WOLFPACK WOMENS BASKETBALL-PRESENT AND FUTURE ON DISPLAY THIS WEEKEND. June 30, 2010
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Kayla Forsyth will be one of the WolfPack Players involved this weekend (A. Snucins)
Basketball takes center stage this Canada Day weekend at the Tournament Capital Center and the TRU Gym.
This weekend (July 2-4) will see 18 teams taking in the 4th annual WolfPack summer shootout girls basketball tournament.
Three of the teams are local: two coached by WolfPack women’s basketball head coach Scott Reeves. The other is being directed by SFU Clan and former South Kam Titan John Bantock along with Lindsay Langill, the Dean of Trades and Technology at TRU.
“This tournament has been very beneficial for us in the past,” says Reeves who will not only direct his WolfPack team in the U-17/Open division but also the Okanagan Under 14 BC Summer Games team. “Alex (Allen, guard, Calgary, AB) was recruited for the WolfPack last year at this tournament. We also have a potential recruit coming from Saskatchewan to play with us.”
The WolfPack team this weekend will consist of returning veterans from the CIS squad of 2009-10 minus forward Tracy Kocs (Port Coquitlam, BC) who is unable to attend. TRU will meet up with the Chilliwack U-17 squad in their first game Friday (July 2) at 3:30 pm on the TCC Championship Court.
Reeves’ Regional team includes his daughter Kanesha and five other local players: Ashley Lamoureux, Anna Frankel, Emily Vilac, Emma Piggin and Rae Ohama. They play their first game Friday at 5 pm at the TCC Middle court against the Kootenay U-14 regional team. This tourney is one of two Reeves’ regional squad will take in before the Summer Games.
Bantock and Langill are coaching a Kamloops U-17 squad which consists of players from Brock, Sahali and South Kamloops.
Games begin at 3:30 pm on Friday and runs until Sunday at 2 pm at the three courts.
KBA changing basketball in Kamloops (KDN Article) June 11, 2010
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June 10, 2010
KBA changing basketball in Kamloops
Scott Reeves
By MARK HUNTER Daily News Sports Reporter
Scott Reeves, head coach of the TRU WolfPack women’s basketball team, always laughs when he tells the story.
He and his wife, Tara, were walking down a Whistler street a few years back, when a very tall, very beautiful woman walked past.
Like most men, Reeves couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Tara, instead of getting offended, figured it out right away – Reeves was looking for a recruit.
“She just hits me and says, ‘You’re just wondering if she’s got a daughter, right?’ ” he says, with a laugh.
That’s the way it is with Reeves – basketball transcends almost everything in his life.
When he’s not spending fall, winter and much of his spring working with the WolfPack, he’s working with high school teams or regional teams or the Kamloops Basketball Academy, something he and TRU assistant Chuck Ferguson started in 2007.
For 365 days a year, Reeves lives basketball.
“Basketball is pretty much my life,” says Reeves, who came to the WolfPack in 2006 after coaching at Langley’s Brookswood Secondary. “I’ve taken maybe two weeks of holidays since I’ve had the job.”
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The KBA finished its fourth year on Wednesday, wrapping up 10 weeks of practices for 100 or so players.
Reeves was pleased to get 30 players the first year – it was only for Grades 6-12 in 2007 – and is especially pleased at its expansion.
“It was borne out of wanting to develop basketball in the community,” Reeves explains. “This was based on developing skills, making better basketball players, intelligent basketball players, skilled basketball players.”
Although Kamloops does have club teams and Basketball B.C.’s Y Steve Nash program for children in Grades 4-7, the KBA is different – it’s much more practice-oriented than clubs and a lot more serious than the Nash program.
“The academy won’t be for some people,” Reeves says. “Some kids will come and say, ‘I just wanted to goof around.’ That kid should have somewhere to go.
“I think we need things like (the Steve Nash program). I think providing as much opportunity for kids in whatever avenue is how everyone can be successful.”
But those who do show up gain a variety of skills that likely will prepare them for games better than just hanging around a gym.
“I can play against other people whenever,” says Taiysa Worsfold, a Sa-Hali Sabres senior and a four-year veteran of the KBA. “But here, we focus on the skills – the passing and the dribbling, which is key in becoming a better player.”
