The 16-year-old, who has played 22 games this season after seven in her first year, said the advice of head coach Louise Brown had positively impacted her game.

“Louise has continually drilled into me to work on my communication skills and making sure I’m calling plays earlier,” she said.

“(When I’ve been playing in point guard) that was something I struggled with before hand.”

Bartlett said Mermaids captain Amy Wormald and Katie O’Keefe had taken her under their wings.

“Amy has been really good and the knowledge of Katie O’Keefe and the other older players has helped me,” the Garvoc resident said.

The emerging teenager said she wanted to take her basketball career as far as she could.

“I want to take it step by step with an end goal to play at the highest level in which my ability will allow,” Bartlett said.

“Whether that stays at Big V or is SEABL (South East Australian Basketball League) or WNBL (Women’s National Basketball League).”

Bartlett, who has enjoyed the jump up from division two this season, said the Mermaids were remaining relaxed ahead of their sudden death final against Werribee Devils at the Arc on Saturday. 

“We have a very good opportunity if we play as a team,” the Terang College student said. “We have been training for it all season and we are ready to go.”