You have to smile listening to RDP Queens basketball head coach Avery Harrison.
The veteran mentor, who has won both provincially and nationally at the college level, knows the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference like the back of his hand. He knows exactly what it takes to win, but ask him prior to the opening of any new season, and he’ll tell you he’s not sure what kind of team they’ll have.
“We’re not ready … I’m concerned about us, but in the end, I think we’ll be alright,” Harrison said.
The main negative this season is the loss of all but three players from last year, including Sandra Garcia-Bernal, who was the premier player in the league.
“I think she was (the best) … she was the last two years,” said Harrison. “In fact, we had the best backcourt in the league with Sandra and Heena (Sidnu), both All-Conference players.”
Garcia-Bernal, who has joined the Queens coaching staff this season, was head and shoulders the best defender in the ACAC, finishing with a season record 130 steals and 406 career steals, 56 more than second place.
Returning from last year are forwards Jayden Demchuk and Salome Nuako and guard Zoey Longman.
Demchuk was fourth in team scoring with 10.6 points-per-game and was first in rebounds with 149.
Mia Cunningham is also back, although she missed all of her rookie season with knee surgery.
“We could have used her down the stretch last year,” said Harrison. “She’s recovered from her injury so well. Watching her in practice I think she’s going to have a good season.”
Of the seven newcomers, two of them — Rachel Harvey and Brandi Thibeaux — are anything but rookies.
Harvey, a transfer from Concordia University in Edmonton, is in her fifth year and a first-team All-Conference player, while Thibeaux was a first-team All-Conference guard in the 2019-20 season while playing for Harrison at Olds.
Harvey averaged 16.9 points-per-game while leading the North Division in rebounds per game (9.15) and blocks per game (2.55).
She also has her name in the record books with eight blocks in one game.
Thibeaux holds the ACAC record with 149 assists in a season. She averaged 16 points per game and led the league with 84 steals that season.
“Both are high calibre players,” said Harrison. “Both fit into our leadership group. We’ve said all along we won’t take a kid who is a distraction in the locker room or someone who is all about them. We don’t have that.”
An indication of what kind of leadership group they have came while Harrison and assistant coach Nadine Cunningham were talking. They looked up the veterans had already started practice.
“We’re happy with the group. The rookies will have a big learning curve in the first half as they have a lot thrown at them, but the leadership is solid.”
Millie Cracknell, a five-foot-seven guard from Australia, is the other import.
“She’s still getting her footing. I know she’s not happy with her play yet, not playing the way she can but waiting for that to happen. Hopefully, that will click in, and we’ll have three strong additions.”
The Queens also have two local products in six-foot-one forward Grace Watson out of Hunting Hills and five-foot-six guard Jorgia Hicks from Lindsay Thurber.
“We’ve been really happy with both of them,” said Harrison. “I believe down the road they will both be big contributors to the program.”
Other newcomers include five-foot-nine Tyla Hammermaster of Fairview, who played in Sexsmith, five-foot-seven guard Avery Stypula of Spruce Grove and five-foot-six guard Kasha Bre Caibaiosai Calgary’s St. Mary’s, who is expected to red shirt.
“Avery was kind of an under-the-radar player who took her team to the provincial final,” explained Harrison. “As for Tyla I believe by year three she will be an All-Conference player.”
The Queens have eight games on their exhibition schedule.
“We need those games. I like eight to 10 games to prepare,” said Harrison. “We’re not ready so far, but we need games to judge where we are. We know we’re working hard, but there’s a difference between working hard in practice and working hard in games.”
The Queens opened their preseason at home Thursday with a 55-54 loss to The King’s University Eagles. Harvey had 14 points in the loss and Demchuk added 12.
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at danrode@shaw.ca