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Reeves trains four different age groups – kindergarten to Grade 2, Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 – with help from some of his TRU players.
All three of his children are involved – Mckenna, 7, was in the K-2 class this past season, while son Josh, 12, trained with the 3-5 group and Kanesha, 13, practised with the 9-12 group.
The youngest two age groups, which only train once a week, feature both boys and girls. The older groups are specifically for female players.
The training for the youngest players consists of the essentials, and not much more. The older groups – 6-8 and 9-12 – practise twice a week, 90 minutes each. Reeves starts to introduce certain strategic elements and philosophy into training in the 6-8 group, but there also is a lot of skill development.
“I’m providing specialized training, providing concepts that are right in line with our national team programs,” he says. “This is what influences me, talking to (national women’s team head coach) Allison McNeill and figuring out what kids in Canada aren’t learning, then teaching that to kids in Kamloops.”
One of those things is encouraging the players to become leaders and show creativity, by allowing them to add special skills to certain drills.
“That’s what was lacking in Canadian women’s basketball,” he says. “Coaches would tell the girls to do a drill, and all they would do is that drill the way the coaches wanted them to do it.
“I like to give them the opportunity to start thinking more creatively.”
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Girls basketball in Kamloops has done well the last few years, and a lot of people point to the KBA as a reason.
The South Kamloops Titans junior girls won the 2010 provincial title – Reeves is a coach on the team – a year after the Sabres won B.C.’s Grade 8 title.
The Sabres senior girls, meanwhile, finished fifth in the province in February, and boast one of the top players in the province in Worsfold, who will be going into Grade 12 in the fall.
Worsfold has been playing for the provincial U17 squad. She is a member of the KBA, and has been since 2007, when she was in Grade 8.
“It can be difficult to motivate yourself, if you have to go out on your own,” she says. “It’s made me a better player.”
Emma Wolfram, a KBA student and South Kam player, plays on the provincial U17 squad alongside Worsfold, while Nicole Karstein, Worsfold’s KBA and Sa-Hali teammate, is on the U16 team. Maya Olynyk, another KBA player and South Kam junior, made the provincial U15 team.
On top of that, six of Reeves’s KBA players will play for him on the regional team for the B.C. Summer Games, scheduled for July 22-25 in Langley – Kanesha, Emily Vilac, Ashley Lamoureux, Anna Frenkel, Emma Piggin and Reiko Ohama.
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The academy is catching on, not only with athletes - Reeves has been contacted by Jeff Speedy of the U of New Brunswick Varsity Reds and Regina Cougars head coach Dave Taylor about the possibility of setting up similar academies.
Speedy is trying to avoid losing elementary and middle school girls to other sports.
“I wanted to create a program that captures these young players . . . get them involved in basketball for the fun of it, teach them some skills and hopefully allow them to have some success at the same time,” Speedy wrote in an email.
Speedy, who held Reeves’s position with the UCC Sun Demons from 1994 to 2002, started a Junior VReds club program this year, with 34 players signed up. He hopes to add an academy component somewhere down the road.
“I am also – and people from Kamloops can attest to this from my eight years there – big on giving back to the community. A program such as the basketball academy does just that,” Speedy wrote. “(Fredericton is) a city of 58,000 and (we) have dreams of our CIS women’s basketball team being able to compete nationally, as I am sure Scott does as well. We need to elevate the level of play here in the city to help us reach this goal.”
Local coaches have even come out to the practices to pick up tips – Jennifer Morrison of Ralph Bell Elementary was out this spring, and Sa-Hali senior boys head coach Paul Patterson took in some practices last year.
But Reeves is most pleased with the success that the KBA’s students have had, and hopes that it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“I think this is one of the reasons why this area is starting to have more success,” he says. “Hopefully it continues.”
In Reeves’ opinion, the more children who take part in basketball, the better it is for the sports community.
And while he has some professional interest in the KBA – it’s no secret that he would love to help create a few prospects for his future WolfPack squads – he’s really just into developing players to move on to the college or beyond.
One of those players is Erika Gardham, a former Brocklehurst Broncs guard who has signed on to play for the Camosun College Chargers next season. Reeves and Ferguson were the ones who put Camosun head coach Brett Westcott in touch with Gardham, a KBA grad.
It’s just one of the payoffs that Reeves gets out of all his work.
