Josie Stockill with her parents Adrian and Karen following her graduation from Colgate University, New York, on May 15.
Josie Stockill with her parents Adrian and Karen following her graduation from Colgate University, New York, on May 15.
Her graduation out of the way now, Josie Stockill is delighted to be a cog in the wheel of the New Zealand women's basketball team on tour in Europe.
"I've got my degree so nothing will clash with trying to help us qualify for Rio now," Stockill said via Skypefrom Gijon, Spain, after the Tall Ferns pipped the hosts 54-52 early yesterday in their friendly match on the road to the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in France next week.
"It was a great win. I played approximately three minutes of the first quarter. I was mostly supporting by cheering from the bench," said the 22-year-old neuroscience graduate from Colgate University. This was before they were tipping off again against the world No.3-ranked Spaniards at 5am today in Oviedo, the last outing for both nations before the qualifiers in Nantes from June 14-20.
Stockill, of Napier, graduated on May 15 which interfered with the trials for the trip to Europe.
"It's a bit of a relief and it's obviously a very proud moment to have my parents and grandma there for the graduation," she said of Karen and Adrian Stockill, of Napier.
Her grandmother is Marcia Stockill, of England, where the international was born when her rugby-mad parents returned to the Bay after falling in love with the province during the Lions tour of New Zealand while watching the game against the Hawke's Bay Magpies at McLean Park, Napier.
Colgate University graduate Josie Stockill, of Napier, with mum Karen (left), grandmother Marcia Stockill, of England, and father Adrian at her ceremony.
The Kennedy Kereama-coached Tall Ferns are in the same pool as world No4 France and No13 Cuba at the Rio qualifiers. "We need to beat both France and Cuba but we'll need to one game and then one more after that," Stockill said. "Cuba is our first main goal."
The 13 hopefuls next week are Spain, France, Belarus, Turkey (Europe); Cuba, Argentina, Venezuela (Americas); Cameroon, Nigeria (Africa), China, South Korea (Asia); and New Zealand (Oceania). Only the top five will earn a place in Rio. The top two teams from each pool of three will progress to the quarterfinals.
The former Napier Girls' High School pupil is lapping up the electric atmosphere in the camp, after Kereama had the agonising task of omitting Waikato teenager Krystal Leger-Walker and Melbourne-based Jessica Bygate from his party of 14 for the qualifying tourney.
However, should the Tall Ferns make the cut for Rio next week all 16 original squad members will come back into the equation for a re-trial. "We are really happy with the 12 players we have selected," Kereama said on Wednesday. "All positions across the board we have depth in and all players can contribute and have experience in the black singlet."
Stockill has been assigned a multi-tasking role to fulfil in giving the starting fives a rest. "I come off the bench and bring a lot of energy," she said, revealing she was an integral part of helping develop defensive and offensive screens.
"I make hustle plays. If I'm open I'm allowed to shoot but I'm not expected to score. I have to be great on the boards and have put up great D [defence]," said the 1.85m forward who finished her outstanding four-year Raiders career as Colgate University's all-time leading shot blocker - fifth in rebounding and 15th in scoring.
The Kiwi women, who are underdogs but won't lack bite, don't have to look too far for inspiration in trying to qualify. "We have a few girls who were in Beijing so, at team meetings, they give their experiences to build up the hype to help paint a bigger picture," she said of the likes of veterans such as as Micaela Cocks, Jillian Harmon and Lisa Wallbutton, who represented New Zealand at the 2008 Olympics.
"The tournament is the world's biggest stage so it just gives us goose bumps," said Stockill who, in 2014, became the first Bay player to make the Tall Ferns squad since Kirstin Daly-Taylor in 1985.
A Napier Boys' High School teacher, Daly-Taylor is the Indigo Hawks men's basketball coach for the next four years.
Stockill said the Tall Ferns were grateful for all the support they were receiving throughout the trip leading up to the qualifying tourney.
Said Kereama of yesterday's win: "We need to show that this was no fluke and we can also improve on this game."
