By Chris Dutton
They're the new Canberra Capitals sister act who spend their weekdays in the classroom, but teenage duo Callie and Issie Bourne are ready to chase a WNBL goal alongside one of their idols.
The Bourne sisters have signed development contracts with the new generation Capitals as the club turns one eye to the future in a bid to rebuild a dynasty.
Canberra Capitals have signed sisters Callie (right) and Issie Bourne.Credit: Jay Cronan
Callie, 17, and Issie, 15, have joined the Capitals' training program after leading Norths to an under-19s Basketball ACT title last weekend.
They grew up watching new teammate Marianna Tolo team up with Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson and now they want to follow the same path.
"It's pretty exciting but nervous at the same time," Callie said.
"The training has lifted up a fair bit and then meeting players that you used to buy a ticket to watch is pretty amazing.
"We've been going to [Capitals] games since we were really young, we watched Tolo and Lauren Jackson. They've been good role models.
"It's crazy knowing that we're playing with them now. You go from seeing them on TV to marking them, it's mind-blowing."
The sisters will juggle Daramalan College studies with Capitals duties as they train with the new-look squad.
Capitals coach Paul Goriss has all but finalised his roster for the 2016-17 season, but is leaving two spots open for players to impress before the season begins on October 8.
Callie and Issie were part of the extended Australian under-17s squad this year and up until a few months ago their parents would drive them around Canberra to training sessions.
"But Callie's got her [provisional] licence now. She goes all right, but her parking's not great," Issie laughed.
Callie is a 177-centimetre combination guard while Issie is a 187-centimetre forward.
Goriss said: "It's important to have that pathway there. We want local girls to stay and play in Canberra.
"These girls have potential to play WNBL and we want to help them reach their goals. Callie is super quick with the ball, she's strong and quick. Issie is a forward and has that versatility.
"They'll train for us, it's a bit of sink or swim but I'm sure they'll swim when they get in there."
The Capitals are working with Basketball ACT to identify rising talent and give them a taste of WNBL action.
The good news is that one of the game's greatest talent scouts, Phil Brown, is doing the legwork with Basketball ACT to lift the help rebuild the Capitals.
"These two girls are just workers, they don't cut corners and they're coachable," Brown said.
"They're just ready to learn off senior players and be challenged at the next level. Their games will be training and learning from those senior girls in the Capitals."
The Capitals begin their season against the Dandenong Rangers in Canberra on October 8.