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RODE: Hicks rising to challenge as RDP Queens starting guard

Jorgia Hicks is finding her way during her first season with the RDP Queens
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Danny Rode is a former Red Deer Advocate sports reporter.

Jorgia Hicks has shown she has the personality and skill, to be a leader on the RDP Queens basketball team. 

The thing is, it wasn’t expected to be this year. 

But at Christmas, the Queens lost two of their experienced point guards in Brandi Thibeaux and Millie Cracknell, leaving the rookie point guard out of Lindsay Thurber High School to take over. 

“I definitely didn’t expect this,” she said after helping lead the Queens to a doubleheader sweep over the Medicine Hat Rattlers last weekend. 

“The second half, our team faced some adversity, but we’re embracing it, and our team chemistry is better than ever.” 

The Queens are super young, with five rookies and two second-year players among the nine active players. Only Rachel Harvey and Jayden Demchuk, both in their fifth year, have significant experience. 

“We are super young, but a lot of teams underestimate us,” added Hicks, who received a solid base in high school from Kathy and Dwayne Lalor. 

“I’m grateful to them,” she said, adding there’s still a lot to learn. 

“It’s a high level of ball pressure from high school,” she continued. “I remember even last year when I was practising with the college, I’d go home and tell my mom (Fiona) that it seemed to be open, and then it’s not. 

“So I’ve been working really hard on keeping my cool and moving the ball up court. I try to be super composed to make the best play that will give my teammates and myself the best scoring opportunity.” 

Jorgia is averaging 5.9 points per game, but she would like to see that a bit higher. 

“I kind of get frustrated by not scoring as much as I would like but I do know my role is to dribble the ball under pressure and create opportunities for other players. Scoring is one thing but I do take pride in my assists.” 

She is averaging 2.8 assists per game, which is 11th in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association. 

While creating offence is key for a point guard, defence cannot be overlooked. 

“Defence is totally mental,” said Hicks. “If you want to stop a player, you can, but you have to be focused, have to be working hard. That’s why I love defence personally. It’s an attitude thing if you want to stop her.” 

Queens head coach Avery Harrison is consistently on the Queens to stop the ball. 

That’s where Hicks finds herself more often than not. 

“Especially on certain presses, I’m on top and on the ball,” she explained. 

As Hicks has stepped in as the starting point guard, she looks back at the first half and is thankful for what she learned from Thibeaux and Cracknell. 

“It was good for me,” she said. “I learned a lot. They were very skilled and older. So when they left, there was a gap to fill. I do miss having them around, but as I said, it’s a good opportunity for me.” 

Jorgia is now averaging over 25 minutes a game —32 in the second half — while rookies Tyla Hammermaster-Phillips and Avery Stypula are seeing more playing time. 

“A lot of others are getting bigger roles,” agreed Hicks, who is just part of the leadership group needed to keep the team on the right path. 

“We had several little meetings, just by ourselves, and talked about it. We said we have nothing to lose. 

“We lost several girls but we still go into every game wanting to win. It doesn’t matter how big or small our roster is we go in competing so hard. We lost some players but we’re still a really good team and we’ll do our best.” 

Harrison feels that Hicks has stepped into a tough situation. 

“It’s awfully tough for a rookie point guard to come into the ACAC,” he said. “There’s so much experience and we have such a good league you can’t have a night off. There’s consistent pressure on her and she’s done very well.” 

Harrison also realizes that, being so young, the team will make mistakes. 

“Mistakes are part of learning as long as they correct them,” he added. “We are learning and getting a lot of valuable experience in the second half.” 

The experience Hicks and her younger teammates are getting this season will help in the future. 

Jorgia is taking open studies with the goal of getting into nursing next year. 

“So I’m setting myself to be here for a few years,” she said with a smile. 

The Queens will have a tough test this weekend as they face the top-seeded SAIT Trojans — Saturday in Calgary. 

The Trojans are 14-1. The Queens are tied with Briercrest for third in the South Division at 10-5. The two meet twice — Feb. 7 and 8 at RDP. 

The weekend is huge for the Kings if they hope to get back into the playoff race. SAIT comes in at 8-7 with the Kings at 6-9. 

The volleyball teams also face SAIT this weekend — Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Gary W Harris Centre. 

Queens hockey met NAIT Friday at home and travel to Edmonton Saturday. The Kings hockey were at Augustana Friday and host the Vikings Saturday at 7 p.m. 

Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at danrode@shaw.ca