Waterloo-Oxford’s Shantz wins MVP award
“She is an outstanding athlete” says head coach
WATERLOO — Her coach describes her as an outstanding athlete, amazing basketball player and wonderful human being.
MacKeely Shantz, a Grade 11 student who has served as captain of the Waterloo-Oxford Crusaders for the past two seasons, is this year’s recipient of the Julie Devenny Award as MVP of the Waterloo County (WCSSAA) senior girls basketball league. The personable Shantz, who led her team to a berth in the league final against the champion Sir John A. Macdonald Highlanders, received her award Monday night during the WCSSAA basketball all-star game at Waterloo Collegiate.
“She is an outstanding athlete and an amazing basketball player but all of those things pale in comparison to the kind of person she is. She is one of our top academic students in her grade and is one of the most kind and caring people I know,” said Crusaders head coach Gavin Albrecht of his star player.
“She makes everyone around her a better basketball player, stronger student and better person. She is constantly working on her basketball game, taking shots, working on her ball handling and is a huge encourager to her teammates both on and off the floor.”
On the floor, Shantz’s greatest skill is her ability to blow past defenders with a strong move to the rim. She also a tenacious defender and is usually assigned the job of guarding the opposition’s top player. Outside of school, the five-foot-11 forward plays for the TriCounty Soldiers in the JUEL of Ontario league.
Shantz, who competed for Waterloo-Oxford’s volleyball team during the winter season, has at least one year of high school remaining and will be a hot-ticket item for university scouts.
As MVP, Shantz is also part of the WCSSAA first-team all-star unit along with Joanna Bamberger (SJAM), Adri Kellerman (WCI), Griffin Lack-Shane (SJAM) and Natalie Mayer (Elmira). Second-team honours went to Natalie Armatage (KCI), Jordan Hamm (Bluevale), Sonja Matthews (Jacob Hespeler), Madi Sadler (Waterloo-Oxford) and Madi Sherman (SJAM).