Hoops record in sight for Kennedy
2 points sets new college standard
The disappointment for Shannon Kennedy wasn’t in failing to put her name in the record books at home.
The fifth-year standout for the St. Clair Saints needed 22 points Sunday to become the all-time leading scorer in OCAA women’s basketball history. Instead, Kennedy finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Niagara.
“I was more disappointed that we lost,” the 22-year-old said. “Twenty-one was the only number in my head. We needed to win by 21 to secure a home (playoff ) spot.”
The St. Joseph high school product sits at 1,341 career points, two back of Jessica Brown, who set the record last year for Redeemer.
With three games left to play, Kennedy, who is 16th in OCAA scoring this season with an average of 14.9 points per game, knows she will set the mark and likely when the Saints (10-7) play Humber (180) on the road Saturday in Toronto.
“I know I’m going to break it,” Kennedy said. “I’m proud of myself for doing it.
“I don’t know what it’s going to feel like, but we’ve talked about how we want to get it done (early in the game), get it over, celebrate the moment and focus on winning the game. The goal is still an (OCAA) medal this year.”
The eighth-seeded University of Windsor Lancers men’s hockey team will be eyeing an upset when the club opens a best-of-three series Thursday against the topseeded Guelph Gryphons.
“We’ve got a great chance in front of us,” said Lancers head coach Kevin Hamlin, whose team hosts Game 2 Saturday. “We feel we have an opportunity to showcase the team we can be.”
Windsor (10-11-7) ended the season with its first three-game winning streak to grab the final playoff spot and a match with the Gryphons (21-6-1), who are ranked No. 6 nationally.
Injuries forced the Lancers to use 13 freshmen this season and each played at least 15 games. Some, like goalie Jon Reinhart, Belle River defenceman Kody Gagnon and forward Ian Parker, were key performers.
Now healthy, Hamlin is hoping the pieces come together for a playoff run.
“We’ve been focused all year, and especially the last few weeks, on buying in and team execution and worrying about each shift and each period and not the outcome,” Hamlin said.
University of Windsor Lancers first-year runner Kelsey Balkwill was one of 14 athletes named by Athletics Canada Wednesday to compete at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, set for March 1-4 in Birmingham, England.
An Essex high school grad who joined the Lancers after finishing her career at the University of Miami, Balkwill will compete in the women’s 400 metres.
University of Toronto senior and LaSalle native Kylie Masse was named U Sports female athlete of the week Wednesday.
The 22-year-old helped Toronto capture its fifth straight OUA women’s swimming title Saturday and was named the OUA’s female swimmer of the year for a fourth straight year.
Masse bettered her own OUA record in the 50-metre backstroke and also won the 100-metre backstroke. She captured the 50-metre freestyle and 100-metre butterfly while setting OUA records in both. Masse helped Toronto to OUA record-breaking performances in the 200-metre freestyle relay and the 200-metre medley relay, which included LaSalle’s Rachel Rode