Scots Set to Shine on the Global Stage: Celebrating Scotland’s Wheelchair Basketball Stars in Japan
Picture: Finlay Erskine
Finlay Erskine, Daniel McLaughlin, Finley Tonner, and Mark Stevenson (Assistant Coach) have all been selected to represent Great Britain in the upcoming Kitakyushu Champions Cup, which is set to take place in Japan from November 5th-11th.
Great Britain will face Japan and Korea in the Kitakyushu Champions Cup, which is a U30s competition.
Erskine and McLaughlin have consistently represented Scotland, most notably achieving Gold at the British Wheelchair Basketball’s National Junior Championships. Tonner (player) and Stevenson (Head Coach) played key roles in the Senior Men’s 3×3 Wheelchair Team that competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Qualifying Tournament. Mark was also recently awarded the ‘Performance Pathway Coach of the Year’ award by sportscotland.
Speaking about his experience playing for Scotland and how it led him to this moment, Tonner commented:
“Having been called up for this trip to Japan last minute, I am delighted to have the opportunity to play for the GB U30s. This is a continuation of an international playing journey that started with the Scotland Senior 3×3 Men’s team in 2022. Being selected for Scotland was a big step in my career to prove to myself that I was doing something right and gave me great confidence to continue training hard.
The trip itself is so exciting for many reasons: being around elite players and coaches, playing high-level international teams and visiting a country I’ve never been to before. It’s an opportunity I am looking to grab with both hands and most importantly enjoy. Just a few years ago I would never have expected a trip like this would have been possible.”
Picture: Finley Tonner
Representing Great Britain in the world of wheelchair basketball is no small feat, and this accomplishment highlights the talent, hard work, and dedication these four Scots have shown. From countless hours of training to facing tough opponents, their journey to the international stage has been earned through their strength and determination.
“I am delighted to have been selected to represent GB at the upcoming Kitakyushu Cup in Japan.” commented McLaughlin. “I am looking forward to being a part of the squad and playing against Japan and South Korea as well as visiting and experiencing a new part of the world and culture. I am very pleased to have been given this opportunity.”
Picture: Daniel McLaughlin
Picture: Mark Stevenson
basketballscotland’s Inclusion Manager, Tina Gordon, commented:
“We are incredibly proud of the selection of Finlay, Daniel, Finley, and Mark to represent Great Britain. This is a fantastic opportunity for them to showcase their talent on the international stage and we have no doubt they will do us proud”
basketballscotland would like to extend our best wishes to Finlay, Daniel, Finley, and Mark as they compete on the world stage in Japan, representing Great Britain with pride and passion.
