JOHANNAH Leedham managed to showcase her skills on her competitive debut for Great Britain despite finishing on the losing side.
The former Ellesmere Port Panther led a remarkable comeback in her first EuroBasket Division A game, taking 13 of her top-scoring 14 points in the second half against hosts Ukraine.
Ukraine scored 15 unanswered points at the end of the first half to go 33-18 up at the break, but despite eating into the deficit, GB lost 59-54.
Johannah’s dad Kim Leedham, chairman of Ellesmere Port Panthers who have now become part of the Cheshire Jets youth programme, said: “She top scored – she felt that she could have shot better but she’s a perfectionist. She doesn’t like to have shots that don’t go in. It was a tough game but they’re playing in Division A and they will all be tough.”
If Great Britain stay in the division by doing well in their remaining seven EuroBasket group games, they can ultimately go on to gain a place at the 2012 London Olympics.
The competition also acts as a qualifying event for next year’s European Championships. The sides play in four groups with the top 11 teams going through. More importantly, the bottom two teams will be relegated.
Great Britain head coach Mark Clark said: “For our first game in Division A competition, I was pleased with our effort. I was pleased with the way we came back in the game and I think we proved we belong to this level.
“I was not surprised that the Ukraine team was as good as we expected them to be.”
Former Ellesmere Port Catholic High pupil Johannah is currently with the GB team as they gear up for today’s clash with Lithuania in Cardiff.
Lithuania will be looking to bounce back from their 63-47 loss to Israel.
Clark added: “Now that we’ve had a look at this level, we’ve got to adapt and get ready to play Lithuania, who are one of the favourites in the group.”
Johannah has some experience with GB already, playing friendlies against Norway, Holland and Croatia. Now that she feels more at home in the team, her scoring could prove crucial.
Dad Kim said: “That’s given her the opportunity to fit in with the players around her, and she’s obviously quite happy.
“What was good [about losing to Ukraine] was that they weren’t blown away. I don’t think there will be any one team that beats everybody home and away. It could come down to the amount of baskets scored.”
Johannah is on a basketball scholarship at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire, America.
