymouth student caught some attention with her performances in the first and last pool games.

To open the tournament, O’Connell posted 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists – the second-top numbers in her team for each statistic. This was then followed up in the side’s 68-57 win over South Australia Country as O’Connell recorded 10 points, four boards and two assists before leading her team in assists as NZ won a seventh place finish over Queensland North.

However, O’Connell is hoping that her and her Taranaki side can go several steps further in the 2016 Under-15 National Championship, hoping to win it all, saying “If we work together I think we can [win the championship].”

The day one results in Wellington suggest that is a real possibility. Taranaki’s opening match against Southland was comfortable for O’Connell’s side – winning 91-38 as O’Connell contributed 13 points.

Later in the day Taranaki continued their hot run as they took care of Gisborne 70-47 with O’Connell again surpassing double-digits to score 12 points.

Continuing their quest for national glory, Taranaki take on Wellington at 8.00am tomorrow before a potential top-of-Pool-A clash with Rotorua at 4.45pm to round out the team’s pool play.

Should Taranaki progress deep into the tournament, it will be another box ticked off for O’Connell, though she is also hoping, on a personal note, to make the tournament team before dreaming one day to play college basketball in the United States and progress higher up the nation team ranks.

​

Comments

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    October 2021
    August 2021
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015

Organisation

College Sport Media is dedicated to telling the story of successful young sportspeople in New Zealand

Use of articles

All rights are reserved for commercial use.
Any Educational Institution or official sports governing body may use material with acknowledgement to College Sport Media 
© COPYRIGHT 2015.-2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.