“We want to get (players) ready for the next level,” he says. “It’s unbelievable, it’s been really good.”
mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca
(re printed by permission of Kamloops Daily News)
WolfPack Womens Basketball Player’s alma mater featured in Vancouver Province (June 4, 2010) June 4, 2010
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WolfPack women’s basketball player Jen Ju was featured in an article by Howard Tsumura of the Vancouver Province.
Jen Ju (A. Snucins)
By Howard Tsumura
Sports Reporter
When you run a basketball program that never stops caring and succeeds because its heart has always been bigger than its budget, you don’t take a whole lot to the bank other than the knowledge that you’re helping kids take their best shot at life.
That’s the best way to describe the Strathcona Community Centre, a veritable hoops mission in the heart of East Vancouver.
“We have never turned away a child that cannot afford to play basketball,” says the centre’s recreation director Ron Suzuzki of a 12-month program that charges kids the ridiculously low fee of $10 per year to participate and this year has 435 kids aged four to 18 registered. “We have even bought shoes.”
And thus a program that actually does run on a shoe-string budget will hold the most important morning of its entire year on Saturday.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the Strath holds its annual Hoop-a-Thon fund-raiser, best described as 90 minutes of pure energy and emotion. A total of fifty players have been selected to form the 10 teams that will take part, with each player allowed to shoot for one minute.
Pledges have been gathered by the Rotary Club of Vancouver Sunrise, but as Suzuki reminds, those wishing to make donations can also come by and do so on-site Saturday morning or call him at 604-713-1851.
And those who have been touched by the place, can never forget it.
“If you can’t afford it, someone will look for a way to help you regardless of if you have any money or not,” says Jennifer Ju, a 2008 Britannia Secondary grad who first played at the Strath as a fifth grader.
(A. Snucins photo)
This past season, Ju began her CIS career by leading Kamloops’ Thompson Rivers WolfPack in scoring, assists and minutes played.
“For some kids, it’s a way to stay out of trouble and just have fun and joke around,” she adds. “It’s just a welcoming place.”
The Strath, in fact, has been the starting point for the Britannia senior boys team, which in 2008 became the first public school team from the city to win a provincial boys basketball championship when it claimed the Double A title. And this past March, the Bruins boys won it all again.
“Jennifer has put so much back into the program,” says Suzuki. “She comes back and she runs camps for the young people and that, to us, is success. And I would say that the entire starting line-up of the Britannia boys team is coaching or in some way engaged with Strathcona basketball.”
The Hoop-a-Thon has raised a combined $30,000 over its first two years and Suzuki is hopeful it will raise $20,000 on Saturday.
“I will always see myself as a part of Strathcona,” says Ju. “I am all about the East Side because I genuinely think it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. The people and our community, they are just so fantastic.”
Sure, many of the families can’t even afford the $10 annual fee. And as Suzuki says: “Sometimes we spend money we don’t have.”
Yet the program endures because of its heart. And all of that just shows that sometimes, the ties that bind tightest are the ones that come on a shoe-string budget.
(Article Courtesy of Vancouver Province).
TRU WOLFPACK GIVEN FULL STATUS IN CANADA WEST May 6, 2010
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(A. Snucins photo)
Thursday, May 6, 2010 will go down as a historic day for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Athletic Program. It was on this day that the WolfPack became official members of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association.
The CWUAA voted to give Thompson Rivers ‘full membership status’ at their Annual General Meeting in Victoria, BC. This followed a presentation made by Athletic Director Ken Olynyk which highlighted the schools involvement in the Canada West over the past five seasons as a probationary member in the sports of basketball and volleyball. The presentation also focused on the University, the Tournament Capital Center and efforts by the WolfPack to continue to get their athletes more involved in the community.
“I’m glad the process is finished and we met the criteria Canada West set out for us,” he stated pointing out that the final year of TRU’s probationary period had nothing to do with TRU Athletics and Recreation Department or its operations, but more to do with the future of Canada West itself. ““ Over the last five years, we had conducted ourselves in accordance with the rules and regulations surrounding the league. This was in all areas from our involvement in governance, presenting of the athletic events, our follow up, the reporting of games , results and statistics and so forth.”
