Budding basketball star Memphis Dick is looking forward to her next big challenge when she takes to the court with Team BC in Kelowna on May 23 and May 24.
Last fall, the young Tseshaht hoopster was selected to take part in the North American Indigenous Games, which take place this July in Regina. The Kelowna tournament will be the first time the team, drawn from First Nations across the province, has a chance to practice and play together.
While Memphis is only 12 years old, she has pushed her athletic limits from the very beginning.
“I’ve been playing on the Haahuupayak team for two years, but I started playing basketball when I was in Grade 3,” she said. “I also play with Hesquiaht Storm, and last year I played with the Tseshaht Eagles in a tournament at Athletic Hall.”
With the Storm, Memphis, who stands just 5ft, three-and-a-half inches, plays with and against girls up to 17 years of age in all-Native tournaments. She says she’s learning how to overcome her lack of height by using her natural speed.
“It’s really different from ‘school ball,’” she explained. “In school, I play point guard, and we mostly just move up and down the court and score baskets. With the Storm, we run plays, and I play guard, but it’s not quite point guard.”
Memphis took to the court with the Storm for the Vancouver Island Zone Playoffs in Ucluelet prior to the Junior All-Natives in Kamloops in March. The team placed fourth.
The game is a heady mix of speed, strategy and improvisation. Memphis explained that her guard role with the Storm is more defensive than school ball, but is always geared towards the fast breakout.
“I’m working on my rebounding. When my friends and I play, we have someone toss it in, and I always come up with the ball.”
Proud grandmother Lena Ross said Memphis has always given that extra effort, whether it is in basketball, lacrosse or on the track.
“Whatever the sport, she’s always a presence out there. She played lacrosse against the boys and that’s where she learned she could hold her own,” Lena said. “In Ucluelet, she showed she’s a clutch three-point shooter.”
“I’m not playing lacrosse this year, because I’m focusing on basketball,” Memphis said.
Her father, Ed Ross, competed in track at the 1997 NAIG in Victoria.
“He was 16, and he ran in the 200 [metres],” grandfather Darrell Ross said. “That was pretty awesome to see all the First Nations there. The Saskatchewan Nations really had a major presence there.”
Darrell said he is certain the Saskatchewan Nations will put on a truly spectacular event, with both sports and cultural events.
“At Haahuupayak, our culture is really important,” Memphis said, adding that she is very glad she will be able to attend Grade 7 at the school next year, with the recent shift to K-7, from K-6.
The school day at Haahuupayak is punctuated with singing and dancing and cultural activities.
“I used to dance the Wolf, but then I became a lead singer,” Memphis said proudly. “They put three lead singers in the middle—me and two others—and we lead the school. And on Thursday, we have a Song and Dance day.”
Earlier this month, Memphis took part in the 2014 Heritage Fair, where she won a medal for her Nuu-chah-nulth Animals display.
Memphis has four younger siblings, and for a young family, sending kids to athletic tournaments can be pretty expensive. There was a $350 registration fee, up front, for the upcoming Langley warm-up tournament alone.
Fortunately, the family has received help and support from the community from the get-go. They are currently running a fundraising auction on Facebook. Tseshaht Market has set up an account at the Bottle Depot for all of their empties, and Ed’s employer, Port Boat House, has come aboard as a major sponsor.
“Ed asked me to give his boss, [owner] Mike Hudson, a big thank you, for donating the registration fee,” Lena said.
While she is only in Grade 6, Memphis said she does think about taking basketball to the university level. But for right now?
“I dream about dunking.”
