Action begins on 30 courts tomorrow at Coliseum parking lot

D1

by dwayne tingley
times & transcript staff

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Lindsay Whittaker and her friends are just going to let instincts take over.

The foursome are prepared for their first appearance at the NBA 3on3 Tournament, scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday at the Moncton Coliseum parking lot.

Almost 140 teams have registered for the fourth annual tournament. The parking lot will be home to almost 30 half-courts, with three-on-three games beginning tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the weekend.

Toronto Raptors coach Jay Triano will be on hand and the event will also feature sponsor giveaways and several contests. Spectators are encouraged to attend.

"We've never played in the tournament before, but other friends have told us about it and it sounds like a lot of fun," said Whittaker, who just graduated from Bernice MacNaughton High School in Moncton and will suit up for the St. Thomas Tommies this fall.

"I've heard it's a lot of fun to play outside and there's action all the time," the 17-year-old said. "It's pretty much non-stop all weekend.

"When you're not playing, you go around and watch the other games. It's going to be an awesome time for everyone."

Joining Whittaker are Brittany Foreman, who also just graduated from MacNaughton and will join the King's College Blue Devils this fall, and Meghan Foreman and Amy Cormier, a pair of Grade 10 players from the Highlanders.

"We all know each other very well so that should help us a lot," Whittaker said. "We know the games are going to be tough, but we know each other well and where we are going to be on the court."

However, the MacNaughton quartet will have to get used to three-on-three and playing on the half-court.

"We know things are going to happen quickly," Whittaker said. "We can't play any zone defence or set up and plays offensively, we just have to react and play on instincts.

"It's hard to say how we're going to do. We've very competitive so we're going there to win, of course. I think we should do pretty well. We're ready for it.

"On offence, we just have to take the shots that are given to us. There's no time to think it over -- just shoot when you get a chance. Keep it simple."

The NBA 3on3 Tournament will make eight stops across Canada and Moncton is the lone event in the Maritimes. The tour will also make stops in London, Ont., Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

The Moncton stop is co-presented by the New Brunswick Sport Academy, Basketball New Brunswick and Rogers.