“She’s a total gym rat”
It’s tough to keep Isabelle Sinclair out of the gym or off the court.
The 16-year-old, Grade 11 student at Jean Vanier can be found most mornings at her school working on some aspect of her game.
All that hard work paid off for Sinclair who was chosen for the Third Annual Niagara Region Basketball Showcase game held at the Niagara College Welland Campus Athletic Centre Tuesday where Zone 3 defeated Zone 4 82-46.
“I was really proud of myself. I had been working hard all season and it finally paid off to be recognized,” Sinclair said.
Sinclair played at the prep level with Dave Picton for the last several years before moving to Picton’s Niagara Girls Basketball Association Welland Warriors under-16 team this season.
“The level of commitment is different, but I make up for it in the mornings. I do extra workouts and run extra just to keep up with the prep girls,” she said. “I just love working hard and I find it’s an awesome sport.
“I love it so much.”
Sinclair is coached at Vanier and with the Warriors by Tara Poulin.
“She’s in the gym every morning,” Poulin said of Sinclair. “I’ve coached her for a long time and I’ve never seen anyone want it so much. What she lacks in natural skills, she makes up for it with her work ethic.
“She’s a total gym rat.”
Sinclair hopes to play the next level and Poulin feels her work habits will get her there.
“I definitely feel her work ethic will pay off eventually,” Poulin said. “She has the versatility to play different spots which coaches like to see.”
Poulin said Sinclair is the type of athlete who likes to be challenged.
“I’m also harder on her too. Our families are close and because of that sometimes she gets it a littler harder than others.”
Sinclair is expected to play a major role for the Warriors when their season begins in February.
“She will be a starter on our team. We have a smaller team so she will get to work on some of her leadership qualities,” Poulin said. “She’s played with David Picton and with best of best so being one of the top level players she will have to bring elite-level qualities that she doesn’t necessarily have now. It will be good for her.”
Sinclair also played a key role on the Lynx who failed to qualify for OFSAA this season, ending a four-year run at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships.
“My and Corynn (Parker) were the leaders on the team because we had more experience than most of the girls on the team,” Sinclair said.
Sinclair is hopeful the Lynx can get back on the winning track next season.
“We had a rocky start and then things started to get better. Uur ending was really bad against Port but we hope next year we can pick it up and do better.”
Stats Pack
Zone 3 82 Zone 4 46
Mick and Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s Stars of the Game: Emily Foest of Notre Dame for Zone 3 with 12 points and 4 rebounds; Viktoria Cubelic of St. Francis for Zone 4 with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Zone three: Foest 12-4; Alyssa Arcand, Jean Vanier 4-3; Corynn Parker, Jean Vanier 6-5; Destiny Paquin, Centennial 3-4; Brenna Ferrara, Centennial 7-1; Maddie Coleman, Port Colborne, 4-2; Jennifer Kozeli, Port Colborne 2 rebounds; Megan Hill-Doxtator, Stamford, 1 rebound; Emma Lagace, Stamford 1 rebound; Alissa Mete, Notre Dame, 9-1; Emily Bonisteel, E.L. Crossley 4-5; Sydney Grummett, E.L. Crossley 4-5; Tess Puchalski, E.L. Crossley 6-3; Tori-Rigas DiDomenico, A.N. Myer 6-2; Emily Braun, A.N. Myer 6-3; Taylor Doyle, Fort Erie 4-6; Also playing: Isabelle Sinclair, Jean Vanier; Abigale Phillips, Notre Dame; Hannah Nicholls, E.L. Crossley.
Zone four: Cubelic 12-14; Beth DeBoers, Eden 1-1; Rachel Bufalino, St. Francis 2 rebounds; Terin Hultink, Smithville Christian 2-6; Esther Dehaan, Smithville Christian 4 rebounds; Michailah Jones, Collegiate 1 rebound; Selena Jones, Collegiate 6 rebounds; Leanne Dekorte, Heritage Christian 1-6; Sarah O’Rourke, Holy Cross 4-1; Maddie Caughill, Holy Cross 2-4; Charlize Breulman, Great Lakes Christian 1 rebound; Lauren Nugent, Grimsby 1 rebound; Asha-Lee Crooks, Grimsby 1 rebound; Madelyn Strongitham, Grimsby 6-1; Olivia Gaspich, Blessed Trinity 2-4; Mia DiPasquale, Blessed Trinity 5-1; Makayla Giddings, Blessed Trinity 5-3; Allie Addy, Governor Simcoe 2-1; Lily Empringham, Niagara Christian 2. Also playing: Ruth Vandyk, Heritage Christian, Ally Dyck, Holy Cross.
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