Women's basketball team ready for the season
With the regular season upon
them, the Fanshawe women's basketball
team is looking forward to
a big year.
"The team is defence-minded this year and that will help us be a top four team," said head coach Matt White. After back-to-back top five Ontario Colleges Athletic Association finishes, White thinks his team has a very good chance to come out on top. "They practice just like they play and that is intense, it helps us to perform better."
If the team plays like they practice, they will have a good chance to beat rivals Sheridan, St. Clair, Humber, and Niagara, who is hosting this year's nationals. "If the girls can compete against the best, then playoffs are a realistic goal. But with all sports, it is still too early to predict," said White.
This year saw between 20 and 25 girls try-out for the team, and from that number, 14 remain. Six of those players are returning and eight are new. One returning player that will be counted on as a leader is four-year veteran Kaitlind Dutrizac.
"(Dutrizac) is a player that leads by example, and that helps the rookies feel more comfortable on the team," said White.
"Being a leader is a lot of work, but we have a great group of girls that gel together really well," said Dutrizac when asked about being counted on as a leader of the team.
The girls have gelled because the team decided to do a different team-building activity this season. "We went up to Collingwood for a weekend and ran the girls through a number of drills to help them build up their leadership skills," said White.
Many teams in the OCAA are in a rebuilding mode and have a lot of new players. Fanshawe, having over half their team playing in their first year, decided to go with a new style of play.
"We are a lot faster this year, we are more defence-minded, and we have a run and gun offence (where) we get the ball and go," said Dutrizac. With this style of play, the girls look to catch opponents off guard and exploit opponents' defences.
"The coaching staff is nice and approachable, but when it comes to strategy they are to the point," said rookie Phyna Lim.
"With so many new players on the team, we have yet to find a steady rotation so practices are where players earn their spot," said White. The team has their homeopener on Wednesday, October 27 against St. Clair.
"Nerves are definitely high anytime you play a rival team, but being at home will help us a lot if we can get the fans into it," said Lim.
The Falcons opened the regular season with a 62-52 win against the Mohawk Mountaineers. Leading the Falcons in scoring was Dutrizac with 13 points.
Fans are reminded to come out and support the Falcons when they take on the St. Clair Saints Wednesday, October 27 at 6 p.m. at Fanshawe College.
"The team is defence-minded this year and that will help us be a top four team," said head coach Matt White. After back-to-back top five Ontario Colleges Athletic Association finishes, White thinks his team has a very good chance to come out on top. "They practice just like they play and that is intense, it helps us to perform better."
If the team plays like they practice, they will have a good chance to beat rivals Sheridan, St. Clair, Humber, and Niagara, who is hosting this year's nationals. "If the girls can compete against the best, then playoffs are a realistic goal. But with all sports, it is still too early to predict," said White.
This year saw between 20 and 25 girls try-out for the team, and from that number, 14 remain. Six of those players are returning and eight are new. One returning player that will be counted on as a leader is four-year veteran Kaitlind Dutrizac.
"(Dutrizac) is a player that leads by example, and that helps the rookies feel more comfortable on the team," said White.
"Being a leader is a lot of work, but we have a great group of girls that gel together really well," said Dutrizac when asked about being counted on as a leader of the team.
The girls have gelled because the team decided to do a different team-building activity this season. "We went up to Collingwood for a weekend and ran the girls through a number of drills to help them build up their leadership skills," said White.
Many teams in the OCAA are in a rebuilding mode and have a lot of new players. Fanshawe, having over half their team playing in their first year, decided to go with a new style of play.
"We are a lot faster this year, we are more defence-minded, and we have a run and gun offence (where) we get the ball and go," said Dutrizac. With this style of play, the girls look to catch opponents off guard and exploit opponents' defences.
"The coaching staff is nice and approachable, but when it comes to strategy they are to the point," said rookie Phyna Lim.
"With so many new players on the team, we have yet to find a steady rotation so practices are where players earn their spot," said White. The team has their homeopener on Wednesday, October 27 against St. Clair.
"Nerves are definitely high anytime you play a rival team, but being at home will help us a lot if we can get the fans into it," said Lim.
The Falcons opened the regular season with a 62-52 win against the Mohawk Mountaineers. Leading the Falcons in scoring was Dutrizac with 13 points.
Fans are reminded to come out and support the Falcons when they take on the St. Clair Saints Wednesday, October 27 at 6 p.m. at Fanshawe College.
