Spotlight on basketball grads
While the St. Clair Saints will be marching in, several Niagara Knights won’t be leaving – at least not now.
Yet, a basketball doubleheader Sunday afternoon at the Athletic Centre will mark another step toward the fast-approaching end of post-secondary careers for seven graduating student athletes on the women’s team and six who contributed to the success of the men’s program at the region’s community college.
Athletic and academic accomplishments of the graduating players will be celebrated at the fourth annual Grad Night. Separate ceremonies will be held prior to the 1 p.m. tipoff of the women’s game, and the 3 p.m. start of the men’s game.
Niagara College president Dan Patterson said Grad Night is an opportunity to say thank you by recognizing well-deserving student athletes.
“Our annual Grad Night provides us with an opportunity to thank our students, many of whom are the future leaders in our community, for their dedication to excellence, both on and off the court,” he said.
Meeting the challenges and demands of competing at a high level in the OCAA, all while juggling studies, a social life and, for some, adjusting to living away from home for the first time is by no means a slam dunk.
“We are proud of the accomplishments of our student athletes,” Patterson said. “We all recognize the commitment to excellence in the classroom and on the sports field and the balance that is required by our students to be successful in both of those areas.”
Grad Night recognition is based on when student athletes graduate from academic programs at the college, not on when they play out their post-secondary eligibility. Some graduates can finish in one to two years, while others can be in the third, fourth and fifth years when they are honoured for their athletic achievements by the school.
Athletic programs count on graduate players to be team leaders, and the Class of 2017 did not disappoint their coaches in that regard.
“Our veteran players are our leaders, and our top players statistically,” said Mike Beccaria, head coach of the women’s team.
“The other members of our program look to them for guidance and leadership.”
Keith Vassell, head of the men’s program, praised graduating players on his team as “great ambassadors for our school and the basketball program.”
Their success in the classroom exemplifies excellence, and this has been instrumental in elevating our performance on the court.”
Jolene Awuku, Jean Vanier graduate Brooke-Lyn Murdoch, Holy Cross alum Emily Naccarato, Marina Painco, Julia Seymour, Kim Shepard and Melanie Tanguay, who also played her high school hoops at Vanier, are the graduating players on the women’s team.
Lamar Copeland, Lequan Hylton, Vicrum Kailey, Haroleon Lawrence, D.J. Morrison and Payam Saboni are the members of the men’s team who will be honoured Sunday.
Weekend college basketball action tips off 1 p.m. Saturday with the Niagara women, 10-5, fifth in the OCAA West Region; taking the court against the 4-11 Lambton Lions seeking to extend their winning streak to five games.
The 11-2 Niagara men, second in the west; are hoping to make it three wins in a row in their game against 3-10 Lambton.
Niagara swept the Lions in the opening game of the home-andhome series Nov. 18 in Sarnia, with the women posting an 89-51 victory and the men winning 78-68.