Kary shouldering major load as U of A pushes for playoffs
It’s do or die for Pandas this weekend as they grapple with Manitoba Bisons
Last season, as a rookie, Emma Kary was given an opportunity to contribute to the University of Alberta Pandas basketball team.
She played in key moments, in big games and showed a real promising future.
Under head coach Scott Edwards, it’s not often a rookie gets a chance to play a key role on the team but Kary proved she can play at a high level.
Now, the Pandas are grateful Kary was given that opportunity, because they’ve needed her more than ever this season.
The program lost a few key veterans to graduation, and then lost veteran power forwards Brooklyn Legault and Aimee Wilson to season-ending injuries.
The Pandas needed a young player to step up and Kary’s been leading the way.
“We couldn’t afford to have Emma face a sophomore slump,” said Edwards. “She’s been able to step in as a second-year and accept a lot of key responsibilities and she’s become a big part of our program.”
The Pandas finished the 2017-18 regular season with an 11-9 record. After a mid-season slump that saw them drop seven of eight games, the Pandas finished the regular season on a roll, winning five of their last six games.
They face the Manitoba Bisons in a one-game playoff on Saturday (5 p.m.) at the Saville Community Sports Centre. The winner will move on to the Canada West quarter-finals next weekend.
Kary goes into the game as the Pandas’ leading scorer, averaging 11.8 points per game, and she is developing into one of the conference’s top three-point shooters this season.
“She’s made the most of her opportunity,” said Edwards. “She’s a real talented player and she’s taken on some leadership scoring-wise. We needed someone to fill that role and that’s what she does best.”
In her rookie season, Kary came off the bench for the Pandas. She averaged 18.8 minutes and 7.5 points per game. On some nights Kary would drop 20 points and others she’d struggle with her shot and not be a factor at all.
This season, Kary has become one of the Pandas’ most consistent players.
Kary has shown the ability to slash to the basket or post up, and she’s become a five-tool player offensively.
“The sky’s the limit for her,” said Edwards. “She’s become a focal point for us. Everyone in the conference knows how dangerous she can be. Our goal is to continue to add more things to her game so she can continue to be successful.
“One of the biggest things I wanted to see from her was more consistency. I didn’t want to see her score 25 points one night and then the following night only two. We know each and every night what we’re getting from her.”
Kary has taken on a bigger role on the floor for the Pandas, and now she also wants to be more of a leader off the court. She knows she’s going to have to be a key leader for the program in the coming years.
“I’ve always struggled with vocal leading, but I’ve always led by example, but I’m trying to become more of a vocal leader and I’m making strides in that direction,” said Kary, who was named to the Canada West all-rookie team last year.
For the first time in a long time, the Pandas enter the playoffs as an underdog.
Under Edwards’ watch, Alberta has been a perennial threat in the Canada West conference. They ’ve made five straight trips to the Canada West Final Four and three appearances at nationals in that span.
This year, the Pandas will have their work cut out for them to go on a playoff run, but Edwards is confident his team can make some noise.
“I’m happy with the way we’ve played the whole second term,” said Edwards. “I know we played some tough teams in the (first half ), but I’ve really liked our effort level. I’m proud of this team for sticking through the rough patch when we lost a bunch of games, but we didn’t fold on each other.
“We’re starting to play our most consistent basketball and I’m seeing our offensive confidence grow.
“Defensively we’ve been consistent for a month now and it will be nice to see how we translate that into the playoffs now.”