Article By: Sean Allen
The St. John’s College Green Eagles were
more than prepared to defend their eight-consecutive Brant high school
senior girls basketball crowns with the players expected to return.
When they got news that power forward Megan Thompson would be returning
for her fifth and final year of eligibility, it was the icing on the
cake.
“It was a big bonus,” coach Matt Lynch said. “She brings a lot on offence and leadership.”
Thompson joins a returning core that includes Canadian national team
member Kendra Van Leeuwen and fellow returnee Maddi Cohoon. Both girls
already have experience on the senior team, despite only being in Grade
11.
Grade 12 players Leah Coon and Jen Garner will have big roles on
offence. The team also boasts three members of last season’s undefeated
junior Green Eagles team in Lauren deMontmorency, Alex Girardi and
Ashley Derks.
Van Leeuwen has been developing with the senior team since she was in
Grade 9 and will now, for the first time in her high school career, be
playing against girls her own age.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of talented girls come through
the school,” Lynch said. “But it’s not just talent. They have the right
attitude and mentality as well.”
That will be the case again this year, as the Green Eagles take on Grade
9 player Alaina McMillan in her first year of high school.
Lynch expects another season of strong contention for the title in
Brant. He said the strength of the local girls basketball program has
helped make the Eagles better competitors at the regional Central
Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association tournament each season.
The Green Eagles won the AAA CWOSSA championship last season and will be
aiming to knock off the Brantford Collegiate Institute Mustangs and
North Park Trojans for another chance this season.
The Green Eagles, Mustangs and Assumption College Lions will all have a
chance to see plenty of each other this weekend as St. John’s College
hosts a high school tournament.
Five other entries from around the province will join them for the two-day tournament.
The Green Eagles and Lions will have already had a taste of each other
as they meet to tip-off the regular season on Thursday at St. John’s
College. The juniors play at 4 p.m. and the seniors at 5:30 p.m.
