Three weeks out from the under-20s National Basketball Championships in Canberra, McNaughton is one of 10 players tasked with mounting the home side’s long-shot campaign.

The ACT’s chances in the championships have already been all-but written off.

This year’s tournament marks the first time in three years the territory has even managed to field a side at the women’s under-20s level.

When Basketball ACT held selection trials for the squad late last year, just 13 hopefuls showed up.

It’s a far cry from the kind of depth and talent at the disposal of states like Victoria and Queensland.

McNaughton however, isn’t willing to buy into the defeatist mentality.

‘‘The first training session we had there didn’t seem like there was much hope for us to be honest,’’ McNaughton admits.

‘‘Since then though, [coach] Nathan [Arousi] has really been getting stuck into us about having that belief in ourselves as a team.

‘‘Now it’s no longer about whether we come seventh or eighth, it’s about whether we can make the top four.’’

The 18-year-old was one of the stars of the Queanbeyan Yowies 2011 State League campaign and is one of two local representatives to make the ACT squad alongside point-guard Raingsey Kevin.

Former Queanbeyan coach Nathan Arousi has been charged with leading the group in its unlikely title quest.

Both Arousi and McNaughton moved to the ACT last year having previously been involved in the powerful Victorian youth system and as such are unaccustomed to low expectations.

Arosui was twice awarded as the Victorian Youth League coach of the year in 2009/10 before guiding the Yowies to the State League semi-finals with a 17-1 regular season record.

McNaughton credited the 30-year-old mentor with bringing a level of professionalism to the team’s preparations lacking from the ACT program in the past.

‘‘Talking to some of the girls who’ve been playing with the ACT for a long time, they’ve never had anyone like Nathan come in and try to take things to the next level,’’ McNaughton said.

‘‘The difference between where we are now as a team from where we started is obvious. All the girls are taking it a lot more seriously and working a lot harder.

‘‘We’re definitely hungry and ready to win.’’