Queens get guard help
One of the biggest problems RDC Queens basketball head coach Dawn Smyth had last season was finding time to give outstanding point guard Katlyn Olsen a breather.
Olsen was one of the premier rookies in the Alberta Colleges Women’s Basketball League and a second-team all-star. She played a major role in the Queens making the ACAC playoffs for the first time in several years.
However, she never seemed to be off the court.
That should be different this season with the addition of point guard Karlen Mayher of St. Francis High School in Calgary.
“Katlyn was outstanding for us last season, but we needed to give her a break now and then,” said Smyth.
“This year we can do that, plus we can use both players at the same time and create more shots for her.”
Olsen averaged 9.68 points per game while finishing second on the team with 5.41 rebounds per start, first with 2.68 assists and first with 3.55 steals, which was second in the ACAC’s South Division.
She also hit on 32.9 per cent of her three-point shots, which was fourth best in the south.
She did all this while averaging less than two fouls a game.
But Olsen isn’t the only player coming off a solid rookie season. Lisa Ivanic, who led the team with 10.28 points per game, and Megan Ivancic, who averaged 6.05, give the Queens strong play on the wing while six-foot-one Jessica Foley-Geldart came on strong at the end of last season and gives the team some needed height.
Five-foot-11 Lauren Loyek, who transferred from Grant MacEwan last season, averaged 6.06 points and 6.27 rebounds per game.
“We have a solid core of returnees,” said Smyth.
“There are a couple of others in school here, but they’re in nursing and just don’t have the time to commit to the team.”
Smyth also added Grande Prairie transfer Chelsea Esau, sister to Queens assistant coach Cherish Esau.
Lauren Loyek’s sister — six-foot-two Courtney — will also give the Queens height and depth inside, as will six-foot Hunting Hills grad Ainsley Wright.
“Ainsley has had an excellent camp and is a very good athlete, who will step right in and contribute,” said Smyth, who also has former Notre Dame MVP Katherine Thatcher and Jesslyn Nepoose of Wetaskiwin on the roster.
Thatcher is listed as a guard while Nepoose plays forward.
“We’ll have a lightly different team than last year,” said Smyth. “We still have some height up front but our perimeter players will be a bit smaller, but very quick.
Smyth feels the team should build on last year’s improved play.
“Our top players return with a year under their belts, which will only help. As well they know what it takes to get into the playoffs and they want to return, that’s why they’ve already done so much work.
“I like what I see from this group. They work well together and work super hard. I’m excited to get the season started.”
The season has a new look this year with the South and North Divisions playing an interlocking schedule. Teams play each team in their own division twice and each team in the other division once.
“It changes things a bit, so we’ll see how it works out,” said Smyth, who opens exhibition play Friday against Camrose Augustana University College at 8 p.m. in Erskine.
Smyth also added Ontario U17 provincial coach Janine Day to the coaching staff. Day, from Sarnia, Ont., has taken a sabbatical to work with the RDC program for “one or two” years.
The Queens play in the SAIT tournament Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and will host the RDC tournament Oct. 14-16 with the Kings. They open league play Oct. 22 at Briercrest and open at home Oct. 29 against Medicine Hat.
drode@reddeeradvocate.com
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