Pollerd and Price receive CoE Scholarships
Olivia Pollerd and Paige Price will both be heading to Basketball Australia’s “Centre Of Excellence” in 2019.
Both athletes have earned their scholarships after impressing the Centre Of Excellence (CoE) coaches over the last twelve months.
Leading up to her CoE Scholarship, Olivia’s Won Gold whilst representing Australia at the FIBA u16 Asian Cup, Won Bronze as a member of Basketball Victoria Country’s u18 Women’s team and was a starter for the Southern Peninsula Women who were Runners Up in State Championship.
Olivia is “super excited” about receiving her scholarship “To get a chance to live and train in such a special environment is definitely a privilege and a bit of a dream come true. I’m really looking forward to making the most of the fantastic opportunity that I have been given”. Polly was full of praise for our Association “Southern Pen means everything to me. It is such a fantastic club! It really is the players, coaches and all the families that make it so special. I have certainly learned a lot since I joined the club as a 12-year-old. I really wouldn’t have had the amazing opportunities that I’ve had without the help of some very special Southern Pen people”.
Paige Price was also a member of the Southern Peninsula Women’s side that was Runners Up in State Championship. Additionally, Paige has won a Silver Medal as a member of Basketball Victoria Country’s u16 Women’s team, Won Gold at the Basketball Victoria Country Championships and was a member of the team that Won the VJBL VC Championship. Later this year, Paige will head to the FIBA Oceania Championships, representing Australia for the first time.
Paige feels honoured to have been provided this opportunity “I’m incredibly honoured and understand the privilege of accepting this scholarship to the CoE. Although I’ve been playing rep since I was 7, by far the most important year of my juniors was coming to Southern Peninsula. I came to Southern Peninsula to be coached by the best, particularly Gerard Hillier and have found that not only G, but all the coaches in the environment are at national level”. Price was full of praise for the Senior players that also aided her development “I was fortunate enough to play alongside Jaz Shelley and Peyton Little who did wonders for my development, whilst a special thanks also goes to Jamilee Pearce who went out of her way during training and games to assist my growth as a player”. Similarly to Olivia, Paige was all praise for the Southern Peninsula Basketball Association “I consider Southern Peninsula and all my teammates to be family, I consider myself a Southern Peninsula player and always will. I look forward to returning to play at some stage in the future”
Director of Coaching and Pathways, Gerard Hillier believes this announcement exemplifies what our Association is about “everything we do is about helping everyone; Athletes, Coaches, Referees, Administrators and other Officials alike, get to the next level. Whether that be making the progression from Domestic to Junior Rep or from our Representative program to the State program etc. Our focus is always on long term development. This is an incredible opportunity for both Olivia and Paige and we look forwards to seeing their continued long-term growth”
This is an incredibly exciting time for the Southern Peninsula family, having two of our members accept CoE scholarships at the same time is a testament not only to the work that these young athletes and their families have put in, however, it is also a sign of the work that their coaches and team mates have put in to allow them to succeed.
The Southern Peninsula Basketball Association wish Olivia, Paige and all of their families the very best of luck as they prepare to embark on the next step of their Basketball careers.