VANCOUVER - After an up-and-down regular season, the Thunderbirds narrowly missed out on a trip to the Canada West Final Four last year as they were bounced from the playoffs by a two-point loss to Alberta in the deciding game of their divisional series. The T-Birds had just beaten Alberta by 17 points on the previous day to force game three, but consistency had been a problem for head coach
Deb Huband's team all year.
“We were characterized by inconsistency in performance,” Huband said. “We excelled when we played the tougher teams but then underperformed against teams I thought we should have been able to handle. One of our issues was that we were a young team, with the bulk of our players being second or third year. Now all those players have gained another year of experience and early indications are that we are a stronger team than last year.”
Heading up this experienced group of players are fifth-years
Devan Lisson and Virgina Watson. Lisson led the team in minutes played last year, and will likely see a lot of court time again this season as team captain. She made a team-high 34 three-pointers last year while shooting .400 from beyond the arc.
Watson saw limited action last year as she adjusted to life in the CIS after transferring from Langara College. The former CCAA All-Canadian and 2008 Sport BC college athlete of the year will be looking to make a bigger impact this year in her final season of eligibility.
Fourth-years
Zara Huntley and
Alex Vieweg will also be important to any T-Bird success this season. Huntley led the 'Birds with 13.7 points-per-game last year, and was fifth in the league with 7.8 rebounds. Huband thinks the best is still yet to come from this talented post.
“Last year, Zara showed glimpses of being a dominant player but was hampered by some inconsistencies,” Huband said. “She is capable of being a consistent 20 and 10 player and that's what she is striving for and what our expectations are this year. She is a very versatile, multi-talented athlete and now it's about matching her physical potential with the right mentality so she can bring that consistency this year.”
Vieweg was third on the team with 12.6 points-per-game and the combo forward led all starters with a .514 shooting percentage. Huband believes that she has the talents at both ends of the floor to be a real leader this season for the T-Birds. Her potential for taking over a game is a huge asset to the 'Birds and she is one of the team's most dangerous one-on-one players. Comfortable on the perimeter or slashing to the hoop, she is a tough match-up for opposing teams.
The T-Birds still have some dangerous young players as well, including Canada West All-Star guard
Lia St. Pierre, who is entering her third season with the blue and gold. She was a close second in team scoring last year with 13.2 points-per-game, and she led the 'Birds with a .429 three-point shooting percentage.
“She is becoming that well-rounded player that can contribute offensively, defensively and on the glass,” Huband said of St. Pierre.
UBC also benefits from a talented crop of new recruits this season, led by guard Kristjana Young, a B.C. senior girls Triple-A Tournament MVP and two-time champion from Handsworth Secondary.
“She had a very strong high school and provincial team background, but last year she just brought it to another level and raised her play to an elite level,” Huband said of Young. “She could arguably be the most complete player in the high school graduating group last year. She is gritty, physical and a strong scorer but also a very capable defender and rebounder. She is a very well-rounded player for her age and for that reason I think she is probably going to be contributing for us right away.”
Also new to the team are
Zana Williams and
Alyssa Binns. Williams is a first-year player who spent one season at Utah State (NCAA) before missing last season due to injury. Huband describes her as not only a prolific scorer, but also a floor general and excellent ball handler. Binns is a smart young rookie who skipped a grade in high school and puts her intelligence to good use on the court as well.
“None of our rookies are really showing as rookies so far,” said Huband. “They are all way ahead of where you would expect rookies to be so far in terms of development.”
Third-year forward
Leigh Stansfield will provide solid depth behind Huntley in the paint, while second-year
Victoria Spangehl will also help bolster the forward ranks this season.
Alex Vieweg's sister Erika joins
Chloee St. Amour and
Arianne Duchesne as returning guards who are all challenging each other for playing time - something that has Huband excited about the roster options at her disposal this season.
“Something that is really going to make a difference for us this year is our depth,” Huband said. “Even just over the past couple weeks of practices, we have been looking at the team and thinking 'wow, we have some really tough decisions to make.' There is great chemistry on and off the court. It's just clicking and it is one of those times where everything just feels right. Obviously it's still early and we will have lots of challenges ahead of us but the way we are handling the work load right now is very promising.”
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