5 December 1996

HOW DO YOU MAKE AN OPAL?
START AS A GEM!

Basketball Australia has officially named its National Junior Women’s Basketball Team the ‘Gems’. Following on the heels of their big sisters the Goldmark Opals, the ‘Gems’ consists of Junior Women players under the age of twenty (20).

In 1993 the Australian Under 20 Women went to Seoul, Korea to compete in the World Junior Championship. They came back with Australian Basketball’s first international gold medal, the crown of World Champion and were named the Confederation of Australian Sports Junior Team of the Year. The team was led by current Opals players Michelle Brogan, Michelle Chandler, Jenny Whittle and Carla Boyd. The team also included Jo Hill, Jae Kingi, Kristi Harrower, and Gina Stevens who will push for senior selection in the next few years towards Sydney 2000.

Basketball Australia is finalising a December/January European Tour for the Gems in preparation for the defence of their World Title which is to be held in Natal, Brazil from the 5th to 13th July, 1997.

Head Coach Ray Tomlinson who spearheaded the team’s first World Title, is back at the helm and excited about the talented group of individuals he has to work with.

“As this was the first team to win an international gold medal this group has always been a special part of Australian Basketball. To now be officially known as the ‘Gems’ only makes official what I have felt for this team.” said Coach Tomlinson.