Trio bring Down Under might to NIC

A trio of Australians is adding depth to the North Idaho College women’s basketball team even as they try to cope with deepening snow that is almost never seen in their homelands thousands of miles away in Queensland and Victoria.

“I am already freezing,” said freshman guard and Queensland native Marney Lee. “I am used to weather in the 100-degree range around where I am from.”

Lee, Megan McIntyre and Ash Gilmore are adapting to the difference in climate, one way or another. Sophomore McIntyre is back for another year on the squad, while Lee and Gilmore are busy adapting to college-level basketball, as well as life in the United States.

Lee played club basketball in Australia (high schools there have no sports team, so athletes join clubs instead) for Southern Cross of the Australian Basketball Association.

McIntyre and Gilmore are from the Victoria area and even played on the same club team, the Melbourne Tigers, for one year in 2001.

The highlight of a recent trip to Moscow, Idaho, was not the action on the court, but rather the snow falling outside.

“That was the first time I had seen snow,” said Gilmore. “I had to act like a kid and play around in it a little.”

Lee also got acclimated to snow, but unfortunately not in the same delicate manner.

“I am afraid I got the brunt of it,” she said, referring to the impromptu snowball fight that ensued. “You could have at least given me a warning!” she said, staring at Gilmore. “I got it right in the back of the head.”

The women have much more experience on the basketball court than in snowball fights. “Ash can flat out score,” said NIC women’s head coach Chris Carlson said of her 6-foot forward and center. “She has excellent moves and great instincts on the court. Due to some recent injuries, she is just getting going these last few games. She’s a good defender inside and a good post player as well.”

McIntyre, also a 6-footer, fills a variety of different roles for the team, Carlson said.

“Megan is a good-sized post player and defender,” the coach said. “She can take a charge, is a good passer and has a nice shot. She comes from a basketball family; I understand her mother was quite the player in Australia.”

Lee is one of the squad’s playmakers.

“Marney is a real smart, gutsy little guard,” said Carlson. “She is a playmaker, even though she is just learning the game speed at this level (of play). Our team is deep this year, we’ll use around 10 players regularly during any given game, so these three girls should get plenty of playing time for us at their respective positions.”

When asked what they miss about their homeland, a familiar theme arose.

“I miss waking up and knowing where I am,” said McIntyre. “Being here still lacks familiarity for me.”

“I miss my town, and all the people in it; all the familiar things that you probably take for granted until you leave.” said Gilmore.

“I’d have to say I miss my family and my hometown,” said Lee. “But I also miss my home basketball court – I really grew up there.”