Tip-off to the 2019 ACAC Women’s Basketball Championship is just around the corner, and hopes are high with host Keyano College.
Ranked second in the North Division, the Keyano Huskies aim for a better performance from a year ago.
Head coach and Fort McMurray native, Dwayne Vigilance, says the key to success for the Huskies is simple.
“Just be consistent. The team that makes the least mistakes is the one that usually wins the basketball game, so for us, consistency [and] hard work.”
The Huskies opponent in the opening round is the Lethbridge College Kodiaks.
Lethbridge isn’t a stranger to championship play with 14 ACAC titles, which is more than all the other teams in the “Elite 8” combined.
Coach Vigilance has a direct gameplan.
“We’re very physical, not a big team, but we’re very physical up front, so if they get off early and play well, [and] use that physicality, I think we’ll be in the basketball game.”
Key to his squad’s success is the play of Moiyan Toure and Augusta Kievisaite, who received First Team and Second Team All-ACAC conference honours respectively.
All in all, the future of the Keyano Huskies women’s basketball program, coach Vigilance says, is bright.
“Year after year, I think this is our fifth year now in the playoffs, and we’re growing every year. Fourth for the first couple of years I was here, then we’re first last year, [and] second this year, so I think we’re in that top three tier. I would hope that this program continues to grow and grow, and hopefully get to that national championship.”
Nine of the Huskies will return next season.
Full Court Press
The Keyano Huskies welcome the Lethbridge Kodiaks in their opening quarterfinal match at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Center on Feb. 28 at 8 p.m.
The tournament runs from Feb. 28 to Mar. 2.
If you can’t get to the arena, follow the action online on the ACAC TV Livestream.
