ARARAT - Two of Ararat's brightest young basketball stars, Cortney and Jessica Williamson, are gearing up for the trip of a lifetime.
The girls have been selected to tour the USA with the Country Victoria National Intensive Training Centre Program, which both girls are members of.
The NITCP is a program designed to identify and develop outstanding basketball talent between the ages of 14 and 17, using rigorous training programs to help them compete successfully at both national and international level.
NITCP scholarship holders attend four camps a year, where they are subjected to fitness testing, skills work, general training and matches.
The Williamson twins have held places in the NITCP since the start of last year.
The NITCP has 25 places and runs for a 12 month period, with the trip to America firstly being offered to top age scholarship holders.
While not being top age, both Cortney and Jessica were selected after impressing at camps, and also in their previous performances for Country Victoria.
During their trip the girls will travel around America, playing basketball against various high school teams, attending regular after match functions and doing plenty of sightseeing along the way.
The team is also entered into the Mount Zion Christian Tournament, a highly regarded junior tournament featuring teams from several different areas, including North Carolina and Indiana.
On top of some great basketball experiences, the trip offers players the chance to experience some of America's many attractions.
Players will travel to famous universities Duke and North Carolina to witness the wonderful facilities and take in the history on offer.
Duke is arguably the most highly regarded university in America for producing top quality basketball talent, while North Carolina is where NBA legend Michael Jordan first graced the floorboards at a semi-professional level.
Players will also attend an NBA match while in Washington, between the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers.
Other highlights are a trip to Disneyland and California Adventure Park, a trip to Universal Studios, shopping at Santa Monica among a host of other things planned while touring the country.
Playing together will not be an issue for the team, all girls having played together at camps and other Victoria Country tournaments in the past.
The girls, who play weekly with the Melbourne Tigers, also have another Tigers teammate going on the trip, meaning they should gel together well.
With only 10 players on the roster, both Cortney and Jessica can expect plenty of playing time in the guard spots due to their hectic schedule.
It is expected the twins will share the point guard spot, while Jessica may slide over to shooting guard depending on the opposition.
Both are crafty ball handlers and able to knock down shots from outside the arc, something which will be vital against some expected taller line-ups.
With neither having been overseas before both girls are really looking forward to the experience.
"It's pretty exciting to be going overseas, and it will good to play against some tough competition,'' Cortney said.
Jessica echoed her sister's comments, adding that the shopping and sightseeing would also be great!
- The Williamson sisters however, are not the only Ararat basketballers who will be heading to the States.
Bernie Peoples will head over on the same trip, playing with the boys team.
Peoples currently boards at St Patricks College in Ballarat and as such does not play basketball in Ararat, however he has played local basketball and been part of junior Redbacks' squads in previous years.
Peoples has also played with Ballarat representative squads, and been part of Victoria Country teams.
An athletic swingman, Peoples is likely to play the shooting guard or small forward spots, and will look to use his quickness to get to the basket.
The trip promises to be a fantastic opportunity for the trio, who are sure to come home with many fond memories.