Lindsey Dekoff (A. Snucins)
“This day was a long time coming,” Olynyk added. “ It’s the culmination of a goal that the TRU Senior Administration had set back in December 2002, and this took on greater impetus as time passed .”
TRU will continue to have the men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball teams compete in the Canada West leagues. “Naturally, one of the first questions asked will be what teams will be next for the CIS and Canada West, there will need to be considerations prior to making any commitment for future teams in Canada West and this will only be considered following consultation with the Senior Administration,” stated Olynyk.
Amanda Frayne and Anna Dyakiewicz (A. Snucins photo)
Christopher Seguin, TRU’s Vice President of Advancement said. “ This announcement validates years of hard work by volunteers, staff, coaches and students athletes. It’ll bring an ongoing opportunity to put our university, our city and our student athletes on the national stage in sport.”
Gord Perrin at 2010 CIS Nationals (A. Snucins)
The most successful of the TRU Canada West programs has been Men’s Volleyball. Pat Hennelly’s teams have won a national bronze medal, two Canada west bronze medals and recently hosted the CIS Nationals. “ This means a lot to have earned our spot into the Canada West. We have proved that TRU men’s volleyball can compete and I think other programs will follow. I think Ken (Olynyk), Cliff (Neufeld, Vice President Administration and Finance) and Roger (Dr. Barnsley, Interim President and Vice Chancellor) should be commended for all their hard work and support. TRU has shown we are committed to excellence with the budgets, scholarships and willingness to host events. I look forward to coaching at TRU for a long time.”
The WolfPack began play in the Canada West as a probationary member in 2005-06, they start play as a full member of Canada West in the fall.
In other news, The University of the Fraser Valley was also given ‘full membership status” while UBC Okanagan was given probationary status starting in September and will start playing men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball in the fall of 2011. UNBC and Vancouver Island University had their membership applications turned down.
WOMENS BASKETBALL SIGN FIRST RECRUIT FOR 2010 (DUXBURY) March 24, 2010
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Jorri Duxbury
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s basketball team has increased its depth at the guard position. Head Coach Scott Reeves has announced the signing of Jorri Duxbury of Salmon Arm. She was a member of the “AAA” Jewels which placed fifth in BC this year going 34 and 5 overall.
“Jorri is extremely athletic and fit,” he says. “ She sees the floor very well and can knock down open shots. Jorri can also put great pressure on the ball.”
“TRU has a great program which is just getting better,” said Duxbury of why she chose TRU over the University of Regina, Simon Fraser University and the University of Manitoba. “The coaches and the facilities here are amazing”.
Duxbury played small forward as well as guard in high school. She has commuted from Salmon Arm to watch the WolfPack play and believes she should be able to fit in. “ They run the floor a lot and that is what I like to do.”
She puts her speed and her defensive abilities are her main strength. She admits she has to work more on being consistant and that the physical play of the CIS is something she will adjust to. Duxbury plans to go into the Bachelor of Science program.
Reeves believes that the winning tradition Salmon Arm has in “AAA” basketball has rubbed off on his latest recruit.“Jorri is a great student and is a competitor. She wants to win and that fits into what we are building here at TRU.”
The WolfPack have depth at the guard position with Kaitlyn Widsten (Tswwassen, BC) entering her fourth year . Jen Ju (Vancouver, BC), Beth McNeill (North Vancouver, BC) are both going into year three, Kali Ellis (Campbell River, BC) will be in her fifth year and Emi Ohama (Kamloops, BC) hopes to play after red shirting this season. How does Duxbury fit into the mix? “We are constantly looking to improve and that is exactly what is happening by signing Jorri” says Reeves.
Terry Michell coaches the Salmon Arm Jewels and had her as a player the past two seasons: “I’ve seen her develop into the best defender in the province, as well as a player who could take on many different roles on offense,” he says. “ Jorri is as athletic as any player I’ve coached. My highlight with coaching Jorri would be her role on this year’s team, helping lead us to an Okanagan AAA Championship, and a 5th place finish at the Provincials”.
Jorri’s father Jim played for current WolfPack Athletic Director Ken Olynyk at the University of Lethbridge in 1979/80. “Basketball has been a huge part of our family,” added Jorri. “ I wanted to continue playing at a higher level.” Jim was an assistant coach with the Jewels program this past season.