Playoffs or bust for X-Women
Pictou County-raised players a big part of women’s hoops program
ANTIGONISH, N.S. — Jamie McCarron is hoping five years of work will finally bring rewards.
“We would love to make the playoffs,” says the fifth-year power forward and co-captain with the X-Women’s basketball program at StFX, who have missed the AUS post-season every year she’s been there.
The team even went winless last season, so there’s nowhere to go but up.
“That was tough,” McCarron said of her fourth year at X. “I feel lucky to have been a part of this team, but (going winless) was not fun.”
She has two years left as an X student, but this is her final season of basketball eligibility.
McCarron has earned an undergraduate degree in human kinetics and is now working to get her education degree. She hopes to be a physical education teacher someday, and also wants to get into coaching the sport. She actually helped coached a boys summer league team this past summer with Marcus MacLean.
“Some people don’t know they’re a coach. I could never picture myself being a coach, I never wanted to be a coach, but I really love it.”
NEW GLASGOW CONNECTION
McCarron has a couple of other New Glasgow-bred players with her in the quest for the playoffs: Lucia MacKay, a second-year point guard and also an NNEC grad, and Aliyah Fraser, who played prep school ball in Ontario before choosing to join the X, and head coach Lee Anna Osei, who coached her in Brantford, Ont.
“It's kind of crazy how our paths ended up crossing,” said the 18-year-old Fraser. “I just want to win, play hard and go to nationals, and make a name for StFX basketball with this team.”
MacKay is a diminutive point guard, but not afraid to enter the tough areas. Her coach calls MacKay “fearless” and McCarron says MacKay is “a little fighter, for sure.”
The 18-year-old had to do some adjusting in her transition from high school to university basketball.
“The pace of play is a lot faster, and you have to think more,” she says. “I still drive (to the basket) a lot, but I also try to give someone else a better shot.”
Going winless last season, she adds, “put a damper on everything” but she feels the team can get to where it wants to go.
“We can do it if we stay on track.”
The X-Women, who were 2-2 in four pre-season games, will open the regular season Nov. 2 at Dalhousie.
COACH’S TAKE
■ Lee Anna Osei on Aliyah Fraser: “She’s is a great kid, very personable. Aliyah can shoot the ball. She’s a first-year player we can throw in our starting lineup.”
■ On Lucia MacKay: “We threw Lucia her into the fire last year and she wasn’t afraid of it. She’s competitive, doesn’t get rattled and loves the challenge.”
■ On Jamie McCarron: “If you were to look up the term ‘high-character’, you would see Jamie. She’s extremely passionate about the game, and if there is a loose ball on the floor, Jamie will go get it.”
■ On StFX making the playoffs this season: “We’re absolutely getting after it. Everybody’s ready to battle for one another.”