ADDITIONS MADE TO STRENGTHEN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM
April 18, 2017
The St. Clair College Women’s Basketball have landed a talented group of recruits from out of town for the 2017-18 season which was announced last week at the Thames Campus HealthPlex in Chatham. The incoming players include twin sisters Jana and Logan Kucera from Chatham-Kent Secondary along with Jaimi Chauvin (Wallaceburg) and Marissa Mara (Sarnia Northern).
The Kucera sisters will be studying the Fitness and Health Promotion program while 5’3 Mara will begin the Practical Nursing program this coming fall. The 5’7 Chauvin teamed with 5’8 Jana and 5’7 Logan on the Wallaceburg AirHawks club program and will study in the Medical Laboratory Technician program. The four incoming players will see time at the guard position which will fit nicely with the group St. Clair returns next season.
“Jana and Logan are both very athletic. They can defend the ball with good lateral movement and offensively they can attack the rim and score on the pull up,” commented St. Clair Head Coach Andy Kiss about the Kucera twins.
“Jaimi is a good shooter and a very smart player. You can’t have enough of those on your team who understand the system and what needs to be done,” said Kiss about Chauvin.
“Marissa is an excellent, gritty defender who plays with a high motor. She has good handles and can score on the perimeter as well,” added Kiss about Mara.
Kiss continued, “All four players come from successful club and high school programs. As a result each have benefitted from high-level coaching with those teams and we’re thrilled to bring them into our St. Clair basketball family.”
Locally the Lady Saints will add Tanay Freckleton from Windsor’s W.F. Herman Academy who will be pursuing a diploma in the Sport & Recreation Management program. The 5’4 former Windsor Valiants Club product also plays the guard position along with experience at small forward. Kiss said about Freckleton, “Tanay is another outstanding athlete we are glad to add to the mix. Her experience as a track athlete will increase our team speed.”
St. Clair returns a good portion of its roster from this past season’s Provincial Championship Tournament qualifier. Saints all-time leading scorer Shannon Kennedy (Windsor, ON/St. Joseph’s) is back for her 5th and final year of eligibility looking to capture a provincial championship which is the only thing lacking on her lengthy resume. Tower forwards Torrie Handsor (Wallaceburg, ON) and Nicole Tamm (Windsor, ON/Holy Names) return for a 4th year to anchor the frontcourt. Guard Shianne Riggan (Kitchener, ON) had an impressive rookie campaign in 2016-17 while forward Rylee Welsh (Lasalle, ON/St. Thomas of Villanova) will add depth and experience in her 3rd season with St. Clair. Kayla Daguerre (Amherstburg, ON/General Amherst) and Elena Caldarelli (Tecumseh, ON/St. Anne) each made good impressions in their first season supporting the backcourt hitting key shots at different times.