POSITIVITY is the key word on the minds of John Wormald's under 16 Mermaids players and especially with wing Meg Carlin.
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The 14-year-old said adopting her coach's mantra would be key to his side's success at this weekend's Warrnambool Seaside Junior Basketball Classic.
"He (Wormald) is a really good coach and he always seems to get us up and about somehow; I don't know how he just does it," she told The Standard.
"He (Wormald) is a really good coach and he always seems to get us up and about some how I don't know how he just does it."
- Meg Carlin
"He always seems to stay positive and it always helps us as a team. It gives us a good start and we are all happy and laughing."
Carlin played basketball for three years now after being influenced by her father and former Seahawks division one player Bernie.
The Warrnambool College year eight student is now trying to forge her own success on the court and playing in her club's home tournament is another perfect opportunity to continue.
Carlin and her under 16 teammates took confidence in after securing an overall victory at Millicent on the weekend.
She is eager to chase back-to-back tournament wins.
"I'm pretty excited that we as a team get to play and I'm really excited that we get to play teams again that we haven't played before," she said.
"We are playing a few tough teams which will be a good challenge."
Carlin highlighted two areas of the side's game that are critical to its chances of securing another tournament victory.
"Our defence is our main big thing and we are good at sharing the ball with our teamwork," she said.
Carlin, who has been focusing her training on improving her non-preferred hand, said playing on a home court would drive the team's confidence higher.
"It's a good advantage because we know what the courts are like and what the rings are like," she said.
"I'm hoping to get another win in the grand final and hoping the rest of the teams will too."
Warrnambool Seahawks and Mermaids will have teams playing in all 21 divisions of the tournament, which runs over two days.
The tournament will run at various locations including the Arc, Our Lady of Help Christian Primary School, St Joseph's Primary School, Emmanuel College and Brauer College.
Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
