Decorated athlete experiences Idaho lifestyle
The move from subtropical Australia to northern Idaho was more than just a weather change for one student-athlete. It was a basketball style change too.
North Idaho College’s Aimee Durbidge continues to adapt to it.
Durbidge said basketball in the United States has been more physical, skillful and faster-paced than Australian basketball.
“I just could not wrap my head around how different the concepts of playing were,” she said.
Durbidge, who lived in Boambee East, Australia, won two Most Valuable Player awards, two Player of the Year awards, was named to the All-Star team twice and named Athlete of the Year once.
After finishing high school, Durbidge decided to travel to the United States to play basketball in high school competitions with an Australian team.
“I came over for the experience of it,” Durbidge said. “Fortunately, I had the opportunity to do it.”
After that experience, Durbidge wanted to play college basketball in the United States.
Besides the tradition of the NIC women’s basketball program and the fact that they are the defending national champions, Durbidge was drawn to NIC by its location.
“I wanted to experience somewhere where it was completely different to what I was used to,” she said. “I tell people I was going to Idaho and they’re like ‘where’s that?’”
One thing that she is not used to from living in Australia is the snow, and she loves it.
“I just love sitting in a room watching it,” Durbidge said. “You go outside and you can run around in it. It’s freezing cold but you still have fun.”
Durbidge said she did not want to go to a Division I university immediately.
“I wouldn’t have been able to cope, I don’t think,” she said. “So this has just worked out perfectly.”
Durbidge has helped the Cards to a Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) title, which she said was one of the team’s goals this season.
Durbidge accomplished a personal goal this season by earning a spot in the starting lineup after starting the season on the bench playing limited minutes.
She said she knows she has to maintain her consistency because her starting position “can be taken so easily.”
Durbidge’s favorite basketball player is Seattle Storm’s forward/center Lauren Jackson of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
“She’s an idol,” Durbidge said. “She’s just one of those people that I like.”
Like Durbidge, Jackson is from New South Wales, Australia, and they both have won multiple MVP awards.
Head coach Chris Carlson said Durbidge brings athleticism and versatility to the team.
“She’ll hit some threes for us, she’ll take the ball to the rack for us, she’s really good in the open court and lately her defense has been awesome,” Carlson said.
The Lady Cardinals are ranked seventh in the National Junior College Athletic Association according to the Coeur d’Alene Press and are seeking a consecutive national championship.
NIC clinched the SWAC championship and the number one seed for the Region 18
Tournament against the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) Feb. 25. The Lady Cardinals have a bye in the first round and will play … in the semifinals of the tournament. The tournament runs March 8-10 in Salt Lake City.
