MAHER SAYS GB WOMEN ARE RARING TO GO
- Updated: July 25, 2012
Tom Maher says Great Britain’s women will be ready for their Olympic Games opener on Saturday against Australia after coming through their final tune-up.
His side lost 74-70 in a closed door friendly with Russia in London on Tuesday evening with Maher running his entire squad – with Jeneya Wade-Frey hitting a team-best 13 points.
Next up is his native land, who he coached to silver in 2000 after leading the Opals to bronze four years earlier.
Maher said: “To play them first is like you’re playing without any pressure at all, and you get your Olympic feet wet. We’ll be surprisingly good if people aren’t ready for us.
“The Olympics is the easiest tournament we play, as far as international tournaments go. We get a day on and a day off, you don’t get that at any other tournament.
“Our preparation has been spot on, the most professional off-court I have ever experienced. It is the best organisation, the best support, I’ve been in the US and China, New Zealand, Australia, and it’s the best I’ve experienced.”
Jo Leedham , the 24-year-old from Ellesmere Port, spent last season in Australia with Bulleen Boomers, who will have three players in the Opals squad.
That insight helps, she said. And she says GB are prepared for the intensity of the Olympic schedule.
“It’s just another game, getting a day off in between is almost like a luxury for us,†she said.
“We had five games in six days in last year’s EuroBasket event which was tough. But we got through it and in our last game – on the last day – that’s when we got our biggest win against the Czech Republic.
“We know what we can achieve, we know how good we can play. If teams aren’t ready for us then we’re going to shake things up and even if they are we can still do this. We’ve come such a long way, having three months at the prep camp has allowed us to really gel.”
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