The last couple of years of school are exciting and challenging at the best of times – and the class of 2021 had to deal with the pandemic and the move to online learning.

In this series of profiles, Canberra Daily speaks to class of 2021 graduates who excelled despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.

Katie Deeble and Chyra Evans (Lake Ginninderra College)

Two ex-Lake Ginninderra students are playing basketball with the Sydney Uni Flames before heading to the States on sports scholarships. Katie Deeble is going to Wake Forrest University, North Carolina, and Chyra Evans to the University of Michigan for four years.

“I’m really excited to just get over there and play,” Katie said. “Obviously, because of COVID, we haven’t had that many games. So just getting over there, playing a different style of basketball, it’s really exciting.”

“It’s a whole different type of playing style compared to Australia,” Chyra agreed. “So I’m excited to get over there and experience that type of playing style.”

Both have played basketball since they were children. Chyra’s mother played, so she’s always been around basketball. “I basically grew up in a basketball stadium!” She first started playing rep when she was six.

Katie, on the other hand, comes from a baseball family; her father works for the LA Dodgers – but she wasn’t very interested in baseball. She took up basketball when she was six or seven.

Both girls want to play for Australia, as members of the Opals, the Australian women’s national basketball team. “It’s the ultimate goal,” Chyra said. Playing for the Women’s National Basketball Association (US), or in Europe, are bonuses.

Basketball games have been few these last two years. They played in an under-19s world tournament in Hungary, nine games against different countries, and last year, an under-20s national competition, states versus states.

“The whole season has been interrupted by COVID,” Chyra said. “But every game we get, it’s an opportunity to play against people again.”

Playing with the Flames is a different experience from school year basketball. “We’re used to playing with girls our own age,” Chyra said. “We’re playing against women who are a lot stronger, smarter, more athletic. It’s great because we get exposed to a whole different playing style.”

“Getting out into the big women’s world, getting to play against other players, and training against them every day is really helpful with our development, just trying to get to where we want to be,” Katie said.

Katie has been to Los Angeles and Arizona a couple of times, and seen world series matches when the Dodgers get up. But this will be Chyra’s first visit to America.

“For me, it’s a bit of an eye-opener as well, to see what happens over there, but I’m looking forward to it